by Marie Astor
Janet gulped. She was fairly certain which employee Alex was alluding to: Dennis Walker did not always play by the rules. At times he liked to bend them a little. Like the time when Dennis and Janet had gotten Tom Wyman, who was a retained legal counsel, drunk on straight vodka martinis while their own martinis were made with olive juice and vermouth by a well-tipped bartender. While Wyman was out in a drunken stupor, Dennis had downloaded vital evidence from Wyman’s laptop. That evidence had been the cornerstone of the Emperial case until the Treasury’s Enforcement Division postponed the hearing, and finally rejected the evidence as inadmissible.
“I am asking you to be my eyes and ears, Janet.” Alex leaned across his desk, his eyes locking on Janet’s face. For a moment his face lost its well-composed mask. “Look, Janet, I know that you must have plenty of reasons to hate me. I wasn’t exactly a prince. But a lot is riding for me on this job. If I do well here the sky will be the limit for me, and trust me, I will not forget you in my next move up.”
Just like you didn’t forget me before when you dumped me, alone and unemployed, while you were busy being the DA’s superstar? Janet thought.
“I was sent here to clean house, and I need to know if you are going to be on my team. Do we have a deal?”
Janet’s reasoning told her that she should say yes. She wanted to say yes, but as all the memories of Alex’s betrayals flashed in her mind, her lips refused to obey her. “Alex, you may be charming and clever, but you are deceitful and dishonest. So far, you have been able to fool people into liking you but you won’t always be able to do so. I’m sure that if you would have been in my place, you would have said yes. But that’s just it: I’m not like you. I won’t spy on my colleagues who have supported me and accepted me. We work as a team here, and you have a choice of either becoming a part of it or not.” Janet rose from her chair. “Should you have any work-related questions, you can find me in my office.”
Alex’s face remained impassive, his smile growing ominously brighter. “You are forgetting one very important thing, Janet. I can fire the whole team, one by one.”
“Not without cause, you can’t. And the rest of us aren’t retirement age, so you won’t be able to get rid of any more people by offering them early pension packages.”
Before she said more things she would regret later, Janet stormed out of Alex’s office. She was so mad that she barely looked where she was going. There was a man walking toward her, and Janet bumped right into him. “Whoa, Janet. Are you all right?” Dennis Walker was standing only a few inches from her, his hands gripping her shoulders. “You almost knocked me over.”
“Sorry, I just had a meeting with our new boss. I guess I’m a little rattled.”
“He’s here? I thought he wasn’t supposed to start until next week.”
“So did I, but apparently he’s anxious to get a head start.”
“What was the meeting about?”
“Dennis, I can’t talk right now. I have a conference call.” Janet used the first excuse that came to her mind.
Unlike her, Dennis would have taken advantage of the opportunity to ingratiate himself with Alex. Truth be told, Janet was now having second thoughts herself. Her bravado was beginning to evaporate, and she worried that she might have gotten both Dennis and herself into very hot water.
Chapter 3
Alex Kingsley watched Janet Maple storm out of his office on her long, shapely legs. Once the door slammed behind her, Alex leaned back in his chair, locking his hands behind his head. He did not care for people who crossed him, and he always made sure that the culprits learned not to repeat their mistakes. In this case, however, he could not help feeling guilty about his past with Janet. To say that he had wronged the girl would be an understatement of gigantic proportions, but then again it was not his fault that Janet never understood that you had to keep your superiors happy. Take this job, for instance: there was no way Alex would have been appointed as the head of the Investigations department had it not been for Cornelius Finnegan’s glowing recommendation.
“Mr. Kingsley, Mr. Finnegan is on the line for you,” Alex’s assistant informed him through the intercom.
“Put him right through.”
Even though Finnegan could not see him, Alex straightened up in his chair. “Mr. Finnegan?”
“Alex, my boy! How many times do I have to tell you to drop this Mr. Finnegan nonsense?”
“How are you, Cornelius?”
“I’m well, thank you. And how is your first day on the job?”
