Deceptive Love by Anne N. Reisser Read Free Book Online Page B

tomorrow. She knew he expected her to spend the morning on the transcription, but it was a point of honor to have it ready at his hand when he sat down, even if it meant she was up half the night.
    She'd show him she was an executive secre tary, not just a pretty face! Keri took a composed departure from Dain in front of her building, smiling warmly at the c hauffeur as he helped her from the car, and causing him to take another look at the plain Miss Dalton. That smile really had something! Dain caught the fringe of the smile as it rayed over the chauffeur and his mouth quirked in sardonic amusement.
    No smiles for me, eh, girl? Well, we'll see about that, won't we?

 

    Chapter Three
    It didn't take half the night to complete the transcription, but Keri was glad to rip the last sheet of paper out of her portable electric typewriter. She stacked the sheaf of papers neatly and debated whether to pour herself a final cup of coffee. A glance at the clock decided her, and she emptied the rest of the liquid in the percolator down the sink drain. She had a feeling that she was going to need a good night's sleep!
    She'd made a sketchy meal when she got home, but had been too eager to get started on the evening's work to do more than open a few cans and improvise with dabs of leftovers. Now, with the impetus gone, her stomach announced its presence with a gentle reminder. Placating it with a bologna and cheese sandwich, she finished proofreading her evening's output, and well satisfied, went to bed to sleep the undisturbed sleep of the just.
    The next morning, moved by a perhaps foolhardy desire to impress upon Dain Randolph that he couldn't dictate totally to her, and the equal desire to avoid conflict for as long as possible with the possessive Miss Barth, Keri decided to delay her emergence from chrysalis until the evening reception. She chose a mud-brown tailored suit, teamed it with just the wrong shade of yellow blouse, and scraped her hair back into a bun for the last time.
    Defiantly she splashed on Charme, jammed her glasses on her nose, and almost sneered at her mirror. "Nos morituri te salutamus," she said aloud to her unresponsive image and left the apartment.
    She was deliberately early and slipped into Dain's office well before he was due to arrive. She laid the completed pile of transcriptions, plus her other additions, squarely in the middle of his desk. Since neither Miss Barth nor Mrs. Covey had made an appearance, Keri decided to fortify herself with a cup of the surprisingly excellent coffee dispensed by the small canteen on the executive floor,
    She was leaning casually against the counter, chatting to the young girl who ran the canteen, when the widening eyes and faltering words of her companion alerted her. Her head swiveled slowly, looking over her left shoulder. Dain Randolph loomed behind her and with a slightly sinking heart Keri straightened.
    "Good morning, Mr. Randolph," she said politely and waited.
    "Come to my office, Miss Dalton," he ordered peremptorily and strode off down the corridor.
    Keri stood looking after him for a moment, wondering if her spurt of defiance was going to be such a good idea after all His obvious fury was quelling. The young girl gave her a sympathetic smile as she accepted Keri's cup , but to Keri it held strong elements of pity, and she could feel the girl's gaze following her progress clown the corridor. More juice for the grapevine, she thought wryly.
    Before she went into Dain's office, she dashed into her own and snatched up a dictation pad and a pencil. With them and what she devoutly hoped was an impervious, deadpan expression, she opened the door and went in. He was standing behind his desk, still wearing the same forbidding expression with which he had surveyed her at the canteen.
    He went right to the attack. "I expect obedience from my secretaries, Miss Dai ton," he rasped.
    She didn't pretend to misunderstand him. "I shall be suitably dressed for the reception