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“It’s come to my attention that Kane Foods is planning on branching into the nutritional and wellness space. Seeing as how you’re adept at accidentally gathering confidential information and obviously chummy with Samuel Kane, I thought you might be able give me a little preview of what they have planned.”
“Why would that be relevant to Gastronomie ?”
“That’s none of your concern.” Taegan lifted her wine to her lips, the ruby liquid dancing against the sides of the glass. “Only how you’re going to get me what I need.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Arlie said. “I signed an NDA.”
“Oh, Arlie.” Taegan smiled and laid a hand over hers in a way that would look to anyone else like she’d said something fantastically funny. “That certainly didn’t stop you last time.”
Arlie looked up in time to catch Samuel briefly glancing in her direction.
“Taegan, please.” Arlie didn’t so much say the words as force them from her mouth. “I don’t expect you to understand this, but I’m not entirely sure you actually know what happened between me and Hugh.”
Her stomach clenched at the sound of his name. The charismatic marketing executive of a rival magazine, he had wined and dined her under the premise of a potential job offer only to mine her for information that landed her in the crosshairs of a corporate espionage lawsuit.
“I don’t need to.” Setting her wineglass on the side table, Taegan brushed a tendril of hair away from her cheekbone. “I just need you to be useful.”
Arlie leaned in, dropping her voice to a confidential level. “I’m not going to be useful in any way that compromises Samuel’s project.”
Taegan’s hyena laugh raised the fine hairs on Arlie’s arms. “As ironic as I find your misguided loyalty, it might ease your conscience to know Samuel Kane is even more ruthless than his father in business matters.”
Anger boiled beneath Arlie’s skin, her hands tightening into fists next to her hips.
“No, he’s not.”
“Oh, really?” Taegan smiled widely. “Ask him about Millhaven Foods. Family-run, not terribly sophisticated. Acquired for significantly less than they were worth. Dismantled. An entire family legacy destroyed.”
It was a pattern Arlie knew all too well.
“They had none other than Samuel Kane to thank,” Taegan continued. “I understand he’s exceedingly persuasive when pursuing something he wants.”
By all rights, this statement shouldn’t have sent an illicit thrill surging through her.
“Things like that happen in every industry,” Arlie said. “That doesn’t mean—”
“I don’t know why you’re pretending like you have a choice here.” Taegan inclined her head, stroking the stem of her discarded wine glass. “Unless...you’d like me to walk over to Samuel right now and tell him what I know.”
Together, they looked in his direction.
Surrounded by men whose postures were quickly becoming booze-loose and slouchy, Samuel still stood like he had a javelin welded to his spine.
As if sensing her gaze on his back, he turned his head, his strong chin angled over his shoulder, his eyes alert and assessing.
Samuel might have taken her apparent acceptance of Taegan’s request for a chat, but he had remained aware of them ever since.
Arlie imagined Taegan sauntering over to him, how his features would shift when the words registered. How his eyes would go black and empty like a shark’s.
“Provided I were able to get the information you want,” Arlie said, “how exactly would you intend to use it?”
“Let’s just say that I’m in contact with a company that would come to market with a certain product before Kane Foods saturates the market. It would be a life-changing event for all its employees. For Kane Foods, it would barely be a blip on the radar. No more than a cat scratch.” Taegan shrugged.
Arlie’s eyes narrowed. “But it wouldn’t come back on Samuel Kane?”
Taegan scooted closer to her, a mocking smirk twisting her lips. “You seem awfully invested in his interests for a brand new employee. Is there something I should know?”
“Promise me,” Arlie said, ignoring the question.
“I promise.” Taegan held out her hand.
Arlie stared at it for the space of several heartbeats then shook, immediately feeling like she needed to wash her hand afterward.
“Well,” Taegan sighed, pushing herself up from the sofa. “I’m glad we were able to reach an understanding. I look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership.”
Two hours later, Arlie’s cheeks hurt from forced smiles and her stomach protested its total neglect since the lone piece of beef Wellington she’d been able to get down. Seeking self-preserving solitude, she had snuck away from the crowd and escaped down the back stairs used by the catering staff.
Her kind of people, after all.
