Romantic Acquisition Page 0,1
down the hallway. Again, Jeff chuckled behind them. Carlo wanted to glare at him, but he too was shocked at the comment. Had she really just said he was handsome? Not just handsome, but “awfully handsome”?
A moment later, the tiny woman stopped in the middle of the hallway, her whole body frozen. Carlo, Jeff and Peter stood there, wondering what was happening. Slowly, she turned back to face the three of them, a tentative smile and a curious expression on her face, “I didn’t really say that out loud, did I?” she asked. As soon as she finished her statement, her face flamed into embarrassed color.
Carlo raised one eyebrow and tried to keep from laughing. She was definitely a curious woman.
With a deep sigh, she nodded her head slightly. “By the amused expression on your face, I guess I did say it out loud.” The tiny woman grimaced and continued to make her way down the hallway toward the conference room, but her face was still flushed with color. Opening the double doors with a flourish, she ushered the three men inside, giving a wide berth to Carlo who had extremely broad shoulders and towered above the two other men.
Jeff settled his briefcase onto the polished wooden surface. “Ms. Avril, excuse me for asking, but why did Jamison’s Department Stores assign the director of purchasing to help us out during this process?”
“Please, call me Kate. No one ever calls me Ms. Avril unless they’re trying to sell me something on the phone. And even then, I can tell that it is a salesperson because they mispronounce it,” she chattered nervously. Her attention was on Jeff and Peter, avoiding Carlo’s eyes altogether. She took a deep breath before continuing. She told herself to pull it together before these men thought of her as a complete idiot. “As for why I’m assigned to help you out, well, that might not make sense on the surface, but I’m probably the best qualified. I’d wager that I know more about these stores than anyone, including the present owner, soon to be not-present-owner if you three have any say in it, David Jamison.”
“How is that?” Peter asked, smiling despite himself.
“My mother was the previous owner and president’s secretary. I used to do my homework beside her desk each afternoon so, even as a kid, I heard a lot about the goings on within the headquarters. Years later, when I turned sixteen, I started working for the store in the retail areas. I’ve worked in almost every department, except finance, over the past twelve years. There’s basically nothing I haven’t done, or don’t know someone who has done it or is currently doing it,” she explained. “So I’m really your best point of contact. I’m the lucky one that gets to help you three out for as long as I’m needed.” Kate peeked over at the tall one who called himself Carlo, then quickly away again when she realized that he was staring at her still with that same strange look on his face. He was a very serious fellow, she thought.
“Why isn’t David helping us with this process?” Jeff asked as he settled himself into a chair, pulling out pencils and a notepad.
“You must be the accountant,” she said, smiling brightly at Jeff who immediately blushed and nodded his head. “David doesn’t have time for the day to day stuff of Jamison’s. He has more important things to do,” she explained and looked down at the floor. She didn’t want to be disloyal so she just left her explanation hanging at that terse statement and hoped that would be enough for the three men.
Carlo sensed there was something more that she didn’t want them to know and he was curious. He suspected that there was much more to this tiny daredevil of a woman than met the eye. She came across as a little scatterbrained but he deduced that her chattering was due more to nervousness than a lack of intelligence.
“How are we to get reports and information we need to complete the investigation?” Peter asked, knowing what needed to get done and eager to get started.
Kate smiled brightly, feeling like she was on safe ground now. “Anything you need, just ask me. I’ve assigned my deputy to take over for me for as long as you need information. I’ll only be interrupted for emergencies, so just let me know, and I’ll get you the data. David has dedicated my services to the three of