The Naughty List by L.A. Kelley Read Free Book Online Page A

Integral’s prison. She’d probably pee herself dry before a medusa turned her static.
    Rosalie finished the transaction and Butterfly Boob bounced away with a surly look and no thank you. David continued to watch as customer after customer approached. Even the ones who weren’t overtly rude appeared brusque and unsmiling. A few made snide comments about the hat. Rosalie’s shoulders sagged. She looked tired, but her attitude stayed pleasant. None of the customers noticed, but David did.
    She needs another candy bar.
    ****

The next morning Rosalie arrived and to her excitement found more chocolate and another note. This one read. Cheer up. One day gravity will take hold and that butterfly on her boob will look like a pterodactyl coming in for a landing on the runway of an aircraft carrier.
    She burst out laughing. Her mysterious friend got an eyeful of the chick with the blender yesterday. Another puff of air hit the back of her neck, blowing a stack of receipts to the floor. She checked behind the clothing racks again, but spied nothing but the blank wall.
    Rosalie kept the note in her pocket all day. Anytime she grew tense or irritable one touch of the little scrap of paper instantly lifted her spirits. Even the Motivation Memo didn’t faze her. She sat in the break room eating the chocolate and read, “Rosalie did not display enough synergy to augment the internal locus of customer satisfaction.” She chucked the gold wrapper into the trash. “Thank you Stephanie, you are ever so helpful.”
    Rosalie bought a bottle of water from the vending machine. The door opened and Stephanie sashayed in. Ignoring Rosalie, she poured a cup of coffee from the pot and added sugar. As she discarded the stirrer, her hand froze. Her eyes flared. She reached in and pulled the gold wrapper out of the trash can.
    “Who threw this away?”
    Warning bells went off. Rosalie blinked innocently. “What?”
    “This!” She held up the wrapper, steaming mad. “Someone stole from my office. This chocolate is very expensive—from a specialty shop in New York. Who was in here just now? Did you see who threw the wrapper away?”
    Rosalie shrugged. “A bunch of people came and went. I didn’t see anyone eating candy.” Anyone else, that is.
    Stephanie stormed out, declaring, “The thief won’t be working here much longer.”
    Whoever swiped the candy obviously snuck unnoticed in and out of Stephanie’s office. Rosalie didn’t know whether to be tickled or concerned. She decided on tickled when Marissa dropped by the counter later and let her know Stephanie demanded all the assistant managers cross-examine their employees.
    She winked. “Of course, I told her none of my people could possibly have any knowledge of such a nefarious crime. Besides, no one can get into her office. She has the only key.”
    “What did she say?”
    “Nothing, but I heard later she ordered security to change the locks on the door. I hope the thief keeps his head down,” she called over her shoulder. “Stephanie’s out for blood.”
    Rosalie shook her head in amusement. All that fuss over a chocolate bar. She fingered the note in her pocket. Still, the writer would be in big trouble if Stephanie tracked him down. Not that she had any reason to believe the writer was male. Marissa thought so, but the writer could easily be a kindly female employee like Miss Lu. Rosalie’s cheeks flushed. Only, she hoped not .
    There…she finally admitted the truth to herself. Rosalie glanced around the store, mentally reviewing all the employees. Who was the mysterious writer? No one came immediately to mind, although the person had to be someone who worked late. The notes always appeared first thing in the morning.
    The writer needed a warning Stephanie was on the prowl. Rosalie fished out the sticky pad and wrote. Thanks for the candy, but don’t swipe any more. Stephanie knows you were in her office and is looking for you. Be careful. She took a deep breath and added