As Cold As Ice by Mandy Rosko Read Free Book Online

back with so much gel it actually
glistened in the lamplight above his head. He wore a suit that fit
his body so well it had to have been handmade by an expensive
Italian designer. His nose was a little on the crooked side, but
that did nothing to deter his good looks. Jessica hated this man,
but even she couldn't deny the confidence that floated around
him.
    Weirdly enough, the room also had the
distinct scent of pine needles. That had to be an air freshener,
though, because there was no way a strong scent like that could be
coming from him.
    Mark Layton looked kind of like a younger
Alan Rickman, or Severus Snape, who was made even more handsome by
the fact that he smiled confidently, styled his hair, and didn't
stink of potions and chemicals.
    I need to stop with the Harry Potter
references.
    She'd seen him before from time to time. On
the news, usually. It was different in person, though. He wasn't
speaking to them, didn't announce himself, even though he was
clearly right there. He just smiled, kept his hands behind his
back, and observed Charles, Soren, and Jessica. His eyes were on
Jessica for the most part, and even though he wasn't smiling, it
kind of looked like he was. At her.
    She turned her face away from him, opting to
pay attention to what Soren and Charles were saying to each
other.
    They were whispering heatedly. Work
involving the company. Charles wanted blood samples for something,
and he seemed angry that they were late. He also didn't seem to
appreciate the way Soren mouthed off to him.
    "They wouldn't be late if
you'd stop honoring me with all your work."
    Charles's neck immediately started bulging
with red and blue veins. Then he turned his head and saw Jessica
looking at the both of them.
    Soren noticed it, too, and they stopped
talking and straightened up. Charles cleared his throat and
smoothed his collar. He smiled at Jessica brightly, as if they were
both still sort of coworkers, and he approached Layton's desk.
    "Sir? This is Jessica Frost, the subject we
told you about."
    ‘ Subject’ wasn't a very
good way for Charles to endear himself to her, especially if he was
trying to trick her into thinking she was still on his
team.
    Whatever. She had no choice but to let it slide, so she
stood straight and put on her confident face when Layton turned his
attention to her.
    This was going to be no
different than a job interview. It kind of was a job interview, and as she told
herself that, it became a little easier to believe it, to make
herself stop sweating and calm her heart.
    Layton smiled at her. A businessman’s smile.
Not too bright, but definitely there and meant to show off that he
didn't have a Grinch face.
    Layton held out a hand to her, his palm flat
as he pointed to one of the small leather chairs in front of his
massive glass desk.
    "Yes, yes. Please, sit down. I've heard a
lot about you."
    Jessica stepped forward. She was glad her
boots had been cleaned since she'd brought them in. Somehow,
getting mud all over the thick, expensive rug beneath his desk and
those chairs seemed like it wouldn't win her any brownie
points.
    She took her seat, kept her spine straight,
and crossed her leg over her knee, knowing it would accent her
figure. Why wasn't Soren coming to sit down? There was only one
other chair and Charles took it, still grinning brightly, as if he
was on the verge of a big promotion.
    Layton did not sit down. He picked up a
single sheet of paper, probably something that had a little bit of
Jessica's information on it.
    "You've been the talk of the building ever
since you were called in. You froze a collector, and two office
clerks in the home of another collector?"
    No point in lying about it. That was how
they'd found out about her, after all.
    Jessica nodded. "Yes, I felt I had to in the
moment. Are they all right?"
    If Layton knew their names, then it was only
because he'd had to learn them to make a public statement to the
press about the incident.
    He didn't tell Jessica