Midnight Alpha by Carole Mortimer Read Free Book Online

nodded to the folder he had placed back on the desk top, “that I’ve worked several internships with publishing houses this past year, with no prospect of a full-time job at the end of them. My last job was as a waitress in a coffee shop—”
    “At which you excelled apparently.” He nodded. “It also states that your employer was sorry to let you go, which tells me it was your decision to leave,” he bit out hardly. “Which again brings me back to the question of why you gave up that job to work in a bar with unsociable hours?”
    “Money. I earn almost twice as much here as I did in the coffee shop. It’s explained as easily as that.” Gaia gave him a frowning glance, noting there was no lessening of the coldness in his eyes. “What do you think I’m doing here?”
    “You would know that better than I.”
    Gaia didn’t appreciate his cat-and-mouse game. “Perhaps you think I’m here to write some sort of expose story on the infamous Gregori Markovic? That’s exactly what you thought!” she realized as his narrowed gaze grew even colder. “I’m not stupid, Mr. Markovic,” she snorted. “You may not own any newspapers or publishing houses, but you’re certainly powerful enough to prevent any of them from printing a story you don’t like.”
    If his reputation alone could deter the police from following up on her information regarding Angela’s death, then he could certainly prevent a newspaper from writing anything about him he didn’t approve of. Which was probably anything and everything.
    It was almost a relief to realize that Gregori Markovic thought she was an undercover reporter looking for a story. Almost. Because he didn’t look any more convinced of her innocence than he had when they walked in here fifteen minutes ago.
    “Infamous?” he repeated icily.
    Gaia gave an inward sigh, wondering if she could do or say anything right where this man was concerned. “You’re Gregori Markovic!”
    “And?”
    “Is this a trick question? One of those ones with no right answer,” she explained as he arched a questioning brow. “I point out that you’re highly newsworthy, from two completely different angles—as the new patriarch of the powerful Markovic family and also as one of the most eligible bachelors in the world—and you give me a pair of concrete shoes for my impertinence?”
    What the hell—
    Gregori rose abruptly to his feet. “I do not kill people, Miss Miller!”
    “Well maybe not personally,” she conceded dryly. “That’s the reason you have men like Mr. Volkov working for you.”
    “Nikolai does not kill people either,” he bit out between gritted teeth. No one—no one had ever dared—
    “I told you there was no right answer.” Gaia Miller sank back against the chair.
    As if she was afraid of him? Of him! Yes, his father had been as old school as Ivan Orlov, and there had been deaths in the past ordered by his father, but Gregori was an educated man, a civilized man, and he ruled in a completely different manner than his father had. He may have people persuaded into doing as he wished, but hedidn’t kill people. The Markovic reputation alone was enough to put the fear of God into most people, and those that were foolish enough to ignore it—
    Gregori breathed in deeply through his nose as he fought for control, his hands clenched at his sides as he glared down at this audaciously outspoken young woman. “There will be a car waiting outside to drive you home when you are ready to leave.” He could feel a nerve jumping in the tenseness of his jaw. “Goodnight, Miss Miller.” He turned his back on her abruptly before he said or did something further that he would regret.
    He heard the rustle of her clothing as she stood up and hurried over to the door, and then the sound of her footsteps light outside in the carpeted hallway.
    Because she wasn’t wearing any shoes, Gregori realized as he glanced down and saw them sitting beside the chair where she had left