He's Got Her Goat (14 page)

Sterling had returned to his seat but was not looking comfortable. “What’s going on here?”

Elaine put her hand on her heart as if offended and turned to Paige. “I told you I wanted you to do something for me, and is it really so much to ask? One week of your time, and I’m paying you. I’ve seen your college transcript, Paige. It was stellar. You’re completely capable of the task I have in mind.”

One week. She read every word twice. It was clearly only employment for one week. “What’s the job?”

“Assisting Sterling. He’s taking a trip to Dallas to approach a small business, not much bigger than yours, about a buyout. Sterling is planning to take them national. I think working with him could give you an education in how to create a phased plan for expansion, which I hope you would repeat with your own business later.”

“Dallas?” Paige asked. She wondered which, the one in Texas or Oregon. If it was Dallas, Oregon, she could meet Sterling’s family and figure out why he hadn’t seen them in so long, or maybe that was a lie too.

Sterling shook his head. “
Earth Tech
is located in Texas.”

“Oh, I’ve never been.” Well, a trip to Texas for a week with Sterling wasn’t the worst thing in the world that could happen. Her eyes were drawn to an underlined number in the center of the text and she did a double take. “Twenty-five thousand dollars for one week? That’s too much,” she said to Elaine.

Elaine didn’t actually smile, but the wrinkles around her eyes deepened. “Let me decide when it’s too much, dear.”

Between the money she’d be paid for this week of work and the reimbursed medical bills, Paige was reeling. She’d always had to worry about making ends meet, and the load from her shoulders felt as if it had been physically lifted. She signed and handed the paper and pen back.

Elaine laid the papers in an open basket behind her. “Excuse me for a moment.” She lifted the receiver to her ear and turned her back to the pair.

“This is unbelievable,” Paige whispered to Sterling while Elaine was busy with her phone call. Paige’s mouth wanted to smile and frown at the same time, so it just widened.

“It seems that way,” Sterling whispered back. “I don’t get her motivation. It doesn’t make sense.”

Paige’s eyes grew wide. “Maybe she’s being kind to an old friend.”

He leaned nearer to her, so he wouldn’t be overheard. “Elaine doesn’t have friends.”

“Uncle Bill could charm the skin off a snake. They could have been more than friends; I guess,” she suggested.

Elaine spun her chair toward the two, finishing her phone conversation while meeting each of their gazes. “Yes, both of them. One forty,” she said and hung up. Without even pausing, she redirected her words to the two in the room. “Sorry about the interruption. I’d like to be the first to welcome you to Erickson’s Holdings, Paige. Perhaps you could spend the rest of the morning with Sterling, and he can update you on the
Earth Tech
deal.”

“I’d rather go home first,” Paige said. She knew her rights, and nothing she’d signed could force her to stay. “In fact, pursuant to my stipulated conditions, I’d like to oversee the goat’s new facility and their treatment during the move before I start with Sterling.”

“Oh.” Elaine hedged. “In all the excitement, I may have jumped too soon.”

Sterling got to his feet and leaned over her desk. “What are you talking about, Elaine?”

“That was one of my partners. He’s heard that someone else is putting an offer on
Earth Tech
. If you don’t move immediately, it will be gone. Didn’t you hear me on the phone? I booked both of your flights for the early afternoon. It will be a push, but I think we’ll have just enough time to get everything done we need to here.” Her chin wrinkled in concern. “I could cancel.”

Sterling sat down and looked at the floor. Paige could see this meant a lot to him. There might be a solution that would work. “Could I get a friend of mine to oversee the goats on my behalf? I know you’re trying to be fair, Elaine, but if someone who knows me could keep an eye out for them, it would make me feel more comfortable.”

Sterling straightened. “Who do you have in mind?”

Paige bit her lip. “He’s a mutual friend. He introduced us.”

“Austin?”

Paige put her hand on his. “You don’t know him like I do, Sterling. He’s a genius.”

Sterling smiled. “I didn’t until this morning. We work together.”

“Oh.” Paige wondered if there might be some conflict of interest and then remembered who Austin was. No, she wouldn’t have to worry about him. He wasn’t capable of lying.

“Austin, it is.” Elaine stood and walked to the door. “I’ll contact him immediately and give him an overview before I send him your way. Meanwhile, Sterling, why don’t you take our newest employee to your office and brief her on your research?” Elaine lifted a manila envelope from a lamp table next to the door. “And here are those final numbers you’ve been anxious for. I think you’ll be pleased.”

Elaine turned the door handle and waited for Sterling and Paige to come to her.

Before leaving, Paige paused then hugged her new boss. “I can’t tell you how much your help means to me. It’s wonderful to know there are still good people out there willing to make things right.”

Elaine grinned. “My secretary has some final details to cover with you.”

Satisfied, Paige hurried out the door.

STERLING HUNG BACK
. He fingered the envelope in his hand. He could have bought everything Elaine said as true, except the push to get to Dallas. A phone call could suspend a competitor’s offer as easily as a face to face visit. A few days here or there shouldn’t make that much of a difference.

The bigger question in his mind was why hadn’t he stood up to Elaine and given Paige that extra time? His conscience seemed to be butting against the inside of his chest like one of Paige’s goat. He knew his answer. Due to his incognito weekend, he was already on thin ice and didn’t want to risk Paige changing her mind. He hoped Elaine’s reason was that straightforward but doubted it. No, they were both being used.

