Misguided Control (The Control Series Book 3)

by Anna Edwards

  "Owen say peas and tank you."

  "Don't work too hard, Marie." Her aunt winked at her. "Not with a cutie like that in tow."

  "Aunt Helen!"

  "Oh, come on. You're telling me you hadn't noticed?"

  No, she hadn't noticed.

  He was handsome, now she did think about it. His jaw was square. His jet black hair and hazel eyes were enticing, and she wondered if under the sharp suit he had a muscular body. Yeah, he must do. Oh, Shit. She didn't need to be thinking like this.

  "I need to go. Goodbye, Aunt Helen. Bye Uncle Ned."

  She stepped outside, and Callum was holding the door open to his car for her to get in. Not handsome, not handsome. This was going to be a long trip.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Callum

  Without pomp or ceremony, Callum strode purposefully through the doors of the CEO of Rome's office. Marie was at his side carrying a case of papers.

  "Sicurezza."

  "I don't speak Italian, Signore Corvi, but I know you speak English, so we will conduct this conversation in that language. My name is Callum Ashworth; I'm the new FD of North Enterprises. I'm here under the authority of Mr North to freeze all assets of this branch. Here is my ID." He threw his credentials down in front of the shocked, middle-aged man just as two burly security guards ran in. They were quickly shooed away with a wave of a hand.

  The CEO had turned white.

  "There is money missing from the returns submitted. You are to ask your staff to step away from their desks and leave the building at once. We have security in place who will search them before they go. No-one is to take anything work related with them, laptops, mobiles, papers. They are all to remain on their desks."

  "I understand. I need to call my finance manager."

  He nodded and watched as the phone call was placed. "The conversation must be in English."

  "Giovanni, I've got the company FD here. Can you join us please?"

  A few moments later a slimy-looking man entered the room. He wore thick-rimmed glasses; they almost hung off the end of his nose.

  "What is this about?"

  "Mr Ashworth and his colleague are here to investigate our return. I need you to shut everything down."

  "This is crazy. I'm the finance manager here. Mi piacerebbe sapere se qualcosa stava succedendo?"

  "In English please."

  "I said I'd know if something was going on." The irritated man turned towards him with a scowl.

  "Signore...?"

  "Romano."

  "Signore Romano, I'm here to investigate properly."

  The finance manager folded his arms and frowned with contempt. "Alright. I'll do as you ask." The agitated man turned and stomped towards the door.

  "Wait."

  "What now?"

  "Miss Easton will go with you and assist with the closedown. I wish to ask Signore Corvi a few more questions."

  "Si."

  He leant into Marie. "Keep an eye on him."

  "Of course." She gave a brief smile and followed the finance manager.

  "Do you have suspicions of who is responsible?" The CEO had stood and was looking out his office window towards the rooms below him.

  "No, but I will, as soon as I get into the records."

  "Mr North wants to handle this internally. He will send Mr Carter when I know who it is. "

  "Mr Carter? So this is severe?"

  "Yes."

  "You have my word that I will support you in any way I can. Is my job in jeopardy?"

  "That has not been discussed yet."

  "Va bene. Ok."

  The man slumped in his chair. Callum knew from the look on his face that he was not involved in what was going on in the company, but the resigned look of defeat told him that maybe he hadn't been as stringent in looking after it as he should have.

  A few hours later, the entire office had been cleared. The finance officer had kicked up a fuss again, but Callum had politely told him to leave. The CEO was utterly defeated and just slipped away quietly home. Callum and Marie spent the rest of the evening searching through the papers.

  He leaned back in his chair, yawned and stretched out his muscular arms. His back was aching. Talk about a baptism of fire in the job.

  "I think I've found something." Marie looked up and came over to him. "These figures don't add up. Callum...there’s a couple of million missing."

  "A couple of million?" She showed him. "God, you are right. James is going to be livid when he sees this. It's the last thing he needs on paternity leave."

