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

Miss Stone. I’ve received a text from Xavier, at the Tower. Apparently Mister Mayfield is a bit overwhelmed, and in need of some help as to the shopping.”
    “That’s adorable.” She smirked. “You should go help him, I’m sure it would be at least more entertaining than the afternoon I have planned.”
    “Don’t you have the Mcloughlin meeting at two? I thought you might need me for that?”
    “It’s a preliminary. Just the Lawyer, I can handle Donavan Kelly.”
    “I was more worried about how he was going to handle you.” Harold whispered standing up. “If you are sure, because I have no problem running interference.”
    “Girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. I know my way around him well enough. Don’t worry. Just have Matthew at Jacoby’s for seven thirty. I made reservations.”
    “Taking him out for a public display, so soon?”
    “Well I need to see how he responds, if I’m to take him to the Governor’s Christmas party next week, don’t I.”
    “Yes I was wondering about that. Do find out if he wants the chicken or the steak.”
    “You’re about to meet up with him, find out yourself and get him something worth wearing to the event. Make sure he burns whatever he’s wearing when you get to him. Except the Armani.”
    “But of course.” Harold laughed.
    ***
    When Harold knocked on the door to Matthew’s apartment he found the door to be unlocked, so he let himself in to be greeted by a happy little puppy and a frazzled tenant.
    “What is the problem?” Harold asked seeing Matthew as he flipped through papers and tossed canvases aside like old shirts.
    “I’m missing prints. My wounded soldiers, the whole reason I even agreed to this cockamamie scheme. I can’t find them. It’s like my whole portfolio has been stripped.
    “Easy there tiger. I’m sure there is an explanation.” Harold took out his tablet and swiped a few times at random. “Here it is. It wasn’t stripped, it was combed through by Mister Walsh, Miss Stone’s silent partner at the gallery. He took them to start the collection for you. There was supposed to be a contract here about it. Idiot movers, did what they do best. Moved it and no one told you about it. I am so very sorry.”
    “You can’t just take my things like that!” Matthew said huffing as he sank down into the softness of the couch, the puppy jumping up with some difficulty. He reached down picking her up. “Scared the crap outta us, didn’t they?”
    “Again, very sorry. It won’t happen again.”
    “No, it won’t… Anyhow what are you doing here?”
    “Heard from Xavier you were having some issues about shopping, so Donnella sent me as reinforcements.”
    “Can you help?”
    “I’m sure we can work out something. What do you need?”
    “A bit of everything I guess. I don’t really know the city. Just the clubs and the village and none of that helps me here. I know the mall but that’s nowhere near here.”
    “Indeed not.”
    “Let’s start with necessities. I don’t have a scrap of food, how are the supermarkets? Organic foods, decent butchers stuff like that?”
    “You a bit of a foodie?”
    “I can cook well, and appreciate a good steak. Like to do fish I know there’s a great market down by the river for that.”
    “If you’re looking to cook, then it’s the Chelsea Market, hands down. You’ll spend the whole day in there, and need help carrying it all home. So let’s not, today. We can hit the little stands for the regs. Milk, eggs, bread, that stuff. Some fresh produce. Okay? But we need to get you, from what I understand some clothes and a bed?”
    Matthew nodded.
    Okay, so off to Barney’s, Giorgio’s and Macy’s for the bed.”
    ***
    The bar was mostly empty, as was usually was on a Tuesday afternoon. That was the way he liked it. When Donavan Kelly called Donnella and told her to meet him to go over the preliminary merger paperwork her throat had closed up. She had never expected to hear from him again, let