"Miss Jones, it''s lunchtime. Would you like to join us?" The assistant appeared at her door, her tone now carefully respectful, as instructed by her uncle.


    "Who do you think you are? You think you''re worthy of eating with me?" Yvonne scoffed haughtily. She tossed the bag of chips aside, grabbed her purse, and sashayed out of the finance department on her high heels.


    She went straight to the artist management department and knocked on Sandra''s door. “Ms. Garcia, would you do me the honor of having lunch with me?"


    Sandra, who was busy at herputer, couldn''t help but smile. "You''re treating?" she asked, closing her files.


    They chose an upscale restaurant near the office. As she elegantly cut into her steak, Yvonne said quietly, "I''ve gone through thepany''s books for thest two years, and they''re clean. I''m sure there''s a second set. You''ve been here a long time. Do you know where they might be?"


    Sandra''s hand tightened on her fork. She looked at Yvonne, her expression a mixture of shock and suspicion. "Why are you investigating thepany''s finances? Chairman Spencer is your father. If he''s broken thew, it won''t do you any good."


    "Have you ever heard of a father who tries to force his own daughter to star in pornographic films?" Yvonne retorted with a cold smile. She took a bite of steak. "I know the girl who I was before was investigating the Spencer family before she died. I''m going to finish what she started."


    Sandra was silent for a long moment, studying Yvonne''s face, trying to gauge her sincerity. Finally, she spoke. "The finance director, Peter, is the chairman''s right- hand man. The books are probably with him. I''ve been in his office a few times. I saw a safe."


    Sandra had also been searching for the second set of books, but she had never had the opportunity to get close.


    Yvonne nodded, continuing to eat as she mentally mapped out Peter''s office, trying to recall the safe''s location.


    Halfway through her meal, she dabbed her lips with a napkin. “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."


    She left their private room and walked down the long corridor. Halfway there, she stopped dead.


    Leaning against a window at the end of the hall was Bet, a cigarette held between his long fingers, its tip glowing red in the dim light.


    Their eyes met. His dark gaze was as calm and empty as a stillke.


    "Well, Officer, fancy seeing you here," Yvonne said with a bright smile.


    "Mm," he grunted in acknowledgment, then looked away, showing no interest in conversation.


    Not wanting to press her luck, Yvonne walked past him and into the restroom. When she came out he was gone. She returned to her meal with Sandra.  fo


    After they finished, they went to the front desk to pay, where they ran into Matthew and Queena emerging from another private room. Queena, her makeup perfect and her lips vibrant red was clinging to Matthew''s arm.


    "Yvonne, you''re eating here too? What a coincidence!" she eximed,


    her hand flying to her mouth in


    mock surprise.


    you you weren''t following us, were you?"