Kate Takes Care Of Business by Rachel Cartwright Page A

outsourcing as a means of stemming the tide of diminishing returns that has plagued the company since—”
    Kate was speechless. She felt as hollow as the woman on TV sounded. She looked over at her father.
    His shocked face was creased in despair. “I . . . I don’t understand. We haven’t released anything to the media yet . . . and it’s a lie . It’s a single investment, a business case study to see if it’s viable.” He gulped the rest of his martini. “Once this spreads, the shareholders will think I want to rip up all our contracts regardless of the cost and that Hallman is the only one interested in saving the company and making a profit. We’ll never reach an agreement now.”
    Kate sat, motionless. A cold shiver spread over her as she remembered talking to Reid. How could he have done this to her after she trusted him? Treachery was never a pretty thing to face even if that face was the one she had wanted to kiss everyday since April.
    Numb and reeling from the fear of what would happen next, Kate heard her father ask the inevitable question.
    “Who could have done it? I promised Richard it would be handled in a press release that we both agree to. But now these lies? How could this have happened?”
    Kate summoned all her courage. “I’m . . . I’m sorry, Dad.”
    Her father stared at her in silence until the full comprehension of her feeble apology came to him. “You told that bastard Griffin?”
    Bitter and embarrassed, Kate couldn’t meet her father’s condemning glare. Reid had charmed the information out of her when she was drunk. He had kissed it out of her and fabricated the lie to get back at her for what? Because of Sterling? And you were about to drag him into your bedroom.
    “Did you sleep with him?”
    “No! And if I did it would have been none of your damned business anyway?”
    She waited for his full wrath to unleash itself with more cruel accusations but none came. “I’m sorry, Kate, but I wish you had stayed home as I asked.” He put a hand on her dark bowed head. “But now it’s done and it’s too late for tears.”
    “But it was my idea too, Dad.” Kate wiped the hot tears off her red cheeks. “Yes, Reid and I talked about it but I was just testing it before I got the courage to talk to you. I never said any of those things you heard on TV. You believe me, don’t you?”
    Her father could only answer with a weary nod.
    Whether he really believed her or not, Kate was afraid to ask.
    “I’ll have Lucille change the press release to clarify the Post story. Hopefully we can control some of the damage before the meeting.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “I don’t know yet. I may have to rethink our entire plan . . . if I want to save my job.”
    Her father lumbered out of the chair and trudged away looking older and more tired than she had ever seen him.
    After quickly changing and returning from her room, Kate stood alone in the lobby. Dad was right. It was too late for tears but there was still time to fix things once and for all. She took out her cell phone and made the only call that she could.
    A few minutes later Kate heard a familiar voice call her name. She looked up and saw Reid rushing up to her. She closed her phone.
    “Kate? Are you all right? He looked haggard.
    “I’m fine. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.” She kept her gaze frozen on his.
    “Where are you going? I thought we were all—”
    “Did you see the news?”
    “Yes and that’s why I wanted to talk to you.”
    “Terrible accident on the interstate wasn’t it?” She slung her overnight bag over her shoulder. “But the police still haven’t blamed anyone for it.”
    “Be serious. Do you think I did it? That I talked to the Post?” His gray eyes poured a deep look into hers.
    “It doesn’t matter what I think . . . but what I believe . . . and I was wrong.”
    “Hey Kate, I don’t want to get a ticket. Let’s go.”
    She turned and saw Sterling waving at her from