Page 78 of Snow Going Back

He nodded and pulled out a pair of glasses from his inside pocket.

Leaving him to it, Kate crossed her arms and wandered over to one of the windows to look out at the view. The office overlooked the front car park and part of the winding drive up from the main road before it disappeared behind trees. Everything was still covered in snow, which glistened like a million tiny diamonds under the bright midday sun. As she looked, a car appeared in the distance. Not really surprised, as there was still a skeleton staff in today to keep things ticking over, she watched it approach, but then her eyebrows rose as she realised whose car it was.

Jenna parked up and looked at her car and then Edward’s with a small frown before heading in through the front door. Kate glanced back at Edward, who was still skimming the pages of the contract. She hadn’t yet had the chance to tell Jenna what was happening, as she’d gone away for Christmas, so this was actually perfect timing.

‘I’ll be back in a moment,’ she said, walking to the door.

He grunted and didn’t bother looking up.

She made her way back through towards the front and met Jenna in the hallway behind the admin office. ‘Hey!’ She smiled. ‘I thought you were off until tomorrow?’

‘I was, but I wanted to get the new year shifts booked in,’ Jenna replied, for once not returning Kate’s smile. Instead, her dark eyebrows were puckered in concern. ‘Kate, whose car is that next to yours?’

‘Well, that’s what I need to talk to you about,’ Kate replied. ‘That belongs to the new owner of Coreaux Roots. Edward Moreaux.’

Jenna’s eyebrows shot up, and her eyes widened as she visibly paled. ‘Edward Moreaux, as in William’s brother? As in the old man with the newspaper, Edward?’

‘Yes, and I know what you’re thinking,’ Kate replied. ‘He’s eighty-four and that doesn’t exactly shout company stability, but he’s bringing his son over to?—’

‘Kate.’ Jenna grabbed her forearms urgently, cutting her off. ‘Where is he? Have you made it official?’

Kate blinked. ‘He’s in the office. He’s signing the papers now.’

Jenna paled and let go, putting her hands to her mouth for a moment.

Kate felt a sense of panic as she saw the other woman’s face. ‘Jenna, what is it?’

‘Kate, I don’t know what he’s told you, but the only reason he wants this company is to destroy it. He hated William. He was so jealous of William’s success that it led to a big falling-out years ago. He threatened then to destroy all they’d built, one way or another. He’s tried all sorts of things to sabotage this place, though luckily failed. But if he has control of it…’

‘Oh my God, what have I done?’ Kate breathed. She stepped backwards and turned, speeding up into a run. ‘Quickly! There may be time!’

Jenna followed hot on her heels, and Kate felt her heart beat painfully fast against her chest as the implications of what she’d done began to hammer down on her like the weight of the world.This couldn’t be happening. After everything that had happened here and the trust William and Cora had placed in her via their will, she couldn’t be the cause of everything crumbling to the ground. She justcouldn’t.All the faces of the people who worked here, the townsfolk, the family the Moreauxs had created, flashed through her mind, and she pressed on faster, pushing through the door and into Cora’s office.

She stopped, Jenna skidding in beside her, and her heart dropped as they watched Edward sign the last page and put the pen down with a smile.

FORTY-FOUR

Edward’s eyes flickered from Kate to Jenna and then back again with a little flash of something dark. Looking back to the freshly signed document, he then picked up his phone and stared at the screen for a moment before typing something out, ignoring the two women entirely.

Kate glanced at the document and edged towards him, trying not to seem as worried as she really was. All she needed to do was get it back and tear it up, then this was all just a horribly near miss that one day they could all look back on and joke about. Or at least talk about without permanent scarring, anyway. He glanced up as she neared and smiled, so she forced a smile back. Reaching the desk, she paused and half turned to look back at Jenna. Jenna stared back at her with a stricken expression, and Kate gave her a subtle nod to reassure her that she was dealing with it.

‘All in order, Mr Moreaux?’ Kate asked politely.

‘Oh, yes, I’d say so,’ he replied, slipping his phone into his inner jacket pocket and standing up.

‘Here, let me take that.’ Kate reached over for the contract, but as she gripped on to it, he quickly grabbed the other end.

‘No, I think I’ll have myownlawyer file this one,’ he said, watching her with a crafty gaze.

Kate’s heartbeat quickened, but she held on to her end of the document tightly. ‘As the lawyer for Coreaux Roots and whose signature is on this contract, I actually need to be the one who files it, Mr Moreaux, sorry,’ she lied.

‘Unless you’re a particularlybadlawyer, we both know that’s not true, don’t we?’ he replied smoothly. ‘It doesn’t matter who files it once it’s been signed and witnessed, which, thanks to you, it nowhas. So very helpful of you to sign your partbeforeour meeting, Miss Hunter. Very helpful indeed.’

His dark gaze bored into hers and danced with amusement at the little game they were playing. He knew, she realised. He knew that his cover was blown.

‘Ugh, sod this…’ she muttered. Gripping the contract with her other hand, too, she swiftly yanked it away from him, no longer interested in keeping up the pretence. Jenna ran forward, and Kate handed it to her. ‘This needs to be destroyed immediately.’

‘Gladly,’ Jenna replied with feeling.

---