“It’s going well, sir, thank you very much. Settling in; I’ll be meeting with the staff shortly.”
“Yes, that would be a very good idea. Make sure to keep an eye on that Dennis Walker character. Make sure that he doesn’t pull any more stunts like he did with Wyman’s laptop. It’s a good thing Wyman didn’t press charges—just imagine the liability!”
“I’ll make sure that nothing of the kind ever happens again, sir.”
“Good. That’s why I recommended you for the job. Hamilton Kirk clearly was not up to it. At least the Enforcement Division had enough sense to reject the evidence and dismiss the charges against Muller. It was clear that Bostoff was the culprit.”
“Yes, sir, I agree completely.”
“I’m glad that you do, Alex. Tell me, is Janet Maple one of the investigators who helped Walker on this case?”
“Yes she is, sir,” Alex replied laconically, thinking it best to omit the details of his earlier altercation with Janet.
“I remember her from when I was the New York County district attorney. She worked on the Borrelli Capital investigation, didn’t she? A bright young thing. Too bad she got downsized. I’m glad to hear that she’s doing well now. I understand that she, too, was involved in that whole Wyman escapade. You’ll make sure that she doesn’t get into any more trouble, won’t you, Alex?”
“Yes I will, sir. You needn’t worry about anything, sir.”
“Oh, I’m not worried. It just pains me to see scum like Walker break the rules and think that he can get away with it. But even worse than that is the effect he has on other employees—it could be downright toxic. Before you know, you’ve got the whole organization going rogue. But look at me carrying on. I know that I’ve got nothing to be concerned about because I’ve got you there to put things back in order.”
“Absolutely, sir. That’s what I’m here for.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Well, I’ve got to get going. We’ll talk soon, Alex. You keep an eye on that Janet Maple girl.”
“I will, sir.” Alex hung up the phone. Just how was it that Janet always managed to get in the middle of it, was beyond him: first Borrelli and now David Muller.
Alex closed his eyes. Janet Maple. While most women were nothing more than a paragraph, or at most a page, in his life, Janet had been an entire chapter. They had started dating toward the end of his senior year of law school. At the time he had just broken up with another one of his girlfriends and needed a quick replacement. With final exams only a few months away and the tedious bar exam looming before him, he needed a girl with substance. When Alex took a second look at Janet’s long chestnut hair, the luster of which could not be diminished even by the drab ponytail she usually trapped it in, her green eyes surrounded by full, long lashes that were lowered studiously, while her long, elegant fingers gripped a pen with furious determination and frantically scribbled every word uttered by their boring professor, he had decided that Janet Maple was the girl for him. They studied for all the exams together. Alex’s grades soared, and he aced the bar exam.
After graduation, both of them got positions as assistant district attorneys at the New York County District Attorney’s Office. The job did not pay much, but then it was mostly nine to five and Alex did not relish the idea of long hours that young lawyers were subjected to in private law firms. He would much rather try his hand at politics, and the DA job was the perfect launching pad for his ambitions. All he had to do was play his cards
right.
He had kept his relationship with Janet secret at work. The DA’s office did allow coworkers to date, but not in the same department, and he sure as hell was not transferring out of Investigations, which was the most prestigious department in the organization. Besides, he had liked being assigned to the same cases as Janet. The girl had killer instincts. She had cracked every single investigation that she and Alex had been assigned to. Alex was happy: not only was Janet great in the sack, she also did his work for him. All he had to do was report to his boss and wait to be noticed.
Jake Andrews, Alex’s boss, had begun to take a real liking to him, often inviting him to drinks after work. Things had been going really well when Janet began investigating Borrelli Capital. Shortly afterwards, Jake Andrews had summoned Alex into his office. “Alex, you are now the lead on the Borrelli Capital case. It’s imperative that you keep me in the loop on all the latest findings,” Andrews had said.
Alex got the hint immediately. As per his boss’s request, he reported each and every finding that Janet dug up.
