luck,” Miranda continued. “Because I don’t particularly want someone new digging through the books right now.” Miranda delivered the whopping understatement with a straight face. “Assets have been pledged to cover those receivables, and if you think you can keep the situation to yourself, you can stay.”
“Why, you can’t fire me anyway. Tom’ll . . .”
“What, rush back to save your job?” She shook her head gently. “I don’t think so.” Miranda didn’t elaborate, intentionally letting Helen think she’d made things up with Tom.
“And if I don’t keep quiet?” the woman asked.
“Then I’ll have no choice but to take the books to the authorities and tell them what I
think
may have happened.”
It was a lie of course, but she’d told so many, what was one more? “My only concern right now is Ballantyne,” Miranda said. “I’m not going to let anything or anyone jeopardize this company again. I won’t be taking my eyes off you for a minute.”
They stared at each other until Helen St. James finally nodded and looked away. Miranda held her breath as she watched the other woman go. As the old adage said, it was good to keep your friends close . . . and your enemies even closer.
It was almost six o’clock when Carly popped her head in to the office doorway. “Do you need anything else?” She already had her jacket on and her purse over her shoulder, but she’d brought a pad and pen.
Miranda motioned her in and waited while she took a seat on the other side of the desk. “I’d like to do a tour of the whole facility sometime next week. And I’d like some time built in to talk with key employees along the way.”
Carly nodded and started making notes.
“Then I want to talk with Human Resources about employee benefits and incentives.”
Carly’s pen paused as she shot Miranda a questioning look.
“I also need the phone number for the research group and repping firms we use out of New York. And I’d like a written report from Bookkeeping on how new accounts are currently set up along with the shipping addresses for these accounts.” Miranda slid the list of fictitious businesses across the desk. “If Helen gives you too much grief, refer her to me.”
“Thanks, Boss . . .” Carly stopped and they eyed each other for a moment. Then the assistant bent her head and scribbled something on her pad.
Miranda looked over the list she’d made once more. “Am I missing anything?”
“No, you’re being very thorough. More thorough than I would ever have imagined.” Carly tapped her pen nervously. “In fact, this doesn’t really look like the to-do list of a person who is just filling in for a couple of weeks.”
Miranda met the younger woman’s gaze. She was intelligent and efficient. Against great odds she’d earned a college degree and appeared to be a dedicated mother. She was also ambitious, and she knew the day-to-day workings of the company in a way Miranda didn’t.
In order to pull off the resurrection of Ballantyne, Miranda would need at least one ally; someone to help run interference; someone she could trust to be on her side. The idea of sharing the truth was so appealing it made her head spin. She opened her mouth, already anticipating the relief she’d feel when the burden was no longer hers alone, and realized she couldn’t take the risk.
If word got out before she knew what direction to take the company in or how to get it there, there could be a panic from which Ballantyne might never recover.
Miranda licked her lips and swallowed back her confession. Then she looked down at her watch in a gesture of dismissal no one could misinterpret. “I’m just trying to take care of some things Tom’s been too preoccupied to deal with,” Miranda said, being very careful not to mention that it was dressing up in lingerie and stealing money that had distracted her husband from his job. “And I’ve invited members of the Ladies’ Guild to my home Friday
“Why, you can’t fire me anyway. Tom’ll . . .”
“What, rush back to save your job?” She shook her head gently. “I don’t think so.” Miranda didn’t elaborate, intentionally letting Helen think she’d made things up with Tom.
“And if I don’t keep quiet?” the woman asked.
“Then I’ll have no choice but to take the books to the authorities and tell them what I
think
may have happened.”
It was a lie of course, but she’d told so many, what was one more? “My only concern right now is Ballantyne,” Miranda said. “I’m not going to let anything or anyone jeopardize this company again. I won’t be taking my eyes off you for a minute.”
They stared at each other until Helen St. James finally nodded and looked away. Miranda held her breath as she watched the other woman go. As the old adage said, it was good to keep your friends close . . . and your enemies even closer.
It was almost six o’clock when Carly popped her head in to the office doorway. “Do you need anything else?” She already had her jacket on and her purse over her shoulder, but she’d brought a pad and pen.
Miranda motioned her in and waited while she took a seat on the other side of the desk. “I’d like to do a tour of the whole facility sometime next week. And I’d like some time built in to talk with key employees along the way.”
Carly nodded and started making notes.
“Then I want to talk with Human Resources about employee benefits and incentives.”
Carly’s pen paused as she shot Miranda a questioning look.
“I also need the phone number for the research group and repping firms we use out of New York. And I’d like a written report from Bookkeeping on how new accounts are currently set up along with the shipping addresses for these accounts.” Miranda slid the list of fictitious businesses across the desk. “If Helen gives you too much grief, refer her to me.”
“Thanks, Boss . . .” Carly stopped and they eyed each other for a moment. Then the assistant bent her head and scribbled something on her pad.
Miranda looked over the list she’d made once more. “Am I missing anything?”
“No, you’re being very thorough. More thorough than I would ever have imagined.” Carly tapped her pen nervously. “In fact, this doesn’t really look like the to-do list of a person who is just filling in for a couple of weeks.”
Miranda met the younger woman’s gaze. She was intelligent and efficient. Against great odds she’d earned a college degree and appeared to be a dedicated mother. She was also ambitious, and she knew the day-to-day workings of the company in a way Miranda didn’t.
In order to pull off the resurrection of Ballantyne, Miranda would need at least one ally; someone to help run interference; someone she could trust to be on her side. The idea of sharing the truth was so appealing it made her head spin. She opened her mouth, already anticipating the relief she’d feel when the burden was no longer hers alone, and realized she couldn’t take the risk.
If word got out before she knew what direction to take the company in or how to get it there, there could be a panic from which Ballantyne might never recover.
Miranda licked her lips and swallowed back her confession. Then she looked down at her watch in a gesture of dismissal no one could misinterpret. “I’m just trying to take care of some things Tom’s been too preoccupied to deal with,” Miranda said, being very careful not to mention that it was dressing up in lingerie and stealing money that had distracted her husband from his job. “And I’ve invited members of the Ladies’ Guild to my home Friday
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