Running From Fate by Rose Connelly Read Free Book Online Page A

many times, but she somehow felt divorced from the scene, like she was merely watching a bad movie.
    Delta Flight 6970, non stop service to Raleigh-Durham International is now boarding at Gate A10 .
    The announcement seemed to come from nowhere, but it brought her back to herself. If she were to start screaming and run from the airport, she thought with a return to humor, she’d probably be taken into custody and interrogated as a possible terrorist. It would be just her luck. She took a deep breath and checked that her bag was still sl ung securely over her shoulder.
    This is the final call for Delta flight 6790 to Raleigh-Durham International. All passengers please report to gate A10 for boarding.
    If things didn’t work out she rationalized, she could always change her mind. Besides, her chin lifted, she had never been a coward and she wouldn’t become one now.
    Will Mira Anders please report to Gate A10 for boarding. Passenger Anders please report to Gate A10 for boarding.
    Ignoring the stares , Mira clutched her bag and sprinted toward the gate.

 
Chapter 6
Raleigh, NC
     
    The meeting at EcoSpace was scheduled for 10 a.m .  Unfortunately, i t was already quarter till and she wasn’t even close. Mira looked out the windshield at the unfamiliar street and the slow moving traffic and groaned . Five more minutes and she would have to call and tell them that she would be late .  Damn it, this shouldn’t have happened , s he thought as she turned down yet another street and hit a dead end .  She had actually left early .
    Granted, s he had been so exhausted by the time she had picked up the rental car and checked into the hotel last night that she had done the bare mi nimum before falling into bed , but she had set t he alarm to wake her two hours ago so that she would have enough time to do everything.  Tr ue , she had spent 20 minutes making sure her hair and makeup were right and trying to choose between the two suit s she had brought with her . 
    In the end she had gone with the deep red suit that elegantly showcased her body .  A judicious use of eye shadow had made her eyes glow like emeralds . It was just a plus that the short s kirt and strappy sandals with t w o - inch heels helped show off her toned legs.   She had, however, built in extra time and e ven with the extra minutes spent primping she had left in plenty of time . She just hadn’t planned on getting lost.  The directions had seemed so simple.
    A horn honked behind her and she realized that she was just sitting in the middle of the street despite the fact that the light had changed. Restraining the urge to swear at the other driver , she spun the wheel and pulled into a nearby parking lot.  Her cell phone was easy enough to find since it had a special pocket in her bag, but it took another five minutes to find the stupid phone number. It seemed that n o matter how often she cleaned out her purse it always ended up packed again. The thing was like a black hole. In frustration, she turned it over and emptied the whole mess onto the passenger seat.  Of all places, the slip of paper was stuck to the back of her check book with what app eared to be an old wad of gum, w hich was strange because she didn’t even like chewing gum. Oh well, she thought , she could still read the number.  S he flipped open the phone and dialed .  After two rings it was picked up.
    “ EcoSpace Industries , Mr. Kelly’s office .  How can I help you? ”
    She tried to make her voice apologetic and not frantic.  “Hello, this is Mira Anders.  I have an interview this morning with Mr. Kelly, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be late.”
    “Yes, I rememb er you,” the pleasant voice said.  “I’m Mary Beecham, James Kelly’s secretary .  We spo k e last week.  Are you ill?” she asked, concern evident in her voice.  “ Would you like me to see if the meeting can be rescheduled for another day?”
    “ I’m fine,” Mira reassured her, “and I hope