"Charles Stross - Merchant princes 01 - The Family Trade" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stross Charles)

anything you've done," he added hurriedly. "It's just that we've got an
investment to protect and I need to work out how to do so."
"Before we break the story." Miriam forced another, broader, smile. "It was all
in the public record," she added. "If we don't break it, one of our competitors
will."
"Oh, I don't know," Joe said smoothly. "Listen, I'll get
back to you in an hour or so. If you leave this with me for now, I just need to
go and talk to someone in Legal so we can sort out how to respond. Then I'll let
you know how we're going to handle it."
"Oh, okay then," said Paulette acceptingly.
Miriam let her expression freeze in a fixed grin. Oh shit, she thought as she
stood up. "Thanks for giving us your time," she said.
"Let yourselves out," Joe said tersely, already turning the first page.
Out in the corridor, Paulette turned to Miriam. "Didn't that go wellтАЭ she
insisted.
Miriam took a deep breath. "Paulie."
"Yeah?"
Her knees felt weak. "Something's wrong."
"What?" Paulette looked concerned.
"Elevator." She hit the "call" button and waited in silence, trying to still the
butterflies in her stomach. It arrived, and she waited for the doors to close
behind them before she continued. "I may just have made a bad mistake."
" 'Mistake?'" Paulette looked puzzled. "You don't thinkтАФ"
"He didn't say anything about publishing," Miriam said slowly. "Not one word.
What were the other names on that list of small investors? The ones you didn't
check?"
"The list? He's gotтАФ" Paulette frowned.
"Was Somerville Investments one of them?"
"Somerville? Could be. Why? Who are they?"
"Because that'sтАФ" Miriam pointed a finger at the roof and circled. She watched
Paulette's eyes grow round.
"I'm thinking about magazine returns from the newsstand side of the business,
Paulie. Don't you know we've got low returns by industry standards? And people
buy magazines for cash."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry, Paulie."
When they got back to Miriam's cubicle, a uniformed security guard and a suit
from Human Resources were already waiting for them.
"Paulette Milan? Miriam Beckstein?" said the man from HR. He checked a notepad
carefully.
"Yes?" Miriam asked cautiously. "What's up?"
"Would you please follow me? Both of you?"
He turned and headed for the stairwell down to the main entrance. Miriam glanced
around and saw the security guard pull a brief expression of discomfort. "Go on,
ma'am."
"Go on," echoed Paulette from her left shoulder, her face white.
This can't be happening, Miriam thought woodenly. She felt her feet carrying her
toward the staircase and down, toward the glass doors at the front.
"Cards, please," said the man from Human Resources. He held out his hand
impatiently. Miriam passed him her card reluctantly: Paulette followed suit.