Page 13 of Her Dark Salvation

“Ah,” was all I could manage. My first foray into the world of corporate finance, and Jeff had thrust me into the plot of a poorly written corporate thriller. “And you want CMG to…”

“Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate CMG’s unique skillset. My understanding is you can create complex financial models to uncover potential optimizations, correct?”

“Yes. We use models to determine how companies can become lean, improve staffing and budget plans to increase gross and net profits, minimize unnecessary losses resulting from unoptimized cash flows—” I stopped mid-ramble, my brain connecting concepts in ways that had never occurred to me, in an application of my research I’d never considered.

Jeff was right. He couldn’t have done this without my help. The nervous seed sprouted into eager fascination.

“You want me to create a financial model of your European office to identify discrepancies between what should be and what is.” My eyes widened. “You want me to pinpoint the leak, and the thief, using a financial model.”

The corner of his mouth turned up in the slightest hint of a devious smile. “Precisely.”

I reclined in my chair and stared into the bookcase, chewing the side of my fingernail.Follow the money. I’d never used my research for this type of application, but it made sense. Understanding how cash flowed was the first step in understanding why.

Gears turned and picked up speed.

I’d created hundreds of complex models over the course of my career; this would be no different. It had been a while since I’d constructed a model based in the European economy, but that was like riding a bike.

Model parameters took shape, and the growing seed of excitement took root.

“Anna?”

“Hm?” My eyes snapped to meet the source of my name.

Mr. DeVita stared at me with a raised eyebrow.

My cheeks heated. I’d forgotten where I was and who sat across from me, lost in my thoughts. Classic Anna. I dropped my hand and smoothed it over my skirt. “Sorry. I was thinking about how to formulate the model.”

“Before you get started, we need to discuss the parameters of your work. I can’t explain the sudden appearance of a financial analyst without raising suspicion, and I don’t know if this is an inside job or an outside shakedown.”

Shakedown?I scrunched my nose. “Yes, I suppose that would defeat the purpose,” I said, humoring him. At least his paranoia explained why he didn’t want me talking to other employees about my work.

“Starting Monday, you’ll pose as my administrative assistant.”

My eyebrows launched past my forehead. “Excuse me?”

“My assistant Diane is visiting her sick sister in California. You’ll serve as her replacement, supplied by CMG, a firm I regularly use for temporary staffing and IT services. As my assistant, you’ll conduct your work at the desk in the foyer”—he lifted his chin toward the office door—“as well as any administrative tasks she’d normally perform. You’ll direct any questions or requests for information to me, and I’ll provide access to my company’s data.”

My lips parted, but I was stunned silent by the idea of posing as this man’s secretary while performing insider corporate espionage. The logistics alone were going to be a nightmare, not to mention the work itself.

“But my software… My computer... My—my notes… My models are huge, and—and the simulations computationally intensive. I can’t just run them on a commercial desktop. I mean I can, but?—”

“I have no doubt you’ll figure out how to make this work. In fact, I’m paying CMG for you to figure out how to make it work. That’s the job. Mr. Levitt asked me to provide you with an opportunity to decline. Are you in or are you out?” His black eyes bored into me, waiting for a response to his challenge.

My breath caught. This is what I wanted, wasn’t it? A nine-to-five? Go to the office every day? Use my research outside academia? I just hadn’t anticipated corporate larceny, posing as a secretary, and a gorgeous, overbearing boss. The situation was far from ideal, but I could make it work, and the unique application of my research was too tempting to ignore. I let go of my breath.

“I’ll need to bring in some equipment.”

“That’s fine, as long as it’s minimal. I don’t want anything to appear out of the ordinary. You’re my admin after all.” His lips twitched.

I narrowed my eyes. Was he teasing me? Enjoying the idea of me serving as his secretary?

“In or out, Dr. Barone?”

“In,” I said definitively.

“I start work at eight. I’ll expect you at your desk no later than seven thirty. Do you have any questions?”

“I… No.”

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