See You in Hell (Mel Goes to Hell Series Book 2) by Demelza Carlton Read Free Book Online Page B

garlic bread.
    The two remaining free places at the table were right beside the window. One of the chairs was bathed in the bright, near-noon sun. Merih sat in the shaded one as Mel reached for the other, only to recoil the moment her fingers touched it: the surface of the metal chair was hot enough to fry her lunch on.
    Someone sniggered, but Mel heard Merih say, "We should ask for another chair. Mel shouldn't have to…"
    "I'll be fine," Mel cut in. She nudged the chair away from the table with her foot, careful to only touch the scorching metal with her shoe. She reached for the jug of iced water and poured it carefully over the chair, making sure she didn't wet her colleagues. Steam rose and a few chunks of ice clattered to the concrete floor, but she didn't flinch until the jug was empty. She reached for the other jug and did the same. Nine demons watched in silence as the puddle on the floor started to evaporate.
    Reaching for the last slice of garlic bread, she whipped the cloth out of the basket beneath and used it to dry her much-cooled chair. Crunching into the crust, she smiled as she sat down. A wide-eyed waiter behind her set her beer on the table with shaking hands and she thanked him. He took the empty jugs from her and promised to refill them.
    A platter of tempura prawns arrived at the table, followed by another with a tepee of prosciutto-wrapped asparagus spears, and the distracted demons decided it was safe to start talking again.
    Mel ate without speaking, occasionally sipping her beer, as she listened to Lili and the girl beside her discussing some book they'd been reading. It seemed to involve some particularly violent sex and a man called Quincy.
    She couldn't help herself. "I'm sorry…a violent, sadistic villain called Quincy? With a name like that, I imagine he has a fair bit to be angry about."
    "Have you read the Monsters in the Dark series?" Lili asked, surprised.
    "No," Mel admitted. "It sounds a bit dark for me, to be honest."
    Lili turned away to talk to the man on her other side.
    "So you're the angel," the girl beside Mel said. "I never thought I'd see one of your kind at a Melbourne Cup lunch. I mean – isn't gambling a sin to you? Like drinking…and generally enjoying yourself? Or even talking to the likes of us?"
    Mel smiled gently. "The rest of the office were going – it seemed rude not to. And Merih told me you needed the numbers to have a chance at better coffee in the office. I wanted to help. I'm perfectly happy to drink and enjoy myself. I even have a horse in the sweep." She held up the little slip of paper.
    "Then you're already halfway to being one of the CEO's little office whores. I swear he has a collection of temps just like you that he's corrupted so quickly you'd think they'd never seen a man before. Has he broken you in over his desk yet?" The girl gave a knowing grin at Mel's shock. "What, did you think you were the first?"
    "Ana, leave Mel alone," Merih interjected. "If Luce finds out you've been spreading rumours, it'll be you over that desk and you know it."
    Ana gave a disgusted sniff and lurched to her feet, headed for the counter and what Mel suspected would be another drink.
    "Don't listen to her, Mel," Merih continued. "Luce does have a reputation for seducing all the new office temps – human and angel – but you're different to them. Just don't accept any meetings alone in his office with him and you should be fine." He became very interested in the plate of spring rolls that appeared in front of him as Lili glared in his direction across Ana's empty seat.
    "It's all right," Mel said softly as Ana returned, bearing a jug of beer and a glass that she thumped down on the table. "He's already made an attempt."
    "Ah Hell, Mel, I didn't realise. I'm sorry…"
    Mel shrugged. "I turned him down. I also suggested he might want to clean his desk occasionally, given all the action it's seen."
    Merih exploded in laughter, spraying beer across the table. It missed Mel