annoyed look, before returning to the computer program.
Her eyes involuntarily shifted back to his face and sighed
silently. A fresh grimace appeared on his face while staring at the
screen, and Laura feared this time had more to do with her finances
than the new computer program.
The habitual firm tautness of his jaw had her
suddenly pandering how he would appear if he allowed himself to
smile. If she were an artist she would take his likeness to the
canvas and capture the image that disturbingly came to mind. A
fiery little warmth unexpectedly shot down the arch of her back and
had Laura instantly sweeping the image aside. Something about him
she couldn’t quite put her finger on, aroused a sensation she was
too ignorant to name. True, she plainly discerned his animosity,
however, she couldn’t stop herself from wondering what those long
sinewy fingers pounding away at the keyboard would feel stroking
her skin. She blushed heatedly at the unexpected vision,
“I'm creating a budget report based on the
figures in your account book.” He glanced at her, paused, and then
asked, “Are you all right?”
“Yes, why?”
“Your cheeks are all red.”
Of course this observation only made her
cheeks grow even more flushed. “I’m fine. It’s just warm in
here.”
“The air conditioning is on.”
Irritated, she sighed and gestured toward the
screen, wanting to change the subject. “You created a budget
report, you were saying?”
He studied her curiously for a brief second,
then shifted his gaze toward the door Daniel had earlier exited.
His eyes appeared to darken momentarily before he squared his
shoulders, then turned his attention back to the screen and shifted
all at once into his business persona.
“In the report, I’ve listed both your income
and expenses. Of course, this does not include the donations you
received at your charity event, but at the moment I entirely
suggest you don't spend that money, instead invest the funds and
produce as much return on the dollar as long as possible.”
His professional demeanor was quite effective
in cooling Laura’s cheeks, for which she was grateful. It was
humiliating at being caught fantasizing about the man. Drawing
herself out of her musings, she focused on the importance of
properly maintaining her accounting records.
From a nearby printer, he retrieved the
complex document simply by selecting a key. Laura silently marveled
at the intricate processing of the technical apparatus. Apart from
the programs that were a requirement in university along with a
Facebook page she hardly used, she knew very little about
computers. Selecting the right icon for Dexter had been a fluke.
They just had never been her strong suit. But in today’s day and
age, with the use of the internet and instant access to data and
facts, she knew really ought to. Maybe she could get him to teach
her. Then she scoffed at herself. Right, he begrudgingly was
teaching her how to administer her own bookkeeping, she doubted he
could care whether she knew the intricate details of operating a
computer.
He dropped a colored sheet in front of her,
followed by another. “Here is a balance sheet summarizing both your
assets and your liabilities. In other words, what you owe and what
you own. To get a better understanding of your net worth, I
designed this pie chart which will show you the percentage
breakdown of your assets and liabilities.” He shuffled in his chair
so she could get a better view. “As you can see, the difference
isn't that great now. But I can guarantee you in a years’ time,
tops, this red portion, which represents the liabilities to the
house, will increase.”
“Unless I do something about it?”
He sat back in his chair and stared hard
across at her. “You won't give up this absurd idea and close the
shelter?”
“No.”
“You're going to lose your home—your father's
home.”
“I won't. I'll never let that happen,” she
boldly stated, entrusting the care
Her eyes involuntarily shifted back to his face and sighed
silently. A fresh grimace appeared on his face while staring at the
screen, and Laura feared this time had more to do with her finances
than the new computer program.
The habitual firm tautness of his jaw had her
suddenly pandering how he would appear if he allowed himself to
smile. If she were an artist she would take his likeness to the
canvas and capture the image that disturbingly came to mind. A
fiery little warmth unexpectedly shot down the arch of her back and
had Laura instantly sweeping the image aside. Something about him
she couldn’t quite put her finger on, aroused a sensation she was
too ignorant to name. True, she plainly discerned his animosity,
however, she couldn’t stop herself from wondering what those long
sinewy fingers pounding away at the keyboard would feel stroking
her skin. She blushed heatedly at the unexpected vision,
“I'm creating a budget report based on the
figures in your account book.” He glanced at her, paused, and then
asked, “Are you all right?”
“Yes, why?”
“Your cheeks are all red.”
Of course this observation only made her
cheeks grow even more flushed. “I’m fine. It’s just warm in
here.”
“The air conditioning is on.”
Irritated, she sighed and gestured toward the
screen, wanting to change the subject. “You created a budget
report, you were saying?”
He studied her curiously for a brief second,
then shifted his gaze toward the door Daniel had earlier exited.
His eyes appeared to darken momentarily before he squared his
shoulders, then turned his attention back to the screen and shifted
all at once into his business persona.
“In the report, I’ve listed both your income
and expenses. Of course, this does not include the donations you
received at your charity event, but at the moment I entirely
suggest you don't spend that money, instead invest the funds and
produce as much return on the dollar as long as possible.”
His professional demeanor was quite effective
in cooling Laura’s cheeks, for which she was grateful. It was
humiliating at being caught fantasizing about the man. Drawing
herself out of her musings, she focused on the importance of
properly maintaining her accounting records.
From a nearby printer, he retrieved the
complex document simply by selecting a key. Laura silently marveled
at the intricate processing of the technical apparatus. Apart from
the programs that were a requirement in university along with a
Facebook page she hardly used, she knew very little about
computers. Selecting the right icon for Dexter had been a fluke.
They just had never been her strong suit. But in today’s day and
age, with the use of the internet and instant access to data and
facts, she knew really ought to. Maybe she could get him to teach
her. Then she scoffed at herself. Right, he begrudgingly was
teaching her how to administer her own bookkeeping, she doubted he
could care whether she knew the intricate details of operating a
computer.
He dropped a colored sheet in front of her,
followed by another. “Here is a balance sheet summarizing both your
assets and your liabilities. In other words, what you owe and what
you own. To get a better understanding of your net worth, I
designed this pie chart which will show you the percentage
breakdown of your assets and liabilities.” He shuffled in his chair
so she could get a better view. “As you can see, the difference
isn't that great now. But I can guarantee you in a years’ time,
tops, this red portion, which represents the liabilities to the
house, will increase.”
“Unless I do something about it?”
He sat back in his chair and stared hard
across at her. “You won't give up this absurd idea and close the
shelter?”
“No.”
“You're going to lose your home—your father's
home.”
“I won't. I'll never let that happen,” she
boldly stated, entrusting the care
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