Adam's Daughter by Kristy Daniels Read Free Book Online Page B

composure. “I won’t be brushed off like this,” he said.
    Ingram sighed and went to his desk. He pulled out a leather book and flipped it open. “How much will it take, Mr. Bryant?” he said, picking up a pen.
    Adam’s face began to bu rn with humiliation. “I don’t want your money,” he said.
    Ingram gave him a final look then closed the checkbook. “In that case, we have nothing else to say.” He push ed a table buzzer. The maid appeared at the door. “Charlotte, would you show Mr. Bryant out, please?”
    Adam paused then picked up his hat. Without looking at Ingram he went swiftly out into the foyer . The heavy front door closed behind him with a soft finality. Adam stood on the porch for a moment, his face still burning. He put on his hat, turned up the collar of his coat, and stepped out into the street. He paused for a moment to look up at the upstairs windows of the mansion then started back down the hill in the light rain.
     
     

    CHAPTER SIX
     
    For the next two weeks, Adam tried to get through to Elizabeth with no success. His phone calls to the house were intercepted, his letters returned unopened. When he went to the mansion he was turned away by servants. Finally, he learned that the Ingrams had returned to Atlanta.
    He thought of Elizabeth constantly, his attraction to her inseparable from the embarrassment and anger he felt over her father’s words. He knew he had to forget her but he grew obsessed with seeing her one more time. 
    He asked for some time off from work and went to Atlanta. He located the Ingram home, a red brick fortress in the countryside surrounded by an iron fence. Again, he tried to call Elizabeth but was rebuffed by Ingram. He resorted to staying outside the gate, waiting for Elizabeth to leave. Finally, the police arrived and told him that Ingram would have him arrested unless Adam agreed to leave Atlanta.
    Adam returned to San Francisco, mentally and physically exhausted. In the city room, he sat slumped at his desk, drawing the stares of the other men. A secretary told him that he was to report to Bickford’s office. Adam pulled himself out of the chair and took the elevator upstairs.
    Bickford looked up from his paper . “Have a seat, Adam,” he said.
    Adam sat down, straightening his tie. He had not changed his clothes after he had gotten off the train that mo rning.
    “I got a phone call from Atlanta this mo rning,” Bickford said, “from a Mr. Charles Ingram.”
    Adam closed his eyes.
    Bickford’s face reddened slightly. “I had a hard time believing what he told me, Adam. The man told me you were harassing his sixteen-year-old daughter.”
    Adam looked at him. “I went to Atlanta to --”
    Bickford held up a hand. “Look, Adam. I can’t tell you how to run your life. But when it starts affecting your work, well, that’s something else.” He paused. “You’ve been acting odd for a couple of weeks now. Does this girl have anything to do with it?”
    “My work comes first with me, Bick. You know that.”
    “Yeah, well...maybe.” Bickford’s look was softening. “You know that promotion is yours, if you want it, Adam. But when you move up into management you must watch your conduct. I don’t like my top men’s names showing up on police blotters.” He paused. “Lilith doesn’t know about this and I won’t tell her.”
    Adam stared at Bickford, almost dwarfed by the large mahogany desk.
    Bickford leaned back in his chair, apparently content his chastising of Adam was over. “This Ingram fellow, you should have heard him,” he said. “After he called, I had the morgue check him out. Big name in the South, I guess. One of those moldy old families that’s been hanging around since before the Civil War.”
    Adam remained silent.
    “I can understand you wanting to sow some wild oats before you settle down,” Bickford said. “But what in the world were you doing chasing his daughter?”
    “It was just one night, Bick,” Adam said