Deception. Donna Hill

Enterprises.

      Nearly two hours later, armed with a dossier full of information, Terri left the library, hailed a cab and headed for her office. She was stunned to discover the volumes of information that had been written about Clint over the past ten years. It would take days, maybe even weeks, to sort through it all. But she would—of that she was sure.

      She leaned back in the cab and considered her next step. As soon as she arrived at work, she’d give her friend Lisa Barrett a call. Lisa had worked as the head of proposals for the Gateway Foundation for fifteen years. Gateway solicited help from all of the major corporations in the United States to support charitable causes and community services. Any company worth its salt had contributed at some point. Powers, Inc., had made sizable contributions over the years, and Terri was sure that if anyone knew about the inner workings of the businesses in New York it would be Lisa.

      Arriving at her office, Terri quickly placed a call to Lisa.

      “Lis, hi, it’s Terri.”

      “Hey, hon, how are you? I haven’t heard from you in days. Are you back at work?”

      “In answer to your first question, I’m okay. And yes, I’m back at work, but I need a favor.”

      “Doesn’t everybody,” Lisa commented drolly. “What might yours be?”

      “I need you to check out Clinton Steele. He owns—”

      “Believe me, I know what he owns.” Her voice was filled with amazement. “You’re really moving into the big time. What do you want to know?”

      “Anything that you can find. He made a bid for us to do an ad campaign, but I don’t like what I’ve heard about him. Still, I’d like to give the man the benefit of the doubt.”

      “I’d like to give the man a lot of things, but doubt isn’t one of them,” Lisa quipped wistfully.

      “Lisa,” Terri moaned, “come on, this is serious.”

      “All right—all right. I’ll see what I can find out.”

      “Thanks, Lis. Call me when you do.”

      With that out of the way, Terri diligently tried to focus on the meeting with McPhearson ahead of her. She’d prepared her notes, gone over Stacy’s campaign strategy and had dressed the part of the executive to the hilt.

      Yet even with all of her preparation, she could not shake thoughts of Clint from her mind. Every free second for the past two days, visions of him assaulted her. She couldn’t count how many times she’d relived his kiss. Just the thought of it sent jolts of electricity whistling through her veins. Damn you, Clinton Steele! she thought. Why now, when my whole life is in a tailspin? And why you?

      Sighing deeply, she got up from her desk and smoothed her dress. She hadn’t heard from him since that night, and maybe it was just as well. Things were getting too complicated too fast.

      She checked the antique grandfather clock that stood against the wall. The representatives from McPhearson were due in her office any minute.

      Where was Mark? she wondered, her agitation building. He should have been here an hour ago. She crossed the room in long-legged strides and pressed the intercom.

      “Andrea?”

      “Yes, Ms. Powers?”

      “Has Mark arrived yet?”

      “He just walked in.”

      “As soon as he’s ready, would the two of you come in? You’ll need to bring your Dictaphone, Andrea. I want every word recorded. And buzz Stacy also.”

      “Yes, Ms. Powers.”

      Terri returned to her desk just as her private line rang. “Terri Powers,” she answered.

      “Ms. Powers, this is Mr. McPhearson’s secretary.”

      “Oh, yes. I wasn’t expecting a call. Is there a delay in the meeting time?” She immediately flipped open her plan book, hugging the phone between her shoulder and her ear, pen poised and waiting.

      “Uh, Ms. Powers—Mr. McPhearson wants me to inform you that he’s changed his mind about the campaign.”

      “What?” She dropped the pen between the ivory pages. “I don’t understand. Everything was set.”

      “That’s all the information I have, Ms. Powers.”

      “Let me speak with Mr. McPhearson.” Her pulse pounded in her ears.

      “He’s in a meeting.”

      Terri would have laughed at the practiced line if she wasn’t so furious. “Would you have him call me as soon as he’s through?”

      “He’s leaving directly for the airport when the meeting concludes.”

      “I see.” Terri swallowed, her back stiffening. “Thank you.”

      Blindly she hung up the phone, a sinking feeling taking over. This deal was critical. She couldn’t believe that McPhearson would pull out, just like that. There had to be some explanation, and she was damn sure going to find out what it was.

      She paced the floor, her teeth biting her bottom lip, trying to contemplate a course of action.

      There was a light tap at the door.

      “Come in,” Terri said offhandedly.

      Stacy stepped in.

      “All ready for the big boys?” Stacy asked. She took a seat at the round conference table on the far side of the office.

      Terri blew out an exasperated breath. “McPhearson’s secretary called.”

      “About what?” Stacy took a sip of black coffee and tossed her blond hair behind her ears.

      “It wasn’t what I wanted to hear. They reneged.”

      “What?”

      “You heard right. They pulled out,” Terri said.

      “But why? They couldn’t have gotten a better deal if they’d whipped it up themselves.”

      “Apparently they did.”

      “I don’t believe it.” She ran a hand through her hair.

      “Neither do I.”

      “So now what?”

      Terri raised her eyebrows. “I’ll have to think it through and explore some other options. We’ll really have to push for a confirmation with Viatek Studios. I want you to work on that right away.”

      Stacy nodded and jotted down some hasty notes. “Does Mark know about McPhearson?”

      “I haven’t seen Mark yet.”

      “This was his advertising deal originally, wasn’t it?”

      “Yes.” Then almost as an afterthought, she added, “And so was the account that fell through with Conners, the independent producer,” in a voice filled with awakening.

      She turned to Stacy, her eyes burning with purpose. “As soon as I inform Mark that the deal has been canceled, I want you and I to go over Mark’s files with a fine-tooth comb, as he puts it. I went over the books last week, and there are things that don’t make sense. I thought it was because I was tired but now I wonder…”

      Stacy nodded, her sea-green eyes reflecting Terri’s concern. “I’ll see what else I can dig up from the logs,” Stacy added just as Andrea peeked her head in the door.

      “Mark is here, Ms. Powers.”

      “Tell him to come in, Andrea.”

      Mark strolled in moments later, his light brown eyes shifting from one woman to the other. “Why the long faces?” He walked over to the water cooler and filled a paper cup.

      “McPhearson