CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT – WORK AND LIFE BALANCED

A few days later, Joan was organizing files in Tom's office – a task she'd volunteered for to continue her investigation – when she heard footsteps approaching. Panic surged through her as she realized she'd left her notebook of suspicious transactions on Tom's desk. Heart racing, Joan snatched up the notebook and looked frantically for a hiding place. The footsteps grew louder. In desperation, she shoved the notebook into her waistband, tugging her blouse down to cover it. The door opened, and Tom walked in, stopping short when he saw Joan. "Oh, Joan," he said, his surprise quickly masked by a casual smile. "I didn't realize you were in here." Joan forced a smile, praying he couldn't see how flustered she was. "Just organizing some files. I hope you don't mind." Tom's eyes narrowed slightly. "No, not at all. Find anything... interesting?" Joan's mouth went dry. Did he suspect? "Nothing out of the ordinary," she managed to say. "Just the usual paperwork." Tom nodded slowly. "Wel