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“I’ll be telling them that I believe this technology is unsafe. And there’s been a cover-up of an accident at the plant. I believe Mr. Graves hasn’t been truthful with the American government or with your company, Mr. Quinlan. I would strongly suggest that you don’t invest in this technology. By all means pay for an independent second opinion, but I think if you invest in Mr. Graves’ company you’ll not only lose a lot of money – because we’ll be shutting him down – but you’ll also lose your reputations as wise and powerful businessmen.”
Adam threw her that cocky grin of his, which derailed her for a moment. For some reasons, he reminded her of Jake… It was probably just because he was so prominent in her mind and she wished he’d left his number. But he’d made it clear he wasn’t interested, so she needed to forget him…
“On what grounds, Ms. Lawrence?” Adam asked, dragging her back to her job.
Astrid sat tall and focused on Adam and Dylan. “I want you both to know that Mr. Graves followed me home in his car last night and assaulted me in the street.”
Graves guffawed. “What bullshit!”
Adam and Dylan gazed at her with concern about this revelation.
Astrid ignored Graves and continued. “He tried to pull me into his car. He said everyone has their price and he wanted to find mine. He wants me to falsify my report to grant his technology the green light. I just wanted you to know that. Obviously this point has nothing to do with the fact that I believe his product is totally unsafe – and the serious allegation that he’s paid off a wounded worker – but it’s pertinent nonetheless. This is the sort of man we’re dealing with here.”
Adam and Dylan seemed shocked. Dylan leaned aggressively toward Graves. “Is this true?”
“Certainly not.”
“Deny it all you wish,” Astrid continued. “Your harassment of me in the street aside, I’ve received an email from a reliable source that the wounded factory worker wanted to claim compensation but he was silenced by Mr. Graves’ company with a payoff. And possibly with threats of violence.”
Graves slammed his fist on the wooden table. “Slander! That is a complete lie.”
“You have an email saying that?” Dylan asked, not taking his eyes off Astrid.
“I do. I received it overnight.”
“Can we see it?” Adam asked.
“I’m afraid not,” Astrid said. “It’s confidential and I’m not here to work for you. Just to ensure the law is carried out to the letter.”
Dylan held up his hands. “It?
??s okay. I’m sure we can get to the source of that email one way or another.”
He winked subtly at Adam. Adam nodded slyly. Astrid frowned. What the hell were they implying? Were they planning to set their own investigation up and start hacking into all the emails of the factory workers?
Dread crept over her. Perhaps they were going to figure out a way to hack into her emails…
She cast her eye over Adam and Dylan. They both smiled reassuringly at her. But she suddenly had a sinking feeling that they were playing nasty with her. Was she being set up?
She leaned on the table, confident that she knew she was right about this allegation. “Listen, you can do whatever you want with your money – it’s not my business. I’m just informing you of the facts. Mr. Graves knows the truth about his company, and it’s my job to tell the government what I’ve discovered. You can ignore me or not. It’s entirely up to you.”
Adam straightened his tie. “Cole, do you wish to add anything to this?”
Graves smiled coolly. “I’m telling you, Adam, this woman is a liar. She’s trying to discredit me.”
“Why would she?” Dylan said. “She’s a pencil-pusher. She has no reason to discredit you. Has she?”
Graves gazed at Astrid as if she was scum. “Who knows? But – come on – you know me. I wouldn’t assault anyone in the street. I wouldn’t lie.”
“We’re going to have to think about what she’s told us,” Dylan said. “We do actually have an independent agent working on our behalf who’s looking into things. We’ll wait until he’s given us his report before we proceed.”
Graves’ expression flickered with worry. Astrid smiled, glad to hear Adam and Dylan weren’t just trusting him as blindly as she’d assumed. Hopefully their independent agent would confirm everything she’d said. Then perhaps Graves could go harass him, and leave her alone.
“And,” Adam said, “if we discover what Ms. Lawrence is saying is true, we won’t be able to invest. There’s just no way.”
Graves glared at Astrid with his beady eyes. “I hope you’re pleased with yourself.” He pointed his finger at her. “If my project doesn’t get funding, you’re going to pay one way or another.”
The room squeezed in around her.
