could barely hear her.
“ When I return . . .states . . .better . . .report.”
Inside the restroom the toilet flushed and Mrs. Ross's voice got a bit louder.
“I'll hold the client off as long as I can. But I expect you to provide what I need within three days of that meeting.”
“ I'll get it for you,” Kayla's dad said, his forehead dripping with sweat.
“ No. I don't trust you and your ethical issues,” Kayla's mother said, making a face. “You monitor those schedules and let me know the next time the Webbs are out of the office once the board meets. I'll take care of the report.”
Amber swallowed hard. She was glad she was hidden here in the closet. That woman was ruthless. If she could make a grown man, her own husband, tremble and sweat like that, what would she do with someone like Amber?
Just before she stalked away, Kayla's mother purposely knocked some of the papers to the floor.
“ Clean this mess up,” she said, clearly referencing what she thought of as his incompetence.
Amber actually felt sorry for Kayla's dad as he bent and scrambled for the papers just as his co-worker stepped out of the restroom.
Amber saw the woman hesitate but Kayla's dad waved her away.
Amber waited several minutes before she crept from the closet. Her heart beat rapidly. What should she do? The problem was that she didn't know exactly what sort of information Kayla's mom was trying to get. And what she herself had to do with it. Were they planning to pin something on her? Try to make it seem that she was the one stealing company secrets? Or was she simply being paranoid now? She knew she had heard her name but what did that signify?
At this point, she would look like a lunatic if she went to Hunter or the Webbs with what she had overheard. Wouldn't she? Damn! If only she had her phone with her at the time. At least then it would back up what sounded like a ridiculous story.
Amber forced herself to think things through. What did she know, really? That Kayla's mom was after some sort of company information. And something about the board meeting. That was strange as well. Amber didn't even realize that Hunter had any connection with the company beyond his parents. She was suddenly embarrassed to realize she had never even gone to the company website. Maybe that should be her first step.
She had already finished up the few things Mrs. Web had assigned her for the afternoon. Sighing, she started her search, beginning with a search for the Board of Directors. All three of the Webbs served on the board, she realized. This was Hunter's third year. Was he staying connected as a favor to his parents or was he interested in running the company in the future?
Hmm . . .there was no information on a meeting but surely Hunter would mention it when it came up. Amber bit her lip. She had to wonder why she was afraid to talk to Hunter about this. Did she really think that he wouldn't believe her? What if something happened and she didn't tell him. Ugh!! She tried to imagine if somebody was planning something against her. How would she feel if he kept it from her? Worse, how would the Webbs feel about her if she kept it a secret.
Feeling queasy, she decided that she had to confide in Hunter no matter what. If he didn't believer her then so be it. But if anybody could deal with Kayla's mom, surely it was him. No matter what dirt that woman tried to sling her way, she had to believe that Hunter would know her well enough to discern the truth.
Before she could change her mind, she tapped out a message to him saying that she needed to talk to him urgently after he finished with work. She hit send and then tried to forget about it. But not less than two minutes later, her cell phone rang.
“Amber? Are you okay?” Hunter's voice sounded strained.
“ Hunter, I'm fine,” she said, “but I need to talk to you tonight.”
“ I'll be there to pick you up in less than an hour. I'll let Mom know I took you if she isn't back by
“ When I return . . .states . . .better . . .report.”
Inside the restroom the toilet flushed and Mrs. Ross's voice got a bit louder.
“I'll hold the client off as long as I can. But I expect you to provide what I need within three days of that meeting.”
“ I'll get it for you,” Kayla's dad said, his forehead dripping with sweat.
“ No. I don't trust you and your ethical issues,” Kayla's mother said, making a face. “You monitor those schedules and let me know the next time the Webbs are out of the office once the board meets. I'll take care of the report.”
Amber swallowed hard. She was glad she was hidden here in the closet. That woman was ruthless. If she could make a grown man, her own husband, tremble and sweat like that, what would she do with someone like Amber?
Just before she stalked away, Kayla's mother purposely knocked some of the papers to the floor.
“ Clean this mess up,” she said, clearly referencing what she thought of as his incompetence.
Amber actually felt sorry for Kayla's dad as he bent and scrambled for the papers just as his co-worker stepped out of the restroom.
Amber saw the woman hesitate but Kayla's dad waved her away.
Amber waited several minutes before she crept from the closet. Her heart beat rapidly. What should she do? The problem was that she didn't know exactly what sort of information Kayla's mom was trying to get. And what she herself had to do with it. Were they planning to pin something on her? Try to make it seem that she was the one stealing company secrets? Or was she simply being paranoid now? She knew she had heard her name but what did that signify?
At this point, she would look like a lunatic if she went to Hunter or the Webbs with what she had overheard. Wouldn't she? Damn! If only she had her phone with her at the time. At least then it would back up what sounded like a ridiculous story.
Amber forced herself to think things through. What did she know, really? That Kayla's mom was after some sort of company information. And something about the board meeting. That was strange as well. Amber didn't even realize that Hunter had any connection with the company beyond his parents. She was suddenly embarrassed to realize she had never even gone to the company website. Maybe that should be her first step.
She had already finished up the few things Mrs. Web had assigned her for the afternoon. Sighing, she started her search, beginning with a search for the Board of Directors. All three of the Webbs served on the board, she realized. This was Hunter's third year. Was he staying connected as a favor to his parents or was he interested in running the company in the future?
Hmm . . .there was no information on a meeting but surely Hunter would mention it when it came up. Amber bit her lip. She had to wonder why she was afraid to talk to Hunter about this. Did she really think that he wouldn't believe her? What if something happened and she didn't tell him. Ugh!! She tried to imagine if somebody was planning something against her. How would she feel if he kept it from her? Worse, how would the Webbs feel about her if she kept it a secret.
Feeling queasy, she decided that she had to confide in Hunter no matter what. If he didn't believer her then so be it. But if anybody could deal with Kayla's mom, surely it was him. No matter what dirt that woman tried to sling her way, she had to believe that Hunter would know her well enough to discern the truth.
Before she could change her mind, she tapped out a message to him saying that she needed to talk to him urgently after he finished with work. She hit send and then tried to forget about it. But not less than two minutes later, her cell phone rang.
“Amber? Are you okay?” Hunter's voice sounded strained.
“ Hunter, I'm fine,” she said, “but I need to talk to you tonight.”
“ I'll be there to pick you up in less than an hour. I'll let Mom know I took you if she isn't back by
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