The Alphabet Game the Complete Alpha Series a to X, Y, Z by Andie M. Long Read Free Book Online Page B

latte.’
    A waitress comes up to take our order.
    I suck my top lip. ‘A Black Russian please. She’ll have a Mohito.’
    Ronnie looks at me as if I’ve grown a further head. ‘Drinking at lunch, in work hours? Disgraceful.’ She slaps my arm. ‘I bloody love it. Can we have some olives and a selection of breads too please?’
    I head back to the office later. A large lunch has soaked up the Tia Maria and Vodka, but I’m left pleasantly chilled, apart from the fact that my pissed-offness at Gregory Senior seems to have projected itself onto Gregory Junior, who is now in my slightly-addled, I’ll agree, mind, the devil incarnate.
    When I walk past Lorraine, she runs after me into my office and pours me a coffee from the machine. ‘Mr Gregory’s back.’
    ‘Which one?’ I panic.
    ‘Gabriel. He’s in his office and he was steaming that you weren’t in and that I didn’t know your whereabouts. I told him you were entitled to your lunch without having to report in.’
    ‘Thanks, I owe you one.’ I take a sip of the scalding coffee and wince as it burns my mouth.
    ‘Yes well he’s given me some filing, which I loathe, as punishment.’
    ‘I’ll help you later. It’s the least I can do.’
    ‘Don’t worry about it. Just let him know you’re back.’
    I follow Lorraine back out to the Reception to pick up my post. I hear the lift door ping open and out walks what can only be termed an Adonis. Short, spiked blonde hair, sits atop a glowing face with chiselled cheekbones. It’s like Pinocchio’s maker got ten out of ten in making a real boy. Perfect, not too white, teeth are displayed to us in a polite smile and the chest, oh my goodness, that broad chest, under that too tight tee. Oh hang on, I think, check out the calves and thighs on this guy, so tanned and ...
    I see Lorraine’s dropped jaw and realise we’re like two women from a Diet Coke ad. Understandable but pathetic.
    ‘Well, if I knew you two were up here, I’d have been accused of shagging a Judge’s daughter a lot earlier.’ He drawls in a Scottish accent, which makes me even hotter as it reminds me of the God that is David Tennant.
    Lorraine and I smile back and try not to puddle at his feet.
    Lorraine mumbles nervously, ‘Mr Taylor. I’ll, er let Mr Gregory know you’ve arrived.’
    ‘Oh no rush, darlin’. I think I prefer it out here to be honest.’ He leans over and whispers to me. ‘He can be really mean to me, you know.’
    ‘Oh I know, he’s like it with me too. Dreadful being his Assistant.’ I wink.
    ‘Do you want to come through Harry? says a deep voice, that seems to rumble with thunder. I turn around to see Gabe standing behind us, legs wide apart and arms crossed over his chest. A look of barely disguised fury on his face.
    ‘I’ll need some time with you after Stella,’ he begins to walk away, ‘there are a few things I need you to take down. It won’t be a problem you staying late after your extended lunch break will it?’
    I shake my head.
    ‘Good.’
    ‘Oh dear, it sounds like you’re in trouble,’ whispers Lorraine. ‘What’ll be your equivalent of filing?’
    ‘I dread to think.’I reply, and head back to my desk, yet strangely I feel more excited than worried.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 7
     
    Lorraine and Harry left long ago and I’m wondering what Gabe is up to when the interconnecting door flings open and he stands in the doorway, a tic pulsing in his cheek.
    ‘Stay away from Harry, Stella, he’s bad news.’
    I roll my eyes, ‘Cool it He-man, I was only chatting with him in the reception for a few minutes. Anyway, it’s none of your business who I talk to.’
    Gabe’s eyes darken and the skin around them tightens, ‘It is my business here. This is my office.’
    ‘Well if we’re doing macho posturing let me tell you that this one,’ I indicate the sweep of the room with my hand, ‘is my office and you don’t get to tell me what to do in here, unless it’s business