Never A Choice (The Choices Trilogy (Book 1)) by Dee Palmer Read Free Book Online Page A

windows and returns to the stage. If he didn’t have the complete attention of the room, he does now. Beside me, Sam very carefully removes his earphones and glances at me with wide eyes. I am sure my eyes are just as wide and I give a very quick and nervous smile as way of a response.
    The harsh lighting on the stage does nothing to diminish the impact of this man. He is tall, probably around six two, with broad shoulders and a trim waist. He is immaculately dressed in a fitted dark navy suit, pale blue shirt and no tie. His inky black glossy hair is rough styled; it spikes and flops, slightly long brushing the collar of his shirt. He rakes his hand through it and gathers his notes. His face is striking but up close its breath steeling, sharp angles and shadows emanate intensity and power. I imagine fixing on his eyes as I explore the tight feel of is abdomen, flat and hard, the muscles on his back flex as my hands crawl their way up his body to his thick shaggy hair only to grip and pull. Christ get a grip Bets! I shift in my seat the warmth in my face moving decidedly southwards. Thinking about my conversation with Mags, if I decide to do Late Night Calls, maybe I wouldn’t need imagination if I had a muse. My lips curl at the thought as I ponder the prospect of Mr Stone as my private muse, either way having a sneaky personal picture of the delicious Mr Stone is a must. I just have to get close, again.
    His introduction is pretty standard information that anyone could and probably did Google. Something I am thinking I should most definitely have done but in my defence I didn’t expect to see him again. Daniel Edward Stone is the CEO of Stone International; a group of companies that started as an IT intranet software provider and expanded into other IT specialities, then rapidly into other areas: Telecommunication, Specialist Security Providers, Media, Entertainment, property, even a chain of Hotels and Nightclubs. In the past he has provided funding for research and start -up companies identified through this University and more specifically the Entrepreneurial programme. The parent company is global and he is the sole shareholder, his not so many fingers are in a lot of pies. I understand it’s highly unusual for a company that size not to have shareholders or a board of directors. Maybe he just doesn’t like sharing or is just a massive control freak but on second thoughts there is no reason why he can’t be both.
    His ‘brief’ description does go into a bit more detail than a Wiki page and he is not afraid to sing his own praises. It’s lucky he did lock the door I don’t think there is any more room now that his ego has landed. I can’t help but roll my eyes which wouldn’t have been so bad had I not made a kind of involuntary humph noise just to highlight my action. I close my eyes momentarily, only to open to the seriously hot scowl of Mr Stone. To my credit I hold his gaze, careful not to give into to my increasing urge to squirm. I don’t even acknowledge the subtle shifting of my neighbours as they try and distance themselves from the troublemaker. My cheeks do flame though and just when I am about to cave and drop my gaze he turns away, the corners of his mouth giving way to a wolfish grin.
    He stands at the lectern and picks up a folder filled with lose leaf sheets of paper, his fingers numbly pick through to pluck one from the rest.
    “Miss Thorne . . . What are you doing here?” His deep voice is barely raised but he could be using a bull horn for the shock I feel at the unexpected question. His tone is clipped, cold, almost angry. I don’t know how to answer, like I am suddenly mute. I simply shake my head embarrassed and mortified with the sudden shift of focus in the room.
    “Would you like me to repeat the question?” He raises his brow and stares deeply into my eyes which I manage to hold but I can feel my face flame. Why is he picking on me? We’ve barely started and he has singled me