Soliman, Wendy - The Name of the Game (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (22 page)

“Tell me.”

“They’re married to each other.”

“They’re what!”

“You heard me.”

“I guess that explains a lot.”

“I’d say so. All we have to do now is find out what our mutual friend has on them.”

“That won’t be so easy.”

“I have an appointment with Dr. Simpson first thing Wednesday. Perhaps I’ll learn something then.”

“That’s hardly likely. We’ll talk about this later. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go there asking questions. If she’s the guilty party, you’ll reveal your hand for no good reason.”

Ashley knew he was right but refused to back down. “Talking of hands. What yours did to me last night. I keep thinking—”

“Thank you.” Ashley laughed aloud. She could hear the frustration in his voice. It was one hell of a turn-on, talking to him about these things when, presumably, he had a bunch of people sitting round his conference table, pretending not to listen to his end of the conversation. “My thoughts are veering in a similar direction. The situation requires further investigation.”

“Yes, absolutely. That’s why I’m going to see Dr. Simpson.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“When you sucked my nipples, I almost came then and there. Did you realize?”

“I was certainly aware that the situation was explosive, yes.”

Ashley giggled. “If I’d just rubbed my thighs together, that’s all it would have taken.”

He cleared his throat. “Er, yes. That was fairly obvious.”

“Is this conversation making you hard?”

“Things are certainly uncomfortable at the moment.”

Ashley’s giggles became increasingly wild. “Are we having telephone sex?”

“It would appear so.”

“And who have you got in there? No, don’t tell me. Let me guess. The straitlaced crowd from accounting, all trying to pretend that they’re not listening to every word.”

“Absolutely. I had no idea that matters would go off on such a tangent.”

“If I was there right now, I could ease your discomfort. I’d unzip you, take you in my mouth, suck your head and—”

“That would be, er, gratifying.” His voice wobbled. “I shall have to take your proposal under advisement.”

“It’s not a proposal. It’s a proposition.”

“Huh-hum. I see.”

“Am I in trouble for distracting you?”

A frustrated sigh echoed down the line. “You have no idea!”

“What are you going to do to me? Will you spank me?”

“Count on it.” She could hear strain in his voice, but also guessed he was struggling not to laugh—or groan. She had no doubt that he was well and truly turned on. She certainly was.

“I’ll let you get back to your meeting now,” she said, taking pity on him. “Sorry to have interrupted you.”

“You will be,” he almost growled.

Ashley was still bubbling with reckless laughter when she ended the call. But her laughter gave way to anger when she sensed someone standing over her. Even before she lifted her eyes, she knew who it would be.

“Eve,” she said, summoning up a smile. “I didn’t know you were back.”

“Who were you just talking to?” she asked.

“Excuse me?”

“I wondered who you were talking to. It sounded very intimate.”

“How did you find me here? I presume you
were
looking for me.” Ashley didn’t try to keep the impatience out of her voice.

“Charlie saw you walk this way.”

God’s teeth, was the entire company keeping tabs on her?
“What can I do for you?”

“I thought we could have lunch together, and I’ll tell you all about my weekend.” She paused. “Then you can tell me all the gory details about yours.”

“Sorry, Eve, but I’ve just had lunch.” Ashley held up her empty sandwich wrapper. “Have to get back to the office now. I have a ton of work waiting and a big meeting on Wednesday to prepare for.”

“Yes, Matt’s coming down for that one.”

“So I gather.”

“I dare say he’ll stay. I mean,” she said, almost running to keep up with Ashley’s frenetic pace, “if he’s here Wednesday and Thursday, there’s not much point in going back for just one day. We were apart this weekend, so he’ll want to make it up to me.”

She sounded a little desperate. Ashley was definitely losing patience. It was time to take the initiative and put a stop to Eve’s mind games.

“Is there a point to this, Eve?” she asked acerbically.

Her tone caused Eve to flinch. “I’m just making conversation. That’s what friends do, isn’t it? Exchange confidences.”

Not in this lifetime.
“We’re hardly friends. We’ve only just met.”

“Oh, but I feel like I already know you.” They reached the reception area of Interactive with Eve still trailing alongside Ashley. “We have so much in common.”

Ashley stopped dead and turned to face Eve. “I don’t wish to be rude, but I really don’t have time for distractions right now.”

“I more than a distraction, as you so charmingly put it.” Eve brushed past her. “I’m a director of the company that employs you. You’d do well to remember that.”

