Heart Of Stone by S.I. Hayes Read Free Book Online

furnished in leather padded seats and a glass tabletop. As he took in the lines of the place looking upward he realized there were stairs leading to a second floor, as one of the movers came down them looking a bit flustered.
    “You’ve gotta be shitting me. There’s more?” He felt like a kid in a candy store, but tried to hold back the excitement as the movers snickered hearing him.
    The second floor overlooked the living room and walked out to a private terrace that looked out and over the city’s famous park from a new angle. Pepper whined as she looked through the cement fixtures of the terrace.
    “It’s okay. You don’t have to worry, but you can at least get fresh air out here.” He smirked, scratching her between the ears, making her let out an approving yip. The terrace had plenty of living plants that seemed as though they would take care of themselves for which he was glad as he had a black as opposed to green thumb. As he went inside Pepper darted for one of the three doors on this level, scratching at it energetically.
    “What is it, Pepper?” He pushed the door open to find a fully furnished master bedroom. Almost. It was missing the most crucial thing. The bed. Where it should have been lay a note and an envelope.
    “Huh?” He picked up the envelope opening it before reading the note. He dropped it with a surprised gasp to find five thousand dollars cash inside. “What the fuck?”
    He turned over the piece of paper in his hand, reading the flawless note.
    ***
    ‘Matthew,
    I’ve taken care of mostly everything you could need, except your personal shopping. Like food and toiletries. It think some things a man just needs to do on his own. As for the missing bed. That’s a very personal choice, you can keep your old one if you like, or go get a new one. I think a man’s bed says a lot about him. I wonder what kind of man you are. Firm, plush, something in-between. Do you prefer it bouncy or smooth sailing? I guess I’ll find out. Anyhow, I’ve given you this month’s stipend. It’s only half of course since it’s only half the month I’m utilizing you. Hope you understand. I will send for you later this evening. Please be dressed for dinner. Shirt and tie, and ware that Armani Jacket I do so love.
    D.S.
    ***
    He looked down at the pile of cash on the floor. “I feel like Julia Roberts.”
    ***
    “What do you mean she won’t see me? Do you know who I am?” A tall blonde man was near to screaming at Stephanie, the receptionist at The Keynote Gallery . His neck muscles straining as he stalked toward the door to the main floor. She stood up hitting the button for security. “She said you were not to be permitted. Mister Gentry. That she had other business to attend to for the day.”
    “Bullshit. She’s been avoiding me for the last two weeks, I demand an answer.”
    From behind the glass doors three security guards appeared, each larger than the next and all too familiar with Claude Gentry. The Metal head who until a few weeks prior had shared the bed of Donnella Stone. Their arrangement was over and he knew the rules. It was over and he was supposed to be on his own, but he’d hit a snag. A groupie was claiming to be pregnant and was demanding money or she was going to keep the baby. Now he was looking for Donnella to make it go away.
    “Miss Stone is out of the office, and unless you want to see the inside of a hospital we suggest you leave, now .” Cordell spoke up, cracking his neck and his knuckles.
    “I-I got it. I don’t wan- want any trouble, guys. J-just tell her I- I need to see her.”
    “No, we won’t.”
    ***
    From inside the safety of her wood and chrome office Donnella watched the scene unfold on her computer monitor. “I don’t feel one bit sorry for Claude Gentry. I had warned him. Told him not to fuck up.” She shook her head looking to Harold who was looking down at his cell phone. Something he rarely did in her presence.
    “Am I boring you today?”
    “No,