Donna Hill - Deception

“Ms. Powers, Mr. Pierce is here, and Mark just arrived. Should I buzz him?”

“Yes. But tell him to wait about ten minutes. Send Al in now.”

“Who gave you authorization to allocate all of this money, Al?” Terri demanded, tossing the stack of check releases across the conference table.

Al Pierce swallowed and adjusted his glasses. He made a small showing of reviewing the documents in front of him. “Why, you did,” he replied after several moments.

“In all of the years that we’ve been dealing with each other, when have I ever given you verbal instructions? Every transaction has been clearly written by me. Is that correct?”

“Yes. However, Mr. Andrews said that they were your instructions.” He fidgeted in his seat, uncomfortable under her steady gaze.

“How much was he paying you to maintain two sets of books, Mr. Pierce?” she quizzed, throwing him totally off guard.

“I…I don’t know what you mean,” he mumbled, raking a nervous hand through his thick gray hair. “Certainly you don’t think that—”

“Think what—that you and Mark were behind-the-scenes, undermining me for personal gain?” Her voice rose. “Is that what you think is on my mind?”

“Ms. Powers,” he stood abruptly. “I resent the implication.”

“Resent whatever you want, Al. You’re through! And if I have anything to do with it, the only things you’re ever going to add up again are cash-register receipts,” she spat. “Now get out of my sight and out of my office.”

Al Pierce gathered up his belongings. “If you think that I’m your only problem, then you have more of a problem than you can imagine.” He threw a cursory glance in Stacy’s direction and stalked out the door.

“What was that supposed to mean?” Stacy asked.

“I really don’t know. More than likely it was an idle comment.” But silently she wondered if it were that simple. She inhaled deeply. “Now for round two,” she said, her tone morose. “I think it would be best if I handled this one alone.” She crossed her arms with resolve.

“Are you sure?”

Terri nodded gloomily. “If I need you for anything, I’ll send Andrea for you.”

Stacy rose reluctantly and slowly approached Terri, who stood as if cast in stone. “Listen,” she began softly, “it all looks real bleak right now. But everything is going to work out.”

“Sure,” she whispered. “On your way out tell Andrea she can buzz Mark now.”

They stood facing each other like two gladiators waiting for the signal to attack.

“I’ve had the misfortune of going over your records,” Terri began, pacing her words evenly. “It’s amazing how yours are so different from mine,” she added with sarcasm. “You’ve tried to destroy me,” she said, her voice edged in granite. “No wonder you were so hell-bent on sealing the contract with Hightower. You needed the money to cover up what you’d done before I found out.”

“You brought it on yourself,” he tossed back in a malevolent tone that chilled her.

“What? You—with the help of Al Pierce—systematically set out to ruin this company. A company that I put together.” She counted off his misdeeds on her fingers. “You sabotaged contracts, made us lose potential deals, lined your own pockets and God knows what else. Then you have the gall to stand there and tell me that I brought it on myself! Do you hate me so much that you’d risk ruining this company and me as well as your own name in this industry?”

“Yes!” he shouted. “You’ll never know how much. You with your holier-than-thou attitude. The woman who could do no wrong. This is no more than what you deserve. I was the one left with the crumbs of your success.”

“Crumbs!” Her indignation came full circle. “You’ve always been a part of the success, Mark.”

He chuckled. “But it was always Terri this and Terri that,” he mimicked in a singsong voice. His face twisted into an ugly mask. “Terri Powers received the accolades, her name in the papers—not me.” He jabbed a finger at his chest, glowering at her.

“So that’s what it all boils down to, does it? You can’t stomach working with a woman who has made it.”

He looked away, clenching his jaw. “You’re not a woman. If you were, you could’ve kept your husband and your baby!”

His personal attack stabbed her. She fought for control as nausea threatened to overtake her. “Not the kind of woman you expected me to be,” she said smoothly, camouflaging her hurt. “I want you out of here within the hour. Security will oversee your departure.” She turned her back to him, her spine rigid.

Mark tossed her a hate-filled stare. “You’ve had your time to shine. I’ll guarantee you that I’ll have mine, as well.” He turned toward the door then stopped. “I was willing to risk anything to make you know how it feels to be forgotten. Now that you know everything,” he paused, “you won’t ever forget me again.” He stormed out of the office, leaving the door swinging on its hinges.

For several moments Terri stood in the tension-filled silence that permeated the air. Finally she let out a breath that she didn’t realize she’d held, and a tremor raced through her. She lowered her head, feeling weak and beaten.

She’d always prided herself on being fair to everyone. Or at least she’d thought so. How could she have not seen what was happening to Mark? She’d been so wrapped up in her own personal problems over the past months that she’d been blind to what was going on, allowing Mark free rein with the company. He’d used that trust against her.

His painful words rushed back at her, and her resentment and hurt resurfaced. No one could ever begin to imagine the pain and worthlessness that she’d felt. She’d shared her private hell with no one, and she wasn’t sure if she ever could.

But she could not let it immobilize her. She forced her body to move, her mind to work. She still had work to do. It was time that she reclaimed control of her life, for better or worse.

Snatching her coat from the rack and putting her purse under her arm, she walked purposefully out of the office, stopping briefly at Andrea’s desk.

“I’ll be away from the office for the balance of the day. Any problems, call Stacy. She’ll know what to do. Oh, and security will be escorting Mr. Andrews out of the building.”

“Yes, Ms. Powers.”

Terri stood in front of the elevator, her face resolute, her spirit determined. Her next stop was the offices of Hightower Enterprises.

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