mask was firmly in place. Joy Smith, plain, reliable, and utterly unmemorabl

a concerned look. "Mr. Taylor's been ask

id have one after work this afternoon, so not lying really

al. The team's waiting in the conference roo

fice to drop off her things. "Tell t

of personal touches save for a single framed photo of her father on a f

This was her domain. Here, she was in control, u

r. On the wall behind the head of the table was Grayson Taylor on th

th," he drawled. "We've only

l appointment, Mr. Taylor. One that was scheduled weeks ago. We

ant than the

lly. "Yes, actually. Had I had mo

something not directly connected to work. Good. Let him be surprised. Today

om he could see on his screen, "we need to revise the entire proposal. They

hat their current infrastructure can support." She could see what the Nortons were doing. They wanted the

al financing. They want t

t had increased the liability by getting

y per

"That's not acceleration, Mr.

ontradicted Grayson Taylor, es

. "The Nortons di

he original projections on her tablet. "These numbers don't lie. A fifty percent acceleratio

oice dangerously low. "Are yo

to tell you when the numbers don't add up, not to rubber-stam

n't even here. The other executives shifted uncomfort

ression Honey thought he was about to blow. Then, unexpected

me," h

nked. "I'

t work. Convince me.

twenty minutes, she walked through the supply chain vulnerabilities, the cash flow implications, the market risks

an intensity that made her uncomfortable. Not ang

he said suddenly

as coming next. When the door closed behind the last person, H

ed back in his chair, studying her. "You've never spoken to me like that before.

financially unsound before. I mean you take risks and I haven't alw

erride your

as is my fiduciary duty to the shareholders.

still buying

ne?" She realised her voice was raised. The m

ill going to put in an offer. But with the information

disbelief warring wit

o do whatever the hell you like

sion remained ma

measured. "To force me to justify my decisions, especi

r. The man was infuriating. One moment he seemed to value her

when you're making a mistak

final call." His eyes narrowed slightly. "That's how this

y're warnings of a cliff you

ugh escaped him. "God,

to her chest like a shield. "This acquisition at the price they're

and a new document appeared in her inbox. "Their R&D department has developed a proprietary manufacturing process that

ind automatically recalculating the projections. "T

tion." Grayson's eyes gleamed with the predatory satisfaction she'd seen whenever he outmaneu

ormation given to us

rest of the team to know

mit this changed the equati

twelve." He folded his hands on the desk. "You've done your job, Smith. You'v

ahead of her the entire time. "I still wish you

y proposal with that surgical precisi

ayson Taylor actually... enjoying their

ouldn't keep the edge from her voice. "Next time, perhaps save us both some time and just present all the re

something that might have been respect. "Have the r

es

cut the connection bef

Taylor just complimented her? The same man who'd been belitt

ange behavior, not with the presentation deadline looming. She would still add her views