Topaz Dreams by Marilyn Campbell Read Free Book Online

and black high heels. The discarded
disguise went into the oversized bag and the new Steve hurried to catch
her plane.
The first thing Steve noticed when the taxi dropped her
off was that Underwood's Los Angeles office building looked exactly
like the one she had just left. She quickly realized the interior
design and layout were identical as well. Apparently Underwood's
passion for power extended to controlling his environments. She had
read that he was rather inflexible in his business decisions, but she
got the impression he was downright weird.
Steve put on a pair of
big, dark sunglasses and pulled a small notebook and pen out of her
bag. As she stepped out of the elevator, she halted, made a quick note
in the book, tapped the pen on her chin while she inspected the lobby
of the executive floor, and wrote a few more scribbles. Without pausing
at the receptionist's desk, she strode directly down the marble hallway
toward her destination.
"Excuse me!" The young girl called after Steve. "You can't go down there without being announced!"
Steve
never broke her stride as she waved the notebook in the air and called
back over her shoulder. "It's okay. She's expecting me!" Heels clicking
purposefully along, Steve tried to reach the executive secretary's
office before the receptionist could warn her on the intercom. Timing
and extreme self-confidence made up her new character's style.
As
she placed her hand on the doorknob, it was pulled away from her grasp,
causing her to stumble into the room. She was brought up short as her
nose touched a small snap on a black shirt. Stepping back, she saw the
shoes, the leather bag, the custom-fit black slacks over his thighs and
hips. Steve barely suppressed a surprised gasp.
It couldn't be! Be
cool, Steve. There's no way he could recognize you the way you look
now. Leave the shades on, head down. How the hell did he get here ahead
of me?
Steve heard his sharp intake of breath at the same time as
his chest expanded in front of her. God help me, he's smelling me
again! Steve made a mental note to change perfumes along with her
disguises in the future. Normally, like today, she wore no scent at all.
"Excuse
me, please," she said in a brusque tone as she pressed her palm against
his chest. He didn't budge. Behind him, she could hear the secretary
telling someone, probably the outside receptionist, that she would
handle it, obviously meaning her. Who was this guy? Was he going to
blow her cover or not? Until he did, she had every intention of going
ahead with her charade. Using her own body as a wedge, Steve pushed her
way past him into the office.
Nodding briefly to the secretary who
had risen to deal with the intruder, Steve turned to one side then the
other, made a few notes, then addressed the young woman. "Hi. Ronnie
Howser. '60 Minutes.' This will only take a few minutes." Steve noted
that this secretary was also a redhead, more strawberry than the first.
Her nameplate on the desk read MISS PRESTON. Another example of company
regimentation, Underwood-style, Steve supposed. Identical buildings,
identical office layouts, why not identical secretaries?
"What will
take a few minutes? I was not expecting anyone today, ma'am." The wary
voice let Steve know this Miss Preston was not quite as sure of herself
or her position as the one in San Francisco.
"Not today, hon. The
shooting's tomorrow. I'm just getting the layout and lighting
requirements.'' As Steve pretended to inspect the ceiling fixtures, she
realized the man had left without saying a word. Her shoulders relaxed
a little and she got on with her charade. "Is this his office here?"
Before the woman could move, Steve pulled open one of the two doors in
the back wall. A storage room. Swiftly, she moved to the other door.
"You
can't go in there!" the redhead cried, beginning to show her distress.
She had obviously been impressed by Steve's introduction, but not to
the point of being bull-dozed.
Steve yanked the door open and
marched into the