  "I think livid is an understatement. Nobody has dared to defy him like this before."

  "Any clues as to who it is?"

  "No, but it is all signed off by the Finance officer."

  "I don't know. I think there is something not right about that man." Callum rubbed his hands over his weary eyes. "Look, it is getting late. Why don't we put this aside for the night and go get some food? I'll give James a follow-up in the morning. We can't give it our full attention when we're half asleep and hungry. This is people's lives and jobs, we could make mistakes. Let's go get some of the real Italian pizza you wanted and then a few hours sleep. Hopefully, in the morning, we will be able to see a clearer picture of what is going on."

  Marie agreed. "Where shall we go for pizza?"

  "There was a small place by the hotel. Shall we go there?"

  "Sounds good to me."

  They locked the important papers into a safe and took the short walk to the restaurant. In Italy, people tended to eat later, and the pizzeria. It was busy, but the manager managed to find them a table tucked away in the corner. Marie ordered a margarita while he ordered as much meat as a man could possibly get on a pizza. They ordered a bottle of wine, pinot grigio, after all, they were in Italy.

  "So, how long have you been working for Mr North then?" Callum asked as he popped the last piece of his meal into his mouth.

  "I've been working for the company since I turned sixteen. I started off in the mailroom, doing bits and pieces, and gradually developed till I became Mr North's PA."

  "Sixteen? You don't have any formal training?"

  "Mr North paid for me to do a course to help me learn what I needed to. He must have seen something in me. That is why I like to repay him by working hard at my job."

  "You've done well for yourself. PA to one of the richest CEO's in the country."

  "I enjoy my job."

  "That is the main thing."

  "What about you?" She brought her wine to her lips, and he watched as she swallowed a mouthful down. Her lips were like velvet. He wondered what they would be like to kiss. Jesus, Callum, focus on the job, not your libido.

  "What about me?"

  "Well, you're an accountant, you must have qualified. Where have you worked before?"

  "Yes, I'm qualified. I've worked in lots of different firms, but this is my first FD position, I wasn’t really a hard worker in my youth. I liked to party a bit too much. I eventually grew up though. I know Matthew and James…socially. That is probably why I got the job."

  "Oh right. Socially. Does that mean you’re...er...how do I say this? I know what Mr North is into... I've read books. Does that mean you're dominant?" She was babbling, and it was so cute to see.

  "Marie. I do believe that you’re blushing. Yes, I'm a dominant. I know James and Matthew from a local club. You have a problem with that?"

  "No, no not at all."

  "Have you ever been to one?"

  "No, I don't get to go out much socially."

  "Owen?"

  "Yes, I spend a lot of my time looking after him."

  "He's your nephew."

  "Yes."

  "What happened to his parents?"

  "My sister. I don't want to talk about it." Marie looked towards her watch. "It is getting late. We should get back to the hotel and sleep. Make sure we have our heads right for tomorrow."

  "Marie? If there is ever anything you need to talk about…"

  Sh
e stood.

  "I'm fine."

  The waiter brought her coat, and Callum paid the bill. "You said you’ve never been to Rome before?"

  "No. I don't tend to get to travel much, unless it’s for work."

  "Well, maybe when this is sorted, we can visit a few places. I’ve never seen the Colosseum. I hear it is just breath-taking."

  "I would like that very much."

  He escorted her to her bedroom door. He wanted to kiss her. Where were these feelings coming from? He barely knew her. He'd been with many girls, enjoyed his time at the club but had never felt this compelled to feel a woman’s skin against his.

  His phone rang. Matthew.

  "It's serious."

  "How serious?"

  "Millions."

  "Shit. Do you need me over there, yet?"

  "We've not discovered the source but we’re getting there. Hope to have something for you tomorrow. I don't think it is the CEO. He was as shocked as we were. But..."

  "But?"

  "What do you know about the finance manager?"

  "I'll get a file on him to your email in the next half hour."

