Clean Slate by Holley Trent Read Free Book Online Page B

an internal extension and
put it on speaker.
    “Yes?” Trinity answered.
    Nikki sunk into her cushy leather seat, rubbed her tired
eyes and said, “Turn off your speaker, Trin.”
    A beep, then a squeak as the receiver cleared the phone
base. “What’s going on?”
    “Do either you or Jerry have corporate cards with you
today?”
    “I have mine. I never clean my wallet out.”
    “Don’t share this with anyone other than Jerry, not even
Francine. This is an R&D issue.”
    Silence, then, “Do I need to come in there?”
    “No, there are already too many bodies in here. Right now
it looks friendly because Ben doesn’t work here. Listen, Daisy’s going to make
test soaps for Saturday’s skin and hair show. She needs supplies ASAP.”
    “Shit, we’re not going to be able to get a delivery that
fast. We’re going to have to go to Chesapeake.”
    “I know. Leave now.”
    “Right.” Trinity hung up her extension.
    Nikki stabbed the hot line’s button so the light went off.
She looked at Ben first, then Daisy. “I don’t have a whole lot invested in this
show, but if you two make a splash, I’ll make it worth your while. You know I
always pay favors back two-fold.”
    Ben rubbed the soul patch beneath his lip and pulled his
bottom lip through his teeth. He was a million miles away, and Daisy would have
given much to know what was running through that mind of his.
    As she stood and gripped the doorknob, her thoughts spun
in her mind in perfect clarity. She’d be spending an entire Saturday with the
man she practically threw herself at.
    Universe, sometimes
I don’t get you.
     

CHAPTER SIX
    Louis Rouse paced in front of the wide picture window of
his temporary office, and stared out at the light traffic on Broad Street.
Edenton was a quiet town, but being in town at all meant distractions. He would
have much rather been at his home office in absolute quiet, pondering his
current dilemma, than in this makeshift spartan box he leased out of necessity.
    He snatched his phone off the receiver, and dialed his
long-time secretary at her home where she was working that day.
    “Yes, Louis?”
    “Hi, Alice. Did you get a signature confirmation for that
package you sent to Clara Thys?” He sat for the first time that morning, pulled
the one item of adornment in the room across the desktop, and gripped the edge
in his fist.
    “Yes, she accepted it and signed personally two days ago.”
    “So, no return?”
    “No, not as of yet.”
    “Good.”
    Better than good. He’d feared she’d read the return
address and refuse it without knowing the contents. He would have done the same
had he been in her shoes.
    “Any messages from corporate?”
    “A couple. The major gist is they need you to fly to
Thailand to visit that shoe manufacturing facility again. Thursday next.”
    He blew out a breath, set down the picture frame, and
rubbed his eyes with the heel of his free hand. “Am I going to be back in time
for the wedding?”
    “You’ll skid in by the skin of your teeth. I suggest you
get in and get out early.”
    “Make it happen.”
    “Immediately. Before I go, is there…anything else I can do
for you?”
    He willed his shoulders down from his ears and rolled his
head on his tense neck. Sleep hadn’t been coming easy, and what little bit he’d
been getting had been while he was upright in front of cable television. “Did
you speak with Jesse?” he asked.
    “I did.”
    “What’s the verdict?” Did he really want to know?
    Silence for a moment. “He told me to pass on the warning
that she’s asking for a lot of money to settle this.”
    “Is this…going to break me?”
    “Do you care?”
    He picked up the frame again and stared at the two men
within the brushed nickel rectangle. Undoubtedly his from their noses, sharp
cheekbones, out to their broad shoulders and down their tall, athletic bodies
to their feet. Undoubtedly Clara’s with her fair hair, blue eyes, full lips,
and cynical expressions.
    She