A Heart Worth Healing

Chapter 11

When Kirsty got home, the first thing she did was ask Roland where Derek was.

"Mr. Gibson is in his office, miss," Roland replied, looking at her strangely.

Kirsty realized she must appear pale and distraught, but she had to tell Derek about Harrison's threat. She knew that Derek was still angry with her, but she hoped he would forget about their differences for the time being. There were other important things at stake.

When Kirsty knocked on the door to Derek's office, she heard him call, "Come in."

Kirsty walked into Derek's office and went over to his desk. He looked up at her, surprised at her appearance.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you," she said breathlessly, her voice sounding high-pitched, "but I couldn't let him get away with it and I don't know what to do!"

Derek stood up and walked over to her. Holding her by the shoulders, he gently pushed her into a chair and said, "Hold on a minute. You need to calm down."

He went to the bar at the side of the room and he poured Kirsty a drink.

"Here," he said, putting the glass into her hand. "Drink this."

Kirsty obeyed. The liquid burned her throat, but it seemed to jolt her back to reality.

Derek sat down again and asked her if she was feeling better. His calmness seemed to have a similar effect on her.

Kirsty nodded, talking another sip of her drink.

"Now, tell me what happened," he said quietly. "I'm listening."

Kirsty recounted her meeting with Harrison. She told him about Harrison's plot to take over Geldon Industries and Harrison's blackmail threat. She told him about the contract and the source Harrison was using to get control of the stock.

After Kirsty was finished, Derek looked at the papers on his desk for a moment. She could not tell what he was thinking. Finally, he asked her where her copy of the contract was.

"I put it in a safety deposit box, like you told me to," she answered, not understanding the reason for his question.

"Harrison is a slimy reprobate," Derek said bitterly. "I've known what he was up to for a long time. But I never suspected he would try to use you in his takeover plan. He must be getting desperate."

Kirsty did not answer. She could tell that Derek was trying to control his anger. He had a frown between his eyebrows, which meant he was thinking hard about something.

"Harrison has practically no influence with the Board," Derek said, after a moment. "Even if he did carry through with his threat, it would not have much of an impact. What worries me is how got a copy of the contract in the first place."

"You obviously have a traitor in your office," Kirsty said. "It must be someone high up in the organization, otherwise how would Harrison be able to get such confidential files?"

"Yes, but who?" Derek asked quietly, still thinking.

A thought had been nagging Kirsty ever since she sat down and she decided to tell Derek about it.

"I think it's your lawyer," she said.

Derek looked at her in surprise. His eyes were distant, so cold. He was acting remote and businesslike again.

"That's impossible," he stated angrily. "I trust Paul more than anyone, even you."

"Even me?" she cried angrily. "But I came straight here to tell you what happened. I haven't kept anything from you. I could have taken Harrison's money and given him what he wanted. But I came here to you. Doesn't that mean anything?"