Then one afternoon Alex was surprised to find Andrew’s boss, Cornelius Finnegan, at the meeting. “Jake’s been telling me about the wonderful job you’ve been doing on the Borrelli Capital case, Alex,” Finnegan remarked.
Cornelius Finnegan had an oblong-shaped bald head and a hefty body that made him resemble a giant potato, but when Alex felt Cornelius’s narrow blue eyes fix on him, he immediately understood that Cornelius Finnegan had not reached his position by being a dimwit. “Thank you, sir. I’m glad to be of service.”
“I am glad to hear that.” Finnegan rubbed his chin. “How would you like to have Andrews’s spot?” he asked.
Alex shot a worried look at Jake Andrews: Andrews was still his boss. Andrews merely nodded benevolently.
“Relax, Alex,” Finnegan grunted. “Jake and I have already discussed the matter. Jake is being promoted, and I need a man I can trust to take over his spot. What do you say? Are you the man for the job?”
“Yes, sir,” Alex replied calmly. “As the head of the group, I will ensure smooth and efficient operations.” He could barely contain his excitement: finally, he was graduating to the big leagues.
“And most importantly, you will keep your superiors appraised,” said Finnegan. “Let’s cut to the chase, Alex. We’re going to close out the Borrelli Capital investigation with no action.”
“And by the way, our budget has been reduced. We’ve been told to make cuts. You need to select one person to downsize,” Andrews added. “As the new head of the group, the decision will be yours to make, Alex, but I hope that you will heed my input. My opinion is that we should downsize Janet Maple.”
Alex felt his throat tighten. Yes, he was willing to sacrifice his principles to get to the top, but kicking Janet out would be a new low even for him. “Perhaps we could consider a warning or a performance improvement plan?”
Andrews shot a fleeting look at Finnegan.
“Alex,” Finnegan said, placing his hand on Alex’s shoulder, “I think that you’re a very talented young man. You could have an excellent career here. Now, please don’t make me think that I’ve overestimated you. Do you have what it takes to get the job done?”
As Alex looked into Finnegan’s eyes, which had turned into mere slits, he knew that his prospects were hanging by a thread. This was his chance, but it could also turn out to be his undoing. Judging by the way Finnegan and Andrews planned to dispose of Janet, they would not think twice about doing the same to Alex. In an instant Alex made his decision. “Yes, sir, I most certainly do. I realize that ability to make tough decisions is part of being a manager, and I can make these kinds of decisions, sir.”
The next day, Alex got Andrews’s job. His first decision as the group manager had been to downsize Janet. At least he did not have to tell her himself: Human Resources did the dirty work for him. Getting to the top was not for the squeamish.
Several weeks later, Alex found out from Andrews that Nicholas Borrelli, the owner of Borrelli Capital, had given personal loans to half of Washington. Needless to say, Borrelli was getting off the hook.
Alex cracked his knuckles. For reasons he did not know and had no wish to find out, Muller had Finnegan’s protection. Alex’s task had been made clear to him. He was to ensure that the individuals responsible for the investigation were either frightened into silence or dealt with accordingly, meaning fired. Alex had already requested background files on all of his subordinates, and Janet Maple’s file, along with that of Dennis Walker, were right at the top of the pile.
***
Alex’s handsome—yes, despite his base nature the man was handsome—face materialized before Janet’s eyes: the magnetic look of his dark eyes that could morph from passionate to persuasive to humorous to impenetrable in a matter of seconds, the perfectly chiseled structure of his V-shaped nose, and the sensual curvature of his lips. Yes, Alex was a very good-looking man. From the taut musculature of his body to his confident stance, everything about him exuded an aura of success. The only trouble was that Alex was determined to succeed by any means possible. It had taken Janet almost five years of her life to learn this simple truth. By the time Alex was through with her, she was unemployed and alone.
Her job at the Treasury gave her a chance to turn over a new leaf in her life. But just as she thought that the past was safely behind her, all of her efforts were in danger of being vanquished by Alex’s demonic hand. Yes, the man truly was the devil incarnate. Janet decided that this was going to be Alex’s new nickname. But even devils could be exercised with holy water, and this time Janet was not going to surrender without a fight.
