Page 6 of Tempting Her Forbidden Boss

She couldn’t put all the responsibility on him, though, could she—hadn’t she deliberately lifted her chin at him? Hadn’t she deliberately looked him over as he had her? Hadn’t she widened her stance—preparing for battle but also preparing for contact?

She had. And she hadn’t exactly given him a cool, back-off response. She’d enjoyed every second of it, far more than she’d thought it was possible to enjoy a kiss. And that was terrifying. To want like that made you weak.

The office stirred, as if an invisible wave were working its way through. She glanced over her screen. Not invisible. This was a tidal wave and she was in its path—for that was the HR dragon, wasn’t it, heading straight for her?

‘Danielle? Could you come with me, please?’

For some reason a power-that-be like her could make Dani feel guilty just by the way she said her name. But Dani hadn’t done anything wrong. Okay, she hadn’t been quite at her usual output level, but she hadn’t been bad. Something was definitely up. She was aware of the sudden stillness in the office—no one was talking, no one was moving. They were all, she realised, watching her. She lifted her head that little bit higher—don’t show weakness.

‘Shall we take the lift?’ The dragon seemed to have a gleam in her eyes.

No way could she know about the lift. Could she?

‘I’d prefer the stairs,’ Dani answered quietly.

That was definitely a smirk from the HR queen. Quickly covered, but it had flashed in her eyes and on the edges of her mouth. Then there was nothing—just chilly silence all the way up the stairs to the executive level, even heavier silence in the corridor, only when the door closed behind her as she entered the woman’s office was there the slightest noise. She wasn’t invited to sit down. The woman just turned and spoke.

‘I’m sorry but your recruitment agency has been in touch. Apparently there is a problem with your file.’

‘A problem?’ What kind of problem? Dani’s blood ran cold. Surely it wasn’t about her father. She’d passed bank security clearances in Australia despite his record. They’d investigated and known it was nothing to do with her—that she’d been a victim as much as the others he’d ripped off. But maybe in New Zealand they had different rules?

‘I’m not entirely sure—you’ll need to talk to your agent about that. However—’ the woman was robot-like ‘—it means we’re unable to have you working here any longer.’

‘What?’She couldn’t lose this job. She just couldn’t. She was down to her last dollars. Literally—her last fifty or so. She’d come over too soon, hadn’t saved enough, but she’d been so lonely and so desperate to find him. She’d waited long enough—so had he.

‘The agency has the money for the days you’ve already worked this week. If you go and see them, you’ll be able to collect it.’ Her tone was utterly dismissive. Final.

‘I’m to go now?’ Dani gaped.

‘Yes. Gather your belongings and leave immediately.’

Dani clocked the woman’s impassivity. Hernot negotiableattitude. Wow—how could she ruin someone’s life and look so uncaring? But Dani knew not to fight. She’d hold her head high and fall apart in private.

She turned and left the room, tightening every muscle hard to stop the trembling from being visible. She walked back down the empty corridor to the stairs. This just couldn’t be happening. It just couldn’t. Her paperwork was totally fine; she was sure of it. When she’d registered with the agency they’d been pleased with her qualifications and experience. So, there was no problem—unless someone had taken a dislike to her?

Someoneimportant?!

She stopped. Swallowed. Turned and walked back—all the way past the HR queen to the comer office and to the fifty-something woman sitting guard-like outside the sanctum.

‘Is Mr Carlisle in?’ Despite her determination it was only a whisper that sounded.

‘He’s overseas,’ his PA answered crisply.

How convenient. Dani’s suspicions grew, edging out the anxiety. ‘When is he back?’

The PA lifted her head and looked at her. Behind the old-school librarian glasses she seemed to be reading her for a long moment before her lashes dropped. ‘I believe he’s due back here early this afternoon.’

And she’d be gone by then. Doubly convenient.

Nowaywas this a coincidence. He didn’t want to be embarrassed at work—was that it? Had she been so all over him he was trying to get rid of an awkward situation before it got even more complicated? What was he afraid of—that she’d go psycho stalker on him?

She turned on the spot and marched back down the stairs to her floor. She’d go straight to the agency and clear it up. She needed the money more than he needed a clear-conscience office.

‘Hi, Danielle.’ One of the young bankers gave her a leery grin when she walked past him. He hadn’t spoken to her before. She caught the grins then swapping between him and some of the others. It had probably been a bet. She knew about boys and their bets—ones made at her expense.

She didn’t have the time or capacity to deal him even a cool look. Too busy trying to stomach the sick feeling. She’d been in the country less than a fortnight, was on the bones of her butt in terms of funds and now she’d just lost her job. And she needed to knowwhy.

It only took two minutes to get her jacket from the back of her seat and the bag she’d tucked under the table. She logged off her computer.

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