Read Online The Morning After the Night Before: Love & Lust in the city that never sleeps! by Nikki Logan - Free Book Online Page B

that to my advantage?’
    â€˜I would.’
    No doubt. ‘I’m not you.’
    â€˜You used your inside knowledge to pitch your submission straight to our operational priorities.’
    â€˜I could have gleaned any of that information from your annual report. What you’re suggesting is…’
    â€˜Is what?’
    â€˜Immoral.’
    â€˜What’s moral about business?’
    God, she’d found that cynical little snort quite sexy the night of her party. ‘In your world, maybe nothing. But in my world I have this little thing called values.’
    â€˜Please. You’re not trying to suggest you weren’t hoping your professional relationships with your fellow panel members would have boosted you across the line.’
    â€˜The operative word there is “professional”.’ What she and he had done was personal. Extremely personal. ‘Anyway, how could I possibly know you’d be on the panel? It wasn’t in the appointment letter your office sent out.’
    His eyes narrowed at the inconvenient truth of that.
    â€˜Why were you on the panel, Harry? You’re normally the final approval before it goes to the board. Why are you doing your own grunt work?’
    â€˜Because my previous panel chair left thecompany rather suddenly and with no notice.’ Criticism saturated his words.
    â€˜Your previous panel chair had nearly three months of accrued leave to serve out.’ Leave pay that still hadn’t come through since HR were dragging their feet on finalising her cessation. Probably thanks to him. ‘But don’t avoid the question.’
    He shrugged, but his eyes didn’t quite meet hers. ‘If you want something done right…’
    It could have been anger flooding in or the lift’s sudden deceleration as it approached the ground floor that weakened Izzy’s legs but, either way, she had to grip the ornate handrail behind her.
    â€˜Charming. I’m not even on your staff anymore and you’re still finding ways of suggesting I’m incompetent.’
    â€˜I don’t think you’re incompetent in all areas.’ The charm sleazed out of him.
    But as her fury escalated something about his lack of direct gaze struck her. He was lying. So she pushed harder, right there.
    â€˜You’re getting dangerously close to a statement I could use against you.’
    â€˜You wouldn’t, not now you’ve got what you wanted.’
    Again with the assumption that this was all strategy on her part. The lift doors began to open so she pressed the door’s close button and kept her finger down hard. Blank eyes found hers.
    â€˜For the record, I approached Broadmore because I knew your system and your priorities and, yes, because I hoped that the people I’d worked with on the panel would help the trust get across the line. But not because I expected favours, simply because I knew Darcy and Kevin were open to new ideas and a persuasive, professional presentation. I had no idea you’d be on that panel and I certainly had no intention of using either my past employment or our brief…whatever…to boost my chances. In fact, I’ve been trying hard to put both behind me.’
    â€˜Maybe it’s worth fifty grand to me to do the same.’
    She stood taller. Past the ache his words caused.
    â€˜Maybe I no longer want your fifty grand,’ she risked, hoping like hell he didn’t take her up on it. That wasn’t toy money she was playing with. Fifty thousand pounds was future-changing for the trust. ‘If it comes with the constant requirement to genuflect.’
    â€˜Ah, Dean,’ he purred. ‘Always such a team player.’
    Was he kidding? ‘Pot kettle black, Mitchell.’
    â€˜I’m sure the otter people wouldn’t be thrilled to hear you’re trying to return their funding.’
    Okay, enough of this.
    â€˜Your reasons for shortlisting and approving