Ashley was left alone in the centre of reception, cursing her stupidity. She’d played straight into Eve’s hands. She’s allowed the other woman to rile her, had been rude to her, and given her a legitimate excuse to complain to Charlie about her behaviour.
Great, just great! Nicely done, Ashley.

“I’m sorry, Matt,” she said when she called him that night. “I let her get to me, and I shouldn’t have.”

“Hey, you’ve got nothing to complain about. She should stop bugging you, and I’ll tell her so.”

“Now who’s being daft,” she said. “Unless she tells you about the incident, and I’m pretty sure she won’t, you can’t possibly know anything about it.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” His sigh echoed down the line. “She’s been very artful, but then she can be when it suits her.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“What you don’t know, my darling, is that you’re going to promise me not to keep that bloody doctor’s appointment. Don’t think I didn’t notice how artfully you diverted me away from the subject on the phone this morning.”

“What’s the matter? Not up for a little telephone sex.”

“You don’t want to know how
up
I was in that roomful of people.”

Ashley chuckled. “I think I can guess.”

“It’s gonna be hell seeing you on Wednesday and not being with you.”

“Oh, we’ve managed it before. We’re seasoned professionals at pretending indifference,” she said, recalling Sandy’s view on the subject, voiced so bluntly just that morning.

“But it doesn’t get any easier.” Another sigh. “Now, about that promise.”

“I’m going to see someone now. We’ll talk about it afterward.”

“Who?”

“The person that I think’s rigging our systems. I’m going to catch her at home. She might be more willing to talk to me there.”

“Who is she?”

“Just a systems analysis that I’ve known for years.”

“Why do you suspect her?”

“Because she’s acting very peculiarly. Won’t look me in the eye. Won’t stop to talk to me.”

“Well, you are seen as the big bad witch right now. Everyone’s on edge.”

“It’s not that, Matt. She’s frightened. I can see it in her eyes.”

“Could be for any number of reasons.”

“She is pregnant with her first child.”

Well, there you are then.”

“I’m still going to go and see her. I have a gut feeling about this.”

“Well, just be careful and ring me when you get back.”

“I will, just so long as your wretched wife doesn’t put in an appearance.”

* * * *

After several wrong turns, Ashley pulled up outside the terraced house where Claire Slater lived with her husband, Paul. She’d got the address from the company records. Taking a deep breath, she climbed out of the car, reached into the back seat for the flowers and cuddly toy she’d brought for Claire and the baby respectively, and climbed the steps to the front door. She rang the bell twice and was on the point of giving up when the door was opened by Claire. She gasped when she saw Ashley standing there.

“What do you want?” she asked.

Not an auspicious start, but Ashley refused to be deterred. “Hi, Claire. Hope I’m not disturbing you.” She thrust the flowers at her, and Claire automatically took them.

“Would it matter if you were?”

“You seemed a bit off when we spoke in the office the other day, so I thought I’d pop round and see if there was anything I could do to help.”

Claire eyed her with open scepticism. “Really?”

“Yes, really. It might surprise you to learn that I do care about our employees’ welfare.”

Claire pulled a face that said
you could have fooled me.

“I got this for the baby,” she said, pushing the teddy bear into her hands as well. Claire looked at it and finally cracked a smile.

“You’d better come in then, but don’t mind the mess.”

“Is Paul home?” she asked, following Claire into a cramped and untidy front room where the television was blaring away.

“No, he’s working,” she said, switching the set off with a remote.

“Oh, at night?”

“That’s when night watchmen work,” she said sarcastically, discarding the flowers and toy on a cluttered table and manoeuvring her bulk into an easy chair.

“But I thought he worked for us.”

“He was sacked several months ago, but you wouldn’t know that, being isolated in your ivory tower.”

Ashley frowned. “Sacked? Paul? Why?”

“For hitting his manager.”

“Who was his manager?” Ashley was almost afraid to ask.

“Charlie Templeton.”

Chapter Thirteen

Ashley’s mind whirled.

“Paul hit Charlie,” she repeated in a dazed tone. “Why?”

“Why not?” Claire propped her feet on the stool in front of her and awkwardly leant over her bump to massage her swollen ankles. “He’s been asking for it for long enough.”

“Are you uncomfortable?” Ashley asked. “Can I get you anything?”

“I’m eight months pregnant so, yeah, I’m uncomfortable.” Claire winced and shifted her position. “The little blighter won’t stop kicking.”

“Should you still be working full time? Isn’t that dangerous?”