Sold to the Highest Bidder by Donna Alward Read Free Book Online Page A

fight anymore, and he had at least made an effort. She’d just have to do without an adornment for her toast. “Thanks for breakfast, Dev.” She speared a piece of egg and tentatively placed it in her mouth. It tasted good, and she knew it would sit just fine. She nibbled on a corner of her toast. He took the chair opposite and scooped up eggs, layering them on his toast, and took a huge bite.
    “If you’ll sign the papers I can be out of your way after breakfast.”
    He put down his toast and took a drink of coffee. “That wasn’t my deal. You got somewhere you need to be? It’s the weekend. You can’t work all the time. Maybe you should relax. De-stress.”
    She didn’t have anywhere she had to be, exactly. At least not today. But it seemed better to get this over with as quickly as possible. Like ripping off a Band-Aid.
    “I don’t know why you insist on me staying the weekend. It’s not going to change anything.”
    He calmly ate more eggs.
    “You’re not going to tell me why?”
    “I have my reasons. Maybe if you tell me why you need to leave, I’ll think about it.”
    “Denver. I have to finish up my story and get it to my editor first thing Monday morning.”
    “Ah,” he nodded, knowing. “Of course. Work.” She stared at him blandly. “Sorry. Career. ”
    She could have thrown her egg at him the way he used that patronizing tone with her. And the fact that he was sitting there as unperturbed as could be, a layer of sexy stubble on his chin and his perfect teeth glaring at her every time he smiled. She wished he could understand what her job meant to her.
    “It’s what I do. You know that. And this article is part of a bigger picture, and if I do a good job I can move up at the paper.”
    “And that’s what you want? To move up?”
    “Of course it is. I don’t want to be in the Lifestyles section forever. I didn’t spend all that time and money in school to cover tea parties and write articles on the season’s recipes. I want to hit the big time. I can’t do that where I am. I need to go after the big stories. And after that…” She let the idea hang. It wasn’t the right time to tell him about the opening in Boston. And it wasn’t important. After this weekend, nothing she did would be any of his business.
    His fork hit his plate and his eyes darkened. What had she said to set him off now?
    “So what, an article about how the insurance company’s giving Betty the shaft? She’s just another victim in a long list, right? Might as well make an example of her. What the hell. Bonus if it furthers your career at the same time.”
    She didn’t understand why he was so angry about it. This was the way life worked. “So what if it is? I hate to tell you, but people make news. The healthcare system is a farce. Betty’s case is one of many. Why shouldn’t I work on a story that might change all that? The media has a lot of influence, you know. It’s important .”
    He pushed out his chair, taking his half-empty plate with him. It clattered on the counter top. “Cut the noble cause bit. You’re not interested in change. Reporters have sniffed around before. Betty isn’t a face for reform, Ell. She’s a human being. A human being who’s really sick. And you’re trying to profit from it. You and the rest of the vultures.”
    Ella put down her toast and dusted her fingers off on her jeans. “So is it me you have the problem with or my profession in general?”
    He dumped the remainder of his breakfast in the garbage. “Maybe both. The old Ella would have cared about more than paper distribution and a promotion.”
    She swallowed. She did care, but why did it have to be one or the other?
    It was impossible to be here and not be assaulted by memories in every corner. Young, idealistic, full of dreams that in hindsight seemed so simple, so naïve now. He was going to start his own contracting business. She was going to get her degree and write the great American novel. They’d been so