Chapter 5 A Bossy Curmudgeon #2
“Nay, dinna fash. The room is untouched. None of the honey or your notes were in plain sight.” Harris scratched his stubbled jaw, shaking his head.
“Instinct told me to store the extra honey in the lunchroom. The alternative was rearranging out here to create more room, so at least some is safe. Should I call Michael and get him to help with clean up?”
“Yeah, good idea. What about our production details?”
“They’re here, but I’m wondering if someone photographed or copied them because they weren’t how we left them.” Harris’s voice turned grim. “Laddie, we’ll need to bring forward our release date. It’s the only way to get a jump on our competitors.”
“Aye,” Niall said. “This is Suzie. She’s helping with paperwork and marketing.”
Harris frowned, opened his mouth, and shut it again as if he’d thought better of what he’d intended to say. He pulled out his phone. “I’ll call Michael.”
But instead of jumping straight into action, the two men stared at the havoc for a moment longer and shared a loaded glance. Along with the anger pouring off them came a dispirited air.
Right. She could fix that by shifting frustration into activity. “How did the intruders enter the building?” Suzie asked. “From observation, security is tight.”
“As far as I can ascertain, they climbed onto the roof and cut their way inside,” Harris said.
“We’d better clear the mess and determine what equipment to replace. I’ll organize extra security to monitor the building,” Niall said.
Suzie was pleased he’d lost his frozen shock. “What can I do? Should I start picking up broken jars? Do you have a box to toss them into?”
Harris sent her a grateful look. “I’ll get you a bin and a pair of gloves to protect your hands.” He rushed away, leaving her with a brooding Niall.
“Do you have any suspects?” she asked.
Niall gave an irritable shrug. “Honey production is a cut-throat yet profitable business. It could be any of my competitors. Once we reached the testing stage, anyone might’ve spoken out of turn despite promising non-disclosure.”
“It could’ve been worse,” Suzie said. “At least Harris saved a few jars of honey.”
“Yes, but they’ve probably taken jars to analyze along with our production notes,” Niall said.
“Some of your new honey?”
An amused snort escaped him. “I hid it beneath a stack of research books. If they didn’t notice the other honey, they won’t have our new product.”
“A bonus.”
“This is bad enough. Our notes and other newer products will give our competitors an advantage.”
Suzie hated seeing the disillusionment, the traces of bitterness. She thought she might have to cope with a sulky male, but he shrugged off the emotions riding him and set about righting equipment and taking stock of the damage.
Suzie worked at his side, tossing broken glass into a box and other items into a rubbish sack. Harris toiled with them.
“Harris? Niall?” a masculine voice called.
The new arrival rounded the corner and came to an abrupt halt. He cursed before closing the distance between Harris and Niall and having an animated discussion.
Suzie continued working until her back started protesting, and when she checked her watch, she was surprised two hours had passed. Although they hadn’t chattered, she’d enjoyed working with the men to right the damage and get them underway with their secret tests again.
Harris arrived with a tea tray, and Niall and the newcomer followed him, their easy conversation and verbal shorthand telling of a long-standing friendship. Harris poured mugs of strong tea and handed out pieces of buttery shortbread.
“Michael, this is Suzie, my new office assistant,” Niall said.
Suzie caught the surprise in the brown eyes before the man of her height offered his hand.
His smooth palm collided with hers briefly before he released her.
Suzie bit back her grimace, deducing from his expression that he thought she and Niall were lovers.
Ugh to sweaty hands and insincere handshakes.
“Pleased to meet you,” Suzie said, flashing a half-hearted smile. Some people made the worst assumptions.
He dipped his head before asking Niall a question. Suzie concentrated on the excellent shortbread and her tea before starting work again.
It was another hour before the room appeared orderly, albeit absent of equipment.
“I’ve arranged for security guards around the clock,” Niall told Harris and Michael. “Make sure they know who you are. Introduce yourself before you leave for the night.”
“I will,” Harris promised.
Michael nodded. “I’m heading back to the plant now, but I’ll drop by in the morning.”
“Thanks.” Niall strode halfway along the passage, with her trotting behind like a pet dog before he came to an abrupt halt. “Wait here.”
He retraced his path and disappeared into the room they’d come from. Suzie heard him speak with Harris but couldn’t interpret the words. When Niall returned, he carried a box and a red folder. He strode past her without a word, and with a roll of her eyes, she fell in behind.
“Ah, the security men have arrived.” He placed the box and folder in the trunk. “Stay here.”
“Yes, sir,” she muttered, grumpy, until her gaze lit on his rear end.
Nice. The bear did have an attractive body, even if his scowl spoiled his appearance.
But that accent… It canceled out some of his bad points.
She grinned but wiped her expression clean when he stomped back, having spoken with the security team.
“What now?” she asked.
“We return to the castle.”
Enlightening, not. “Did the thieves get any of your new wonder honey?”
“Not the final product we intend to market. The thieves got earlier iterations and notes. The honey Harris stored in the lunchroom was a different blend but still valuable. We got lucky, and someone interrupted our thieves, or they thought they’d found all the honey.”
“Will the security guards be enough?”
“Fingers crossed,” Niall said drily. “I can work from the castle, if necessary, in my small lab there. I’ll get you to collate the test results that have come in so far.
Next, we’ll decide on the label and jar and organize shipping.
” He tapped his fingers as he snapped out instructions.
“We’ll have to hire guards to protect the shipments and ensure the honey goes on sale immediately.
I want you to write up an advertising proposal.
We’re cutting it fine on promotion, but pre-booking can lead to competitor leaks. ”
“But I’m flying home soon.”
“No,” Niall snapped. “Since you inserted yourself into my world, you’re staying and seeing this out. You can go home in six months. No more discussion.”
Suzie planted her hands on her hips, her fury hot and instant. “For the umpteenth time. You can’t make me stay. That is kidnapping, imprisonment, and dozens of other charges.”
Niall scowled at her. “I have your passport.”
Suzie spluttered before her teeth snapped together. “Saber didn’t agree to that.”
“Call him and ask.” Niall’s confident tone told her everything. He wasn’t lying because he had spoken to Saber. She frowned. Maybe it was Saber teaching her a lesson.
Niall could hold her here but not constantly watch her. Let him try.