Legal Heat by Sarah Castille

deliberate power play. Amusement glimmered in Steele’s eyes.
    Katy glanced up at the clock. Ten o’clock. She smiled at Tim to let him know they could start and he gave her a wink. Tension ebbed from her body. She liked Tim, not just as a reporter, but also as a friend. Recently he had hinted he wanted more than friendship, but she had neither the time nor the energy to pursue any kind of relationship and after Steven, she didn’t want another man messing up her life.
    She took a deep breath to steady herself. “Mr. Steele, as you are aware, my client worked as a laboratory technician at Hi-Tech for approximately two years. She has filed a claim against your company in which she alleges Hi-Tech wrongfully dismissed her from her job. I understand she ultimately reported to you, is that correct?”
    “It is.” Steele’s deep voice reverberated around the stark, windowless room.
    “You were the one who made the decision to terminate her employment?”
    “Yes.” Steele leaned back, crossed his arms behind his head and yawned.
    Katy raised an eyebrow to let him know his disrespectful behavior had not gone unnoticed. “Is that the reason the company selected you as its representative for the case?”
    “Objection.”
    Katy tried not to smile as the corners of Mark’s mouth lifted slightly. He knew she was testing him. Hi-Tech’s Board of Directors had to select someone to represent the company for the duration of the legal hearing. Their reason for selecting Steele was not directly relevant to the case, but she did want to know why a CEO was involved in what should have been a simple human resource matter.
    Mark raised a questioning eyebrow and Katy shook her head. No point wasting time arguing the objection. If she really wanted an answer, she could apply to the court. Instead, she launched into a series of questions about Martha’s performance. Nothing in Martha’s work history indicated anything but a dedicated, competent, hard-working employee. Surprisingly, Steele agreed.
    She flipped through her file as she considered her next line of questioning. “In the Statement of Defense, the stated reason for my client’s dismissal is a violation of company policy, is that correct?”
    “Yes.” The quick glance Steele gave Mark suggested the official reason for dismissal might be a legal fabrication.
    Interesting.
    “What policy was that?”
    “A prohibition on entering the premises after hours without authorization.”
    “I want to see that policy.”
    Mark smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “And you shall.”
    She tore her gaze away from his full, sensuous lips. “Do you, Mr. Steele, believe the policy violation was sufficient grounds for dismissing an employee with a stellar work record, and without any recourse to proper statutory or company disciplinary procedures?”
    Mark sucked in a sharp breath. “Objection. Stick to the facts, Ms. Sinclair, and let the judge make the conclusions.”
    She clenched her teeth and attacked again. “Mr. Steele, weren’t your actions unusually heavy-handed?”
    “Ms. Sinclair.”
    She flinched at the sharp warning in Mark’s voice, but she didn’t take her eyes off Steele and she didn’t back down. “Is dismissal the usual consequence for breach of that particular policy?”
    Steele narrowed his eyes. “We have a zero-tolerance policy for corporate spies.”
    Katy raised her eyebrows and shifted her gaze to Mark. “Mr. Richards, perhaps you might remind your client to refrain from making unfounded accusations on the record, unless he has evidence to substantiate his claims.”
    Steele leaned across the table. “I don’t need evidence. I’ve been in this business a long time. I know a spy when I see one.”
    Katy folded her arms. “I’ve warned you once already. I want this to stop.”
    “I know what you want, kitty,” Steele growled, his eyes raking a path across her body.
    “Leash your dog, Mr. Richards!” Katy’s shout echoed off the walls in