Alice didn’t want to get the reception clerk in trouble so she said, “My apologies, Mr. Woertz. My name is Alice Thurber. I was hoping you could help me with some information about the accounting software, BalanceTrakR. You hosted a presentation about it here a few months ago. I attended but didn’t make the decision to buy it then.” She wasn’t sure if he would remember she’d been there but decided not to take the chance.
Woertz’s surprise melted into that artificial smile Alice hadn’t warmed up to the first time she’d met him. “Please, have a seat.” He gestured to the chair in front of his desk as he sat back down. “If you’ll give me a second, I’ll find the file.” Alice settled into the burnt-orange chair that looked like a castoff from a past renovation of the hotel rooms.
Woertz made a show of riffling through the files in his desk drawer before sliding one out and flipping it open on his desk with a flourish. “Here we are. Mr. Barsky was very happy with the sales generated by the event.”
“A couple of people who bought the software have been singing its praises to me, so I thought I would see if you have any contact information for Mr. Barsky. Is he the president or is he just in sales?”
“I’m not sure. You can probably find that information on their website.”
In fact, it wasn’t on the website, so Alice had no qualms about saying, “I looked there but Mr. Barsky isn’t listed. Did he set up the presentation or was it some corporate thing? I want to get in touch with him to ask a few more questions.”
Woertz rummaged around in the folder. “Mr. Barsky made all the arrangements. Oh, here’s his card.” He scanned the business card and shook his head. “It doesn’t say what his position is.”
“Could you share his phone number so I can contact him?”
Woertz turned the card over so she couldn’t read it and gave her his professionally hospitable smile. “I hesitate to share this information without Mr. Barsky’s permission. We’re very concerned with confidentiality.” He flipped through the file, pulling out the same brochure Alice already had. “Let me give you the contact number from the sales literature.”
“Thank you but I found that number on the website,” she said. “I just thought it would be nice if Mr. Barsky got credit for the sale since I saw his presentation here at your lovely hotel.” She swept a falsely admiring glance around the bland office, the walls of which were hung with framed posters featuring inspirational clichés.
Woertz hesitated before he picked up the business card and fiddled with it. “I guess Mr. Barsky would want the commission.” He widened his smile as he put the card on the desk and slid it to Alice’s side. “I’d appreciate it if you could mention the hotel when you call.”
“And you,” Alice said, giving him a smile just as inauthentic. “After all, you organized that fantastic reception.”
Alice reached for the card, but Woertz put his hand on it, saying, “Please copy the number down. I need the card back for my records.”
“Of course. Sorry.” She pulled out her phone and took a picture of the card. The only other information on the card was Barsky’s name with a middle initial of G and the BalanceTrakR logo. Not informative, but at least she had the phone number—which was not the same as the 800 number listed on the website. “I don’t suppose you use the software yourself, do you? I’d be interested in your opinion of it.”
Woertz palmed Barsky’s card as he gave her a smile of superior condescension. “I have no knowledge of the software. When you’re a multinational company like the Lipton Hotel chain, you need more than a stand-alone desktop accounting system to track the money.” He closed the file and folded his hands on top of it. “Corporate encourages us to run events that will benefit our community, so when Mr. Barsky asked to make his presentation, I thought it would be a positive thing.”
“It was indeed,” Alice agreed. “As I mentioned, several local businesspeople bought the software and are happy with it. I just hoped to get another perspective on it.”
An odd look crossed Woertz’s face, making his smile flicker. “You’re not by any chance an auditor, are you?”
Alice laughed in a way that she hoped projected flattered amusement. “Me, an auditor? No, I’m just a bookkeeper who works in Cofferwood.” She took her own business card out of her purse and handed it to him.
Woertz’s smile returned full force when he scanned her card. Alice decided this was a good time to exit and stood up. “You’ve been very helpful. Thank you for your time.”
The manager leaped to his feet and walked beside her to his door. “It’s been my privilege to be of service.”
Alice beat a speedy retreat to her car and headed for home, feeling very pleased with herself for getting Barsky’s number. This corporate espionage stuff was a kick.
She was in the midst of changing out of her business outfit—to save it from clinging cat hairs—when her phone pinged with a text notification. She pulled on a T-shirt before she picked it up.
Text me when you’re done with the manager, Derek had written.
She hadn’t told him when she planned to meet with Woertz, so his timing was uncanny.
Just finished. Got a phone number for Barsky, she responded.
Her phone rang. “Everything went fine,” she said before Derek could speak. “The worst that happened was that the guy thought I was an auditor. I was kind of flattered.”
His deep chuckle seemed to vibrate through every cell in her body. “You enjoy striking terror into the hearts of hotel managers?”
“It’s a novel sensation because I’m about as terrifying as a kitten.” She padded toward her office on bare feet.
“You underestimate yourself. I’d be very afraid to have you audit my finances. You’re quite . . . thorough.”
Gratification tingled through her. The mighty Derek Killion at least pretended to think she was good at her job. “As long as you aren’t using imaginary numbers, your audit would be fine.” A little math humor to cover her reaction to his words.
He laughed, a delicious rumble of amusement. “I try to keep my imagination and my accounting separate.” He paused. “Until recently, I’ve succeeded.”
His tone was odd, almost surprised, and she wondered if it was possible that Natalie was right. Maybe Derek did have an occasional nonprofessional thought about her. He did seem to flirt with her every now and then. Awareness flickered along her veins.
“Tell me about your meeting with the manager,” he said, his tone changing to business. The shift was like a glass of cold water in her face, which maybe was a good thing.
“Woertz—that’s the manager—knew nothing about the software. He was just taking Myron Barsky’s money for the meeting. He says that the hotel chain’s head office encourages that.”
“Sure. They buy cheap wine and beer and then quadruple the price they charge the company making the presentation.”
“He didn’t know what position Barsky holds with BalanceTrakR. The only thing on Barsky’s business card was his direct phone number, which I talked Woertz into letting me copy.” She expected a pat on the back for that.