  "Marie."

  "What about her?" The bodyguard's voice was sceptical down the phone.

  "I know it is not ethical, but can I have a look at her file as well?"

  "You suspect she is involved?"

  "No, no not at all. She is honest. She respects James too much."

  "Then why do you need her file?"

  "I honestly don't know, but there is something that isn't right. I don't know what it is. Did you know that she looks after her nephew?"

  "Her nephew?"

  "Yeah, a little boy no more than two. I saw him today. She clammed up when I asked about the kid's mother."

  "I'll see what I can do."

  "Thanks."

  Callum hung up and got ready for bed. Something wasn't right with Marie. He just hoped that he could help her. That she would let him in.

  He picked up his phone again and brought up the news. His father's name was all over. Thankfully nobody had put two and two together yet. Only James and Matthew knew who he really was and they had assured him they would keep the secret. He just hoped he could keep it that way but he doubted it.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Marie

  Marie turned over in the bed. She was cosy and enveloped in a tight cocoon amongst the blankets. She still had her eyes tightly shut. If she opened them, then Owen would start talking to her, and she didn't want to wake up yet. She took a deep inhalation and waited for the musky damp smell to invade her nostrils. It didn't come, though. She opened her eyes and sat bolt upright. No Owen, no annoying peeling wallpaper, just a plush hotel room. She sank back down into the bed and snuggled against the pure cotton sheets. She was the world's worst traveller. She couldn't even remember where she was. Her phone beeped on the bedside table with a message from Callum asking if she could be ready in half an hour as he wanted to get in early. There was something he needed to check.

  The next thirty minutes quickly disappeared when she discovered the walk-in shower with hot water. Yes, actual hot water that didn't run out after two seconds. She could have spent all day in there, but thankfully when Callum arrived, exactly on time, she was nearly ready.

  "I'm sorry. I enjoyed the shower too much." She brushed a dab of brown eyeshadow over her eye while he sat on the edge of her bed. He had on a pinstripe suit again, including waistcoat. It framed his muscular body perfectly. Her breath hitched a little as she watched in the reflection.

  "I know the feeling." His eyes met hers in the glass. "Maybe we should shrug off what we need to do and spend the day in it together."

  She coughed as her throat caught at his words; her shaking hand dropped the brush on the floor.

  "I don't think Mr North would appreciate us doing that on his time."

  "No, I don't suspect he would." Callum came to her and bent down beside her. He picked up the brush and handed it to her. His hand wrapped around hers as he did and lingered a little longer than it should. "I'll get us some breakfast to take with us. I'll meet you downstairs in a few minutes."

  "Alright." She squeaked out. Her body was reacting in all sort of strange ways to this man. Was the room getting hotter? Ok, maybe she should change her panties before she went. This pair suddenly seemed rather wet. Maybe she hadn't dried down there properly.

  She traced mascara over her eyelashes and grabbed her bag and jacket. The maid could tidy up after her, it wasn't often that she was allowed to be frivolous and leave a mess.

  On the short walk to the offices, Callum told her, the Finance Officer invested in a company that went bust, and left him with severe debts.

  "He has motive then?"

  "He does." Callum's answer was hesitant.

  "But you’re not sure?"

  "He could be very desperate, but it is just all too obvious. I feel as though we are still missing something."

  "I know what you mean." And she did. Ok, her grasp of financial aspects wasn't as good as his, but she knew that if she were going to steal millions, she wouldn't leave a trail so easy to find. "Do you think that he is being set up?"

  "Matthew sent me a file on him last night. Apart from the failure of the company, there is nothing to suggest he would do this."

  "It could all be a cover to hide who he truly is?"

  "It could. Marie, I want to talk to him. While I do, will you do something for me?"

  "Of course?"

  "I want you to talk to Signore Corvi about him. See what sort of picture you can get from him about the man. I want you to show him what evidence we have as well." He pulled up his laptop and opened a spreadsheet. "I added up all the figures and the dates. They are all dates that he volunteers. He takes the afternoon off to do it."

