A Taste of Tragedy by Kim McMahill Read Free Book Online

Smith & Brown?
    If Stan was acting on his own, maybe Preston doesn’t know about the possible issues with the product. The thought eased her mind somewhat.
    She glanced at her watch and realized she was late for her meeting with the marketing team. Hopefully, they would understand that spending time in the plant helped familiarize her with the many products manufactured and sold under the Healthy and Delicious Foods label in grocery stores across the country and produced for three other companies under different labels, exclusively for their members.
    Morgan had requested the meeting to get to know the marketing team and to discuss past and present campaigns along with their varying degrees of success. Being late for her own meeting would not endear her to those waiting.
    Picking up her pace, she rushed down the hall as quickly as she could in heels. Rounding the corner, she caught a glimpse of a man with short, dark brown hair wearing a dark blue suit slipping into the stairwell. The suit looked very much like the one Aaron wore that day to the office. She could think of no reason why he would be in the manufacturing facility instead of at his desk, manning her phones. If he needed her, she always had a cell phone on her and she could be paged.
    The doors of the elevator opened and she stepped inside. Her finger paused for a moment, deciding which floor to push. She debated about going to her office to see if Aaron was at his desk and out of breath. But she was already late, so she pressed the button for the fourth floor and tried to clear her mind for the next meeting.

CHAPTER TEN
     
    Sofia strode into the sparsely furnished yet elegantly decorated lobby of Buyer’s Choice Foundation. Glancing around, she was relieved to find it devoid of human activity. In no mood to make idle chit chat, she hoped to escape the attention of her staff and find refuge in her office.
    Her weekend was a blur. She was exhausted, and her self-loathing had reached a whole new level. It was nearly midnight before she had arrived home, and despite getting a few hours of sleep and grabbing some strong coffee on the way to work, her head throbbed.
    She felt like a college co-ed making the walk of shame across campus as she peeked around the corner to ensure the coast was clear before dashing the short distance to her office. Relieved that Justine hadn’t been at her desk for a change, Sofia straightened her skirt and reached for her doorknob. She slipped inside, shut the door quietly behind her, and turned to find Justine grinning at her and holding a giant bouquet of roses.
    “Spill it.” Justine beamed. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
    “I’m not. I must have impressed a donor. That will be all.”
    The hurt look on Justine’s face didn’t affect Sofia in the slightest. This was a job, not a pajama party. She didn’t want to be friends with any of her staff, and she had no intention of sharing anything personal with any of them.
    The last time she had taken a special interest in an employee, it ended in disappointment. Her protégé was ordered to a new assignment, leaving her feeling abandoned. He had reminded her so much of herself when she was young and angry. She had felt compelled to show him how to utilize his special talents, and had taken him under her wing. The bond they’d developed gave her a sense of satisfaction, like mentoring a younger brother.
    The loss of her understudy was still difficult to accept. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was really needed elsewhere or if J.R. resented the time and energy she invested in turning a troubled youth with few prospects into a fruitful adult.
    Sitting at her desk, Sofia stared at the two dozen long-stemmed red roses. Even though she knew who they were from, she pulled the card out of the bouquet.
    You’re quickly becoming my favorite club member, and well worth the short flight to Miami —J.R.
    She never mixed business with pleasure, but one time, she had let