The Missing Heir(114)

                “Leave my office,” said Cole.

                “If you’re holding a fire sale, the senior management team                     deserves an explanation.”

                Cole felt his blood pressure creep up. “The senior management                     team will deal with whatever the owner decides.”

                “So you’re selling out and pocketing the windfall,” Roth                     spat.

                “Leave,” Cole ordered.

                “No regard for anyone or anything else?”

                Cole heard a gasp.

                He glanced past Roth to see Amber in the doorway. Her eyes were                     wide and her face was pale as she clung to the doorjamb.

                He swore under his breath, even as he vaulted from his chair.                     She was quick to turn away, dashing down the hall toward the elevator.

                He followed at a run. When he caught her, she was frantically                     stabbing the down button.

                “Calm down,” he told her in an undertone.

                She didn’t look at him. “Is it true?”

                “I’m not having this conversation in the foyer.”

                In his peripheral vision, he caught the interested look of                     Sandra, the executive receptionist. He remembered how friendly she’d been with                     Roth the first day he’d visited. And it occurred to him that she had a phone                     number readout on her switchboard.

                Amber turned, jaw clenched. “Just tell me if it’s true.”

                “Come back to my office.”

                “Tell me the truth. Are you going to sell Coast Eagle?”

                He scrambled for a way out of the conversation. “It’s                     complicated. We need to talk. And we can’t do it here.”

                She pressed her lips together, staring at him with disdain.

                “Come back to my office, where it’s private. You can hate me                     just as easily there.”

                She didn’t answer.

                “Amber,” he prompted.

                “Fine.”

                He turned and gestured for her to go first.

                He let the distance grow between them. Then he stopped at                     Sandra’s desk. He pinned the woman with a furious glare. “If you ever                     research my phone calls again and report them to anyone, I’ll fire you                     on the spot.”