  "I don't understand?"

  "That afternoon, Signore Corvi signs any fund transfers."

  "Are you saying Signore Corvi is responsible?"

  "No, but I think that Giovani might be trying to create an elaborate circle to hide what he has done."

  "I'll go talk to Signore Corvi now."

  "Thank you."

  The conversation with the CEO didn't shed any light on the innocence or guilt of the Finance Officer for Marie. All it did was make her feel sorry for him. The CEO wanted to take early retirement so that he could spend time with his grandchildren, but equally, he loved his job and would be bored without it. He was just waiting for the call from James to tell him that it was time to go.

  "I better call Matthew in." Callum placed the file of evidence on the desk in front of them. All paths lead to Giovanni Romano.

  "We've done all we can, I think. Matthew has resources I'm not supposed to know about but given I'm Mr North's PA I most certainly do." Marie raised an eyebrow.

  "I think it's better if both of us forget what you just said."

  "I do too."

  Callum placed the call on speaker. Matthew would be there in a few hours. They were to lock everything away and get some rest. The shit would hit the fan when he arrived, so he wanted them ready.

  "Fancy something to eat?"

  "Not really, I'm still full from the antipasto you served up for breakfast." She patted her trim tummy and Callum laughed before blowing out his cheeks.

  "Damn women! That was a snack."

  "You definitely have a thing for meat don't you?"

  "It's what gives me my muscles."

  She shook her head this time. "I bet you wear a male girdle under that shirt?"

  He took a step closer to her. His warm breath cascaded over her face.

  "You want to find out?"

  She pushed him lightly away.

  "Anyone ever told you about sexual harassment?"

  "Anyone ever told you that you have been flirting with me all morning? I've seen the looks."

  "Jerk!"

  “Oh yeah.” Callum grabbed her round the waist and started to tickle her. “Jerk am I.”

  “Stop.”
<
br />   “Apologise.”

  “Never, you are a jerk,” He did it again but harder.

  “Please stop it. Mercy. Ok, you’re not a jerk.” She was so ticklish that she collapsed into his arms. The air grew thick between them when he stopped. She was held within his strong arms, their faces so close. All she had to do was shift forward a few millimetres and she’d have her lips against his. She turned away though and he helped her to her feet.

  "Come on, let's go see the Colosseum."

  "Ok."

  They jumped in a taxi, and she held on for dear life as the driver weaved through the chaotic streets. When the huge Flavian Amphitheatre came into view, it took her breath away. It was a phenomenal sight.

  "How old is it?" She turned to Callum, who had the same look of awe on his face as she suspected she had.

  "I'm not sure." He pulled out his phone and Googled it. "Says it was started in 72AD but completed in 80AD."

  "Wow, that really is old."

  They joined the queue of tourists, looking silly in their smart suits but Marie didn't care. She was too excited to get inside.

  Callum brought a guidebook and handed it to her. "Here, a souvenir."

  "Thank you, you shouldn't have."

  "I'm just all heart when it comes to treating girls."

  "Is that why you’re single?"

  "Who says I'm single?"

  "Really?" She put her hands on her hips and looked at him. You’ve flirted with me since we got off the plane."

  "You have flirted back."

  "My body’s reaction to a beautiful face. Can't be helped. I don't hold it responsible."

  "You know that could go both ways."

  "Maybe." What were they doing? They had gone from zero to sixty at the speed of light. She took a step away and opened the guide book.

  "Did you know it could hold an average of sixty-eight thousand people? It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology." Callum got the message, because he also took a step back.

  "And when Matthew arrives it could very well hold another epic execution."

  She stopped mid-step. Callum caught her.

  "He..he..wouldn't." She felt sick.

  Callum looked around and pulled her into an alcove that was quiet. "Marie, look at me."