Read Online Like Sheep Gone Astray by Lesile J. Sherrod - Free Book Online

you will be working with me on the Empress Hotel. I showed some of your preliminary design ideas to a couple of my colleagues. They were equally impressed. Do not be surprised if you hear from some of them. I have quite a few business associates who are venturing out into the world of free enterprise and who are looking for a woman of your merit and ingenuity to help design the way.” Reginald smiled deeply before continuing. “Returning to the Westcott Room, Mrs. Murdock?”
    Terri nodded her head. “I've convinced a friend of mine to try their pasta primavera with me today. I'm looking forward to sampling some more of their menu.”
    Reginald's eyes never left hers. “Yes, the Westcott Room offers some of the finest dining downtown. I come here often for lunch and meetings, for both business and pleasure. I'm a firm believer that the two can mix.”
    The elevator door opened and a large, noisy, well-dressed crowd filed onto the elevator. Reginald stepped closer to Terri. She could almost taste the spicy aroma of his cologne. She looked down at his leather oxfords.
Those shoes had to have cost at least five hundred dollars,
she thought to herself. When the doors opened again, they both walked onto the red-and-gold Oriental rug leading to the Westcott Room.
    “My party should be waiting for me, Mrs. Murdock, but we shall see each other again sooner or later. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.” As he disappeared in the crowd of diners, another familiar voice sounded behind her.
    “Girl, who was
that?
You've
got
to introduce me to him. That's the kind of brother I'm trying to get with.”
    Terri turned around and grinned at her best friend.
    “Cherisse, where have you been? I've been trying to call you for the past half hour!”
    Cherisse's face suddenly turned serious. “Terri, we've got to talk. You're not going to believe what I just found out.”
    Anthony stared at the menu in his hands for the fourth time. Although it was unusually quiet for lunchtime at the Solomon Grill, he was having a hard time concentrating.
You meet with Haberstick at two o'clock.
You will make the right decision.
The sloppily scribbled note haunted him. Who had sent it? What did it mean?
    “Look, brother,” Marvin Tucker broke into his thoughts. “I don't mind having that fine-looking waitress coming back again and again to our table, but I'm getting too hungry to wait for you to decide what you want. Con-chita”—Marvin flashed a golden smile while signaling the waitress—“we're ready to order.”
    It was not until later, while Anthony nibbled some french fries out of his shrimp basket, that he realized what else was disturbing him. Across the restaurant, in a booth away from the main entrance, was a stocky, broad-shouldered white man in a black suit. He was sipping a mug of hot coffee and reading a newspaper, but Anthony noticed him eyeing him from time to time.
    When the man got up, apparently to head to the rest room, Anthony noted his gait, an awkward walk that looked like he was plagued with an old football or war injury.
I've seen that man before,
Anthony thought.
Recently, I'm sure.
He picked up another french fry to munch, but his hand stopped in mid-air.
That man was walking across the parking lot when I got to work this morning, and again just now when I left for lunch! Am I being followed?
    Gloria Randall reorganized the papers in front of her.
    “Maybe skipping lunch was not such a good idea,” she murmured to herself as a low grumble crawled through her stomach. “But at least I'm finished with this filing.” She smiled in satisfaction, pausing to look at the tasks crossed out on her lengthy to-do list. “Now I can focus on getting the rest of this typing done.” Gloria relaxed in her swivel chair, pleased with the progress she was making with Councilman Walter Banks's files.
    This was only her second week, and Gloria was determined to show Councilman Banks he had made a wise decision when he offered her the