It Takes a Rebel by Stephanie Bond Read Free Book Online

ties her father had gruffly pronounced as "damnably expensive"
    were selling well despite the admittedly steep price tags. "Keep up the good work, Reggie."
    Her chunky-heeled black leather pumps felt nice and solid against the polished marble floor as she walked toward the stairs.
    The stairs themselves, although a mainstay in her casual exercise program, were a bit of a test today in her shorter than usual
    skirt—black crepe with no slit. She climbed the four flights of stairs slowly to prevent perspiration from gathering on the paper
    thin indigo blouse beneath the black jacket. Near the top, she checked her watch. Nine-thirty. Just enough time to grab another
    cup of coffee and sift through the previous week's sales figures. Might as well head for the conference room early and claim a
    good vantage point. Things could get interesting, and she wanted a view.
    Her secretary Tess, an efficient and animated young woman who studied fashion merchandising at night, was holding out the
    sales reports before Alex even reached the woman's desk.
    "Thanks, Tess."
    "You look tired."
    So much for her new under-eye concealer. "I guess I need more caffeine."
    "Let me get your coffee, Ms. Tremont." Despite Alex's numerous requests for Tess to call her by her first name, her secretary
    insisted on addressing her formally. Before Alex could protest, Tess had relieved her of the stoneware mug and refilled it with
    black Irish roast from a coffeemaker on a credenza. "Do you have anything for me to add to your agenda today?"
    "No," Alex said, inclining her head in thanks as she took the mug. "Just be on the lookout for a Mr. Jack Stillman for the ten
    o'clock meeting, and show him to the boardroom, please."
    "How will I know him?" Tess asked, her green eyes wide and interested.
    Alex bit back a smirk. Her pretty secretary was a bit of a flirt, and always perked up when a man came around. Shaggy Jack
    Stillman was probably right up her alley, too.
    "Believe me, you can't miss him."
    She shook her head good-naturedly as she walked down the hall to the executive conference room, nodding good morning to a
    half-dozen peers and subordinates as she went. Tess ran through men like most women ran through panty hose.
    Alex frowned down at her own durable black hose. Funny, she hadn't bought a new pair in ages.
    At the door to the conference room, she hesitated only a second before stepping inside. In her opinion, these four walls
    encompassed the most unappealing space in the entire five-story building. Alex had attempted to overhaul the depressing room
    many times, but she'd finally tired of butting heads with her father, who insisted the conference room be left as is. As is ,
    however, was an oppressive collection of dark, clubby wood bookshelves studded with sports paraphernalia. A thoroughly
    masculine domain, the three darkly paneled walls adorned with gaping fish frozen into curling leaps, and worse, two antlered
    deer heads. Alex felt nauseous every time she looked at the poor creatures.
    The furniture wasn't much better, the bulky chairs so unwieldy she could barely move them in and out from the broad-legged
    table. She chose the chair at the head of the table, farthest from the door. After setting down her coffee cup and the reports, she
    crossed the gloomy room to open the window blinds on the outside wall. As far as she was concerned, the sole good feature of
    the room was the view.
    Rolling hills of pasture land and forests provided a backdrop for the modest Lexington skyline. The fiery October hues threw
    the white board fences encircling distant grazing land into stark relief. The flying hooves of two yearlings sprinting across a
    slanted field reminded her that fall horse racing season at Keeneland started in a couple of days. Alex smiled, momentarily
    distracted, and experienced a rush of gratitude to be living in such a beautiful area.
    Winding, tree-lined roads led residents into the downtown area, a myriad of old tobacco warehouses,