Read Online Bad Behavior by Cristina Grenier - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cristina Grenier
Tags: United States, Romance, Literature & Fiction, Contemporary, African American, multicultural, Multicultural & Interracial
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often.
♀♂
The rest of dinner was surprisingly lighthearted.
She took notes and helped Justin make plans without further incident. In some cases she was even able to make a few suggestions for his upcoming nuptials. They spent another hour in the restaurant, before with a sigh, Justin called it a night.
Instead of taking her back to the office he had the driver swing by her apartment.
She was getting out of the car when he grabbed her by the hand. His touch was soft, light, and the kiss he placed against her lips equally so.
“Goodnight, Ms. Donovan.” He breathed against her mouth.
Her heart stalled and her palms grew moist. She bit her lip and looked away.
“Goodnight Mr. Reese.” She whispered.
Then she was gone, made as breathless by their parting as she had been by their encounter in the women’s bathroom.
Chapter 5: Thursday Morning
Rei was the first person in the office the next morning. Since Justin and Bethany were supposed to announce their intentions to marry to the press in a few hours, Justin had told Rei that she and Stan could wait a few hours before coming in. Which meant that the office would be empty until the press conference was over at 2:00pm. The set up worked well for Rei. Now that she suspected what Stan was up to she needed to clear her tracks. She was sure that he would find out that she’d been snooping, but she only needed a little time. Just a small window to get the evidence she needed. After that she could present her findings to Justin.
She’d just stepped off the elevator when an arm snaked around her throat, yanking her clear off her feet. Her purse clattered to the ground and she tried to scream, but the pressure across her windpipe was unbearable. Rei kicked out and the man behind her cursed when the heel of her pump connected with his shin. Swinging her around to slam her face first into the wall. Her nails drug through the skin of his forearm, and she reached back, clawing, and scratching until the ski cap that covered his head came away in her hands. She threw it to the side, shoving against the wall and sobbing madly. Scrambling, struggling, and trying desperately to make some sound. To let someone, anyone, know that she was in trouble. If she could just yell for help, maybe someone would hear her. Maybe someone would save her.
But…
But fear made her throat tight, her struggles made it hard to draw breath. She could do no more than whimper as, from behind her, the nameless man grabbed her by the hair and slammed her face into the wall.
Her head reeled and blood filled her mouth. He slammed her head forward once more and her arms went limp. A third time, and her legs gave out. The world was getting fuzzy around the edges, and when the man wrapped his arm back around her throat, her chin resting in the crook of his elbow, it was almost as if she were floating. Flying away.
He squeezed a little harder, pulling her tight against his chest and Rei’s head pounded like a drum. Everything hurt, every part of her cried out for relief. Her lungs pleaded for air and tears fell from her eyes as her vision faded to black.
Then the pressure was lifted away and Rei was falling to her knees, sucking in a grateful lungful of air. Past the sound of her own madly racing heart, she heard something crash. There was a curse, the sound of flesh striking flesh, and then silence.
She didn’t bother investigating; she was too busy fading into unconsciousness.
♀♂
“You ok?”
She winced as Justin wiped the blood away from her forehead. Her head ached, a nail in her brain, and it was hard to focus on his face. She was pretty sure she had a concussion, but the ambulance hadn’t arrived for her yet so there was no way to confirm it. She was ok with the delay though. It turned out that she enjoyed the attention.
“I will be once I get some painkillers.”
He smiled, but the expression looked forced. “Fair enough.”
His thumb
♀♂
The rest of dinner was surprisingly lighthearted.
She took notes and helped Justin make plans without further incident. In some cases she was even able to make a few suggestions for his upcoming nuptials. They spent another hour in the restaurant, before with a sigh, Justin called it a night.
Instead of taking her back to the office he had the driver swing by her apartment.
She was getting out of the car when he grabbed her by the hand. His touch was soft, light, and the kiss he placed against her lips equally so.
“Goodnight, Ms. Donovan.” He breathed against her mouth.
Her heart stalled and her palms grew moist. She bit her lip and looked away.
“Goodnight Mr. Reese.” She whispered.
Then she was gone, made as breathless by their parting as she had been by their encounter in the women’s bathroom.
Chapter 5: Thursday Morning
Rei was the first person in the office the next morning. Since Justin and Bethany were supposed to announce their intentions to marry to the press in a few hours, Justin had told Rei that she and Stan could wait a few hours before coming in. Which meant that the office would be empty until the press conference was over at 2:00pm. The set up worked well for Rei. Now that she suspected what Stan was up to she needed to clear her tracks. She was sure that he would find out that she’d been snooping, but she only needed a little time. Just a small window to get the evidence she needed. After that she could present her findings to Justin.
She’d just stepped off the elevator when an arm snaked around her throat, yanking her clear off her feet. Her purse clattered to the ground and she tried to scream, but the pressure across her windpipe was unbearable. Rei kicked out and the man behind her cursed when the heel of her pump connected with his shin. Swinging her around to slam her face first into the wall. Her nails drug through the skin of his forearm, and she reached back, clawing, and scratching until the ski cap that covered his head came away in her hands. She threw it to the side, shoving against the wall and sobbing madly. Scrambling, struggling, and trying desperately to make some sound. To let someone, anyone, know that she was in trouble. If she could just yell for help, maybe someone would hear her. Maybe someone would save her.
But…
But fear made her throat tight, her struggles made it hard to draw breath. She could do no more than whimper as, from behind her, the nameless man grabbed her by the hair and slammed her face into the wall.
Her head reeled and blood filled her mouth. He slammed her head forward once more and her arms went limp. A third time, and her legs gave out. The world was getting fuzzy around the edges, and when the man wrapped his arm back around her throat, her chin resting in the crook of his elbow, it was almost as if she were floating. Flying away.
He squeezed a little harder, pulling her tight against his chest and Rei’s head pounded like a drum. Everything hurt, every part of her cried out for relief. Her lungs pleaded for air and tears fell from her eyes as her vision faded to black.
Then the pressure was lifted away and Rei was falling to her knees, sucking in a grateful lungful of air. Past the sound of her own madly racing heart, she heard something crash. There was a curse, the sound of flesh striking flesh, and then silence.
She didn’t bother investigating; she was too busy fading into unconsciousness.
♀♂
“You ok?”
She winced as Justin wiped the blood away from her forehead. Her head ached, a nail in her brain, and it was hard to focus on his face. She was pretty sure she had a concussion, but the ambulance hadn’t arrived for her yet so there was no way to confirm it. She was ok with the delay though. It turned out that she enjoyed the attention.
“I will be once I get some painkillers.”
He smiled, but the expression looked forced. “Fair enough.”
His thumb
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