He really didn’t mind being a pawn in one of Elaine’s chess games because she always won. As long as he was on her team, he had complete confidence he’d come out ahead. What he did mind was that he couldn’t understand why she was making these most recent moves. He was missing something. Something big.

The best he could do was to keep his eyes open and play along. Hopefully, things would clear up as the game progressed, and when she decided to sacrifice a pawn, he really hoped it wouldn’t be him.

Elaine took his hand. “Take good care of her, Sterling. I want you to put her needs even before your own.”

He noticed she didn’t say before her needs. Nothing came before what Elaine wanted. Now he was certain she wasn’t on the up and up. “How benevolent of you.” He gave Elaine a mock bow.

She laughed out loud. “Sterling, you know me
better
than that.”

Chapter Sixteen

S
TERLING LED PAIGE TO HIS OFFICE
. As they rounded the corridor, he saw Dotty’s flaming red hair bob above the edge of her high desk. “And who do we have here?” she said.

His heartbeat hitched for a second which unnerved him. Somehow it mattered to him what Dotty thought of Paige. He had felt the same way in high school when he introduced his first girlfriend to his mother. He put an arm around Paige. “Dotty, this is who I spent the weekend with. Her name is Paige, and she’s a bio-chemist.”

Dotty focus returned to her desk. “What you do on the weekend is none of my business.”

Paige stepped forward. “It’s not what it sounds like. I’ve been hired temporarily and will be working with Sterling and you, I assume.” She looked to Sterling who nodded in assent. “I’m Paige Lindon.”

“Lindon? That sounds familiar.” Dotty got to her feet. Her form-fitting dress was flattering despite her age.

“I’ve lived in the area most of my life,” Paige offered.

Dotty inspected Paige, head to toe, not unlike airport security. “Good for you, but that’s not it.” Then she stared at Sterling.

“Is anything wrong?” He’d never seen her so closed lipped about her opinion.

Dotty wouldn’t look his direction. “Nothing. Nothing. Welcome to you, Ms. Lindon. If you need anything, I’m sure Sterling will help you.” She went back behind her desk and began clacking at her computer, ensuring that any conversation was ended between them.

He’d talk to Dotty later about what was going on. She was so temperamental. She could take a disliking to someone for the smallest reason like how they pronounced the word ‘syrup’ or whether their clothes fit properly. Looking at Paige in her sharp navy suit, he knew that wouldn’t be his secretary’s excuse this time. The jacket accentuated Paige’s thin waist beautifully and the pants her long legs.

He shrugged it off and showed Paige into his office. After placing a stack of several studies and an overview of the industry on the sofa, Sterling bid Paige to sit. As she began reading, he took the prospectus he’d been waiting for to his desk and at last opened the cover. Sterling hadn’t finished the first sentence before Paige interrupted him.

“Did you notice
Earth Tech
exceeds the comparable companies in rebuilds but has a twenty percent greater cost in their bio recycling? Do you know why there’s a difference?” she asked.

Sterling was surprised he hadn’t noticed it earlier. “No, but good catch. That’s a great question to ask, and since you’re the chemist, I’d expect you to take that segment of the interview.” He continued to read but looked forward to her insights. She found three more detailed questions that Sterling had overlooked.

A couple of hours later, Sterling had made two important discoveries. First,
Earth Tech
was better than he could have dreamed. Their numbers from last year were rock solid, and the company was poised to skyrocket. Second, the same was true of Paige. Better than he could have dreamed. He knew she was committed, kind and a hard worker, but he hadn’t realized what a great mind she had. He sat at his desk and watched her on the sofa, still combing through the last of the paperwork, jotting notes on a pad beside her. Now that she knew who he really was, he wondered if he could tell her how he really felt as well.

He cleared his throat to get her attention. “Paige, you’re going to be a great asset to this project.”

She grinned at his words but continued focusing on the file in her hand. He clenched his hand around his pen and jabbed the instrument in his pocket. Putting off women for so long had left him out of practice. He got to his feet, feeling more nervous than he could remember. “I mean, I want you to know—”

A knock on the door saved him from going further. It was Austin.

Paige gave the intern a hardy embrace. “I’m so glad you could come.”

Austin gave a stiff bow. “I’ve been told you could use my services and am here to ask for details.”

“Yes.” Paige began. “Did Ms. Erickson tell you the news? I’m working with Sterling this week while my goats are moved, and some things are decided. This will only be temporary, and I know it will be terribly inconvenient, but I need you for one week.”

“I was about to be reassigned anyway.” Austin raised his hand like a kindergartener. “Can I use my tracking system, do you remember it?”

Laughing, Paige patted his arm. “On everything but the goats. I don’t think they’d like microdots stuck to their foreheads.”

Sterling walked to the door. “Why don’t I let you two have some privacy? If you need anything, help yourself.”

He could hear Paige and Austin begin to go over the details of the move, but a few things were still bothering him that he hadn’t covered with Elaine. Most of all, why was she doing this? He hoped that as the office gossip, Dotty might have a clue, especially since she wasn’t her normal personable self when meeting Paige.

Stepping out the door, he was a little surprised to find her desk empty and strolled around the hall to the main area of the office. It was a little after ten, and the work day was in full swing. Sterling felt sorry for the associates stationed right in front of Elaine’s office because it wasn’t only their responsibility to look busy at all times but also to pretend they didn’t notice the goings on in her personal area. Even from where he was standing, he could tell something was up. The voices of two women having a very heated interaction were twice the volume of the music piped through the speakers.