Read Online Full Circle by Davis Bunn - Free Book Online Page B

she had called protection. The temptation hovered in the air between them, sparkling in the sunlight upon gossamer wings of invitation.
    She whispered, “We really should be going.”

chapter 9
    T hey took a taxi back to Adam’s residence, his purchases piled on the seat between them. He hurried up to his room, dropped off the gear he was not now wearing, then returned to the street fearing she would use the interruption as an excuse to change the subject. When he settled into the old Mercedes, he asked, “Who was the guy who broke your heart?”
    Kayla started the car. “His name was Geoffrey Rambling.”
    â€œA name like that, he had to be British.”
    â€œExtremely. We met in Nairobi. I was down for a conference. He claimed to have been a consultant to the ministry of finance, sent there by his UK bank.” She put the car into gear. “Daddy’s board insisted that I hire a qualified business manager.”
    â€œThey financed your project?”
    â€œOxford Ventures hoped to use my work as a centerpiece for a new ad campaign. Daddy has always been big on giving back to the community. The way he put it to the board was, ‘We now operate in a global village.’ ”
    â€œVery smart.”
    â€œNot smart enough to keep their money safe.”
    â€œSo you hired Geoffrey and he stole from the project. How much?”
    Their rumbling passage down the gravel drive nearly masked her words. “Over six hundred thousand pounds.”
    As they climbed the company’s front stairs, Adam asked, “How long do you have? Before you go back, I mean.”
    Kayla heard the quick hesitation, and knew he had started to ask, we . How long do we have? “Daddy’s birthday is next Friday. I’ll stay for that.”
    Adam kept his face carefully impassive. “So, eight days.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou can’t stay for Christmas?”
    As soon as the front doors opened, the receptionist said, “Ms. Austin, your father needs to see you immediately.”
    â€œThank you.” Kayla faced Adam. “I shouldn’t stay even this long. But it would mean so much to Daddy.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œMs. Austin, your father was most insistent.”
    Kayla excused herself and walked to the chairman’s suite. She entered her father’s office in a wavering state. Her carefully constructed intentions that included no room for another man, the ones she had assumed were both binding and permanent, had new fault lines.
    Her father was seated behind the desk, which was uncommon when there was a guest in his room. Peter Austin liked to treat all visitors as distinguished guests, employees included. Normally he led them to the sofa and saw to coffee, settling down only when they were comfortable. Yet now he sat ensconced behind his beechwood desk, his weary features creased into a frown. “She is here, Joshua. Ask her.”
    Joshua was seated across from him, his own anger very evident. “Give us your impressions of this Wright fellow.”
    Kayla walked to the chair normally reserved for Mrs. Drummond when there was a meeting that required minutes. But she did not sit down. Instead, she stood behind it and rested her hands on the back, as though placing a shield between her and the room. “He was very grateful that Daddy is giving him a chance.”
    â€œNot enough, I’m afraid.” Joshua’s gaze did not waver. “We seek insight into his character.”
    Kayla said, “Adam Wright is a real gentleman.”
    â€œCorrection. He is an actor .”
    â€œWas,” Peter said. “I believe you once did some amateur theatrics yourself.”
    Joshua flushed. “That was in college, as you well know. This man is a so-called professional, though the word scarcely fits the nonsense he portrayed.”
    â€œDo you mean to tell me you would have refused payment if someone had offered you a professional