Janet’s ruminations were interrupted by Dennis Walker poking his head through the doorway of her office. “Are you going to the staff meeting?” he asked.
“What staff meeting?”
“The staff meeting with our new boss. Don’t you check your emails?”
Janet turned her attention to the computer screen and saw a slew of unread emails. One of them was a staff meeting request from Alex. The meeting time was five o’clock. What kind of a jerk would schedule a staff meeting for five o’clock? The answer was simple: Alex Kingsley. “Crap. I was hoping to get out of here early today.”
Dennis’s eyes narrowed. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve been avoiding me all day.” Dennis took a seat in a chair that stood across from Janet’s desk. “Now, are you going to tell me what’s going on, or do I have to pry it out of you?”
“Nothing is going on,” Janet snapped. She was not going to let Dennis Walker interrogate her. “We’d better hurry or we’re going to be late for the staff meeting.”
“Some thank you I get.” Dennis shook his head. “Had it not been for me, you would have blown the meeting altogether.”
“Thank you, Dennis.” Janet rose from her chair and grabbed her notepad. “Now, can we please go?”
Dennis held the door open. “After you, my lady.”
Staff meetings always took place in the main conference room, and, at least in this regard, Alex’s regime was no different. When Janet entered the conference room she saw that most of her colleagues were already there. The conference room had one long, rectangular table in the middle with about fifteen chairs around it. These seats always became the spoils of those who arrived early and were, at the moment, all occupied. Normally, there were additional folding chairs placed against the wall but now they were nowhere in sight, leaving those who had not been sufficiently speedy in their arrival standing on their feet. “Great,” Janet grumbled, leaning against the wall.
“Hey there, Janet.” Peter Laskin nodded at her. “How is it going?”
Peter Laskin was the department’s top analyst. Unlike Dennis, Peter rarely worked the field, but he was a whiz at analyzing data.
“Is that a new shampoo you’re using, Peter?” Dennis cut in. “Your hair looks really bouncy to
day.”
When Janet first met Laskin he had been bald and wore glasses. Then, after an extended leave of absence, Laskin returned with a full head of hair and glasses-free. This transformation became an endless source of jabs, which Dennis unleashed on Laskin daily. “Why thank you, Dennis. Yes, as a matter of fact it is,” Laskin replied. “I think that people should never stop improving themselves, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I agree completely.” Janet could not help having a soft spot for Laskin: all those hair plugs must have hurt a great deal.
Their conversation was cut short by Alex entering the room. He was accompanied by a statuesque blonde with long legs and very large breasts who looked to be about twenty-five years old. She was dressed in a low-cut blouse and a black miniskirt.
Alex stood at the head of the table. As much as the sight turned Janet’s stomach, she had to admit that Alex projected dominance. Instantly, voices quieted and complete silence filled the room. “Thank you all for meeting with me on such short notice,” Alex began.
As if anyone here had a choice, Janet snorted inwardly.
“I would like to begin by introducing myself. As most of you already know, my name is Alex Kingsley. I am the new head of the Investigations department.” Alex paused. “I know that Hamilton Kirk, the former head of this department, was greatly respected and loved by all of you.”
There were several nods and excited yeses, which quickly faded under Alex’s glare. “I have been asked to assume this post for several reasons: my experience at the DA’s office and my management style. We’ve got a great deal of work to do, and it will require everyone’s unwavering dedication.” Alex paused, surveying the room. “I will be frank with you: there have been reports of questionable techniques being used during investigations. And I will tell you right now that I will not stand for rule infractions of any kind.”
Alex’s glance fell on Dennis and Janet, making Janet wish she could fall through the floor right then and there. “Now, I do not know how true these allegations are,” Alex continued, “but I am determined to find out. I will be meeting with each and every one of you to review the cases that you have worked on in the past year. I expect your full cooperation in this process. My assistant”—Alex motioned toward the blonde—“Georgiana Russell manages my schedule and will be scheduling the meetings shortly.”