4

He was right. And when she glimpsed the wounded expression on his face, she instantly felt ashamed of her behavior. It wasn’t fair to hold something that was beyond his control against him. She blew out a weary

breath. “I know, and I’m sorry for my comment. But honestly Matthew, I have no idea what happened to those files. I really can’t help you—”

“Can’t or won’t?” He asked tightly.

“Both,” she said quietly, and stepped around him to head toward the door.

She froze when his hands clamped around her arms and he dragged her up against his hard body, her back brushing against his chest. A tiny shiver raced down her spine when she felt the distinct outline of his cock through her clothing. She instantly pushed out her hips to put some space between their bodies.

“I can’t let you walk out of here—,” he whispered into her ear, and she had to repress a shudder when his warm breath fanned across the sensitive skin of her ear, causing tiny goose bumps to break out across her flesh. “According to company policy, if an employee quits and anything,

from physical property to information, goes missing then I have to report

it to the authorities—”

“What?” She pulled out of his grasp and spun around to face him, her eyes flashing with disbelief. “Are you saying, you think I took those files?”

“You were angry. Who could blame you if you wanted to sabotage the company—”

She drew back as if he’d struck her, unable to believe his words. “I didn’t do anything with those files. When I left Thursday they were here,” she cried, pointing at her computer.

His eyes remained cold, and his expression impassive, as he stared back at her. She could tell from the look on his face that he had his doubts.

“I want to believe you, Lana, but the files have somehow disappeared. I don’t want to have you arrested, but I have no choice—”

She stiffened as an icy chill crept through her veins. “Arrested?

Matthew, I did not take those files.” She could not believe this was happening. She had worked tirelessly for Renault, only to be screwed out

of a promotion and now accused of corporate theft? She had never felt so helpless in her entire life.

She held her breath when Matthew tilted his head to the side as if he were calculating some mathematic formula silently. When he abruptly fixed his gaze upon her, she stilled.

“I don’t want to see you arrested, all I want is to be ready for that meeting in two weeks. So, I am willing to keep quiet about this if you help me do just that. Help me put together this account in time.”

She released a sigh of relief. She had absolutely no desire to spend any time talking with the authorities trying to convince them of her innocence. If he wanted her to help him with the New Zealand account then she could do that, which is exactly what she said.

“I didn’t take those files, but I do understand your position. I am willing to assist you with the account,” she murmured reluctantly. Hell, she didn’t want to do any such thing. But she also didn’t feel like going to jail for corporate theft either.

At her words, a smile of relief spread across his handsome face. “Good—” he started but she quickly held up her hand to silence him. “Before you get excited, you need to understand that this account took me three months to do and many weekends and eighteen hour days. If you

want it ready in two weeks be prepared to spend all your time doing

nothing but this.”

He folded his arms across his chest and gave her a genuine smile, but she swore she glimpsed a spark of triumph twinkle in his eyes. “Have no worries. I have cleared my calendar to work on nothing else but this.

For the next two weeks, I am all yours.”