controlled voice. "First of all, Mr. Engle, it is sometimes easier for an outsider to spot problems than it is for someone who is close to them. Second, neither I nor my staff have any intention of taking over. We are here strictly to make recommendations. And third, I have several degrees and a long list of satisfied customers to prove that I know what I'm doing. I'll match my business acumen to yours any day, despite your thirty years' experience."
In the quiet that followed, Sam looked stunned and slightly affronted, and Jason's frown melted into mild amusement as he watched. Bruce studiously examined the polished toe of his shoe. Arthur watched Dani intently, his eyes thoughtful, a small smile forming on his mouth. The others sat calmly, their expressions noncommittal.
"Now see here, young woman—"
"She's right, Sam," Jason stated firmly, cutting off his blustering rebuttal. "Experience is a fine thing. If I didn't think so I wouldn't have kept you and Hadley on the payroll." Both men paled at that and exchanged a quick worried look, but Jason went on ruthlessly, "But don't kid yourself, experience alone just won't cut it anymore. To compete in today's world we've got to incorporate modern methods and technology. And that's where Dani and her people come in."
He gave the two executives a long, hard look. "Anyone who can't live with that or adjust to the changes that they make or interferes with the Update crew in any way will be out on their can in short order." Jason's gravelly voice was calm, his expression pleasant, but there was no mistaking the unbending resolve in his words. "I suggest that you pass that message along to the rest of the employees."
"Yes. Yes, of course."
"Whatever you say."
Obviously shaken, both Sam and Bruce replied in unison.
"Good," Jason said with satisfaction, then turned his attention to his assistant.
"Terry, Bob and Janet will be using the conference room while they're here. Arthur, why don't you take them there while I show Dani to the office she's been assigned?"
"Sure thing, Jase."
When the others had gone Jason grasped Dani's elbow, but instead of following them out, he led her through a side door into an office that connected with his. It was slightly smaller than the one he occupied but almost as plush, with slate blue carpeting, several oil paintings on the oak-paneled walls, a soft cream leather sofa with matching chairs and an impressive walnut desk. Dani had a hunch that one of the vice-presidents had been asked to give up his office for her. She could only hope it hadn't been Sam Engle.
"Well, what do you think? Will this do?"
Dani turned in a slow circle in the middle of the floor. Coming to a halt, she looked at him, her head cocked to one side, a mixture of curiosity and wariness in her blue eyes. "It's very nice, but it isn't necessary. A smaller office somewhere out of the way would have done just as well."
"I want you near me," Jason replied smoothly, and Dani's heart gave a little kick. When her eyes widened he smiled and added, "So we can confer on your findings."
"I see." Willing her pulse rate to slow and struggling to maintain her calm expression, Dani wandered over to the desk then turned and leaned back against its edge, her arms braced on either side. "Tell me, Mr. St. Clair. What made you change your mind?"
"About you being in charge?" Jason shrugged his broad shoulders and strolled toward her, absently jingling the change in his pockets. "Several things. As I said, your references checked out. Nelson thinks highly of you. You're smart as hell. And..."
"And?"
He stopped directly in front of her. A painful tightness squeezed Dani's chest as his dark fathomless eyes roamed over her upturned face. They touched each
feature like a caress, and Dani felt her skin tingle deliciously, the tiny hairs on her arms stand up. He wasn't touching her at all—just looking at her—yet Dani felt as though he had branded her. Slowly Jason's gaze dropped to the
In the quiet that followed, Sam looked stunned and slightly affronted, and Jason's frown melted into mild amusement as he watched. Bruce studiously examined the polished toe of his shoe. Arthur watched Dani intently, his eyes thoughtful, a small smile forming on his mouth. The others sat calmly, their expressions noncommittal.
"Now see here, young woman—"
"She's right, Sam," Jason stated firmly, cutting off his blustering rebuttal. "Experience is a fine thing. If I didn't think so I wouldn't have kept you and Hadley on the payroll." Both men paled at that and exchanged a quick worried look, but Jason went on ruthlessly, "But don't kid yourself, experience alone just won't cut it anymore. To compete in today's world we've got to incorporate modern methods and technology. And that's where Dani and her people come in."
He gave the two executives a long, hard look. "Anyone who can't live with that or adjust to the changes that they make or interferes with the Update crew in any way will be out on their can in short order." Jason's gravelly voice was calm, his expression pleasant, but there was no mistaking the unbending resolve in his words. "I suggest that you pass that message along to the rest of the employees."
"Yes. Yes, of course."
"Whatever you say."
Obviously shaken, both Sam and Bruce replied in unison.
"Good," Jason said with satisfaction, then turned his attention to his assistant.
"Terry, Bob and Janet will be using the conference room while they're here. Arthur, why don't you take them there while I show Dani to the office she's been assigned?"
"Sure thing, Jase."
When the others had gone Jason grasped Dani's elbow, but instead of following them out, he led her through a side door into an office that connected with his. It was slightly smaller than the one he occupied but almost as plush, with slate blue carpeting, several oil paintings on the oak-paneled walls, a soft cream leather sofa with matching chairs and an impressive walnut desk. Dani had a hunch that one of the vice-presidents had been asked to give up his office for her. She could only hope it hadn't been Sam Engle.
"Well, what do you think? Will this do?"
Dani turned in a slow circle in the middle of the floor. Coming to a halt, she looked at him, her head cocked to one side, a mixture of curiosity and wariness in her blue eyes. "It's very nice, but it isn't necessary. A smaller office somewhere out of the way would have done just as well."
"I want you near me," Jason replied smoothly, and Dani's heart gave a little kick. When her eyes widened he smiled and added, "So we can confer on your findings."
"I see." Willing her pulse rate to slow and struggling to maintain her calm expression, Dani wandered over to the desk then turned and leaned back against its edge, her arms braced on either side. "Tell me, Mr. St. Clair. What made you change your mind?"
"About you being in charge?" Jason shrugged his broad shoulders and strolled toward her, absently jingling the change in his pockets. "Several things. As I said, your references checked out. Nelson thinks highly of you. You're smart as hell. And..."
"And?"
He stopped directly in front of her. A painful tightness squeezed Dani's chest as his dark fathomless eyes roamed over her upturned face. They touched each
feature like a caress, and Dani felt her skin tingle deliciously, the tiny hairs on her arms stand up. He wasn't touching her at all—just looking at her—yet Dani felt as though he had branded her. Slowly Jason's gaze dropped to the
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