Wronged (The Cuvier Widows Book 1) by Sylvia McDaniel Page A

upset the employees, and totally
confounded this whole place. Have some consideration and stay home
so that at least a small measure of work will be done! You are not
needed here.”
    Her eyes grew wide and dark and furious. And
then she turned on him. “Don’t you curse at me! Get accustomed to
seeing me at the office, Mr. Fournet. I own part of this business.
I’m going to protect my interest. Get used to seeing me every
day.”
    She whirled around and walked out of the
office, her black skirt swishing angrily as she left, her head held
high.
    Louis glanced out and saw everyone watching
her as she proceeded toward the door. One steely look sent the
employees quickly back to work.
    He slammed his fist against his desk.
“Damn!”
    A more stubborn female he’d never met!
    ***
    Marian had spent the whole week at Cuvier
Shipping. She couldn’t say she’d really worked; instead, her time
had been spent reading a large book on shipping that had just about
put her to sleep. She had cleaned her desk three times. Her
knowledge regarding the shipping business was about the same as
when she’d walked in the door.
    They were paying no heed to her, hoping to
push her out before she even got started. Since his temper tantrum
that first day, Louis had hardly spoken to her. And while his
ignoring her somehow stung, she was determined not to give up. It
would take more than a lack of attention to drive her out.
    Today would be different. Sometimes taking
matters into one’s own hands was called for and this could be one
of those times.
    She walked out of her office and down the
hall to where Henry Chatham, the accountant, sat working on the
books. If no one would teach her the business, then she would work
her way backwards through the ledgers. She would use the files and
whatever else she could to teach herself. Just because the men in
the office were united against her, she would not let them stop
her.
    “Excuse me,” she said clearing her throat to
draw Henry’s attention.
    He glanced up at her as if she had two heads
and six arms. “I’m looking for the general ledger.”
    “Uh,” he glanced around nervously. “I know
it’s around here somewhere, but I don’t see it right now. How about
if I bring it to you?”
    “That’s fine. I’ll expect it on my desk in
ten minutes,” she said, before turning and walking away.
    She suspected the leather bound book that
kept all the financial records for the company was not really
missing. Henry refused to share the information.
    Ten minutes passed and when Marian looked up
from the newspaper she sat reading, Louis stood in her doorway,
filling it completely. He wore a dark suit with a white shirt that
contrasted with his bronzed skin. His dark blue eyes gazed at her,
warm and intense, causing a shiver to trail along her spine.
    “Handsome” wasn’t the word to describe him.
His looks were rugged, with broad shoulders and muscled forearms,
though his lazy, confident gaze drew her to him. He was the first
man in years whose appearance she’d taken notice of, and Louis’s
certain smile told her he knew she’d observed him.
    “Yes, Mr. Fournet?” she asked trying to
ignore his self-assured grin.
    “Louis,” he replied.
    “What can I do for you, Louis?” she asked,
her honey- sweet voice emphasizing his name.
    He smiled. “I hear you’re looking for the
general ledger.”
    “Yes,” she replied.
    “Why?” he asked, his brow raised.
    “Because I am part owner of this company and
I intend to find out what’s going on,” she said sweetly. “Now, you
can tell Henry he has an additional ten minutes before I fire
him.”
    Louis laughed. “Behind that innocent face and
all that black silk is quite a spitfire I’d say.”
    She shook her head. “No, just a determined
woman who, no matter how much you push her, is not going away.”
    “Not yet anyway,” he replied smiling
congenially.
    “Not ever,” she returned sweetly, wishing she
could take her eyes off his full