Read Online The CEO Gets Her Man by Anne Ashby - Free Book Online Page B

an animated Debra leaned forward in her seat. “Run out of what?”
    Meg dug an elbow against Debra’s shoulder and gave her a wink. “Professional companions.”
    “Oh.” Taken aback, words deserted Debra.
    “They can’t be doing such a great job.”
    “Yeah, they only last one night.”
    “He’s probably got a roster going.”
    Debra joined in the laughter as the girls’ comments became even more ribald. “I wonder what’s special about Wednesday.”
    “Payday?” someone suggested.
    Amidst the laughter Debra relaxed back in her seat. A smile lurked around Meg’s lips, or maybe it was just the lines became more apparent. Debra sighed. So much for staying detached from this crowd. Without any perceptible effort, they’d drawn her in and warmed a part of her she rarely visited.
    Later someone chirped up, “Enough of bitching about our boyfriends. C’mon, Deb, tell us all about this guy in Wellington. What’d he do to you?”
    “Yeah, dish the dirt, Deb.”
    “It’ll be good to have something new to talk about. Was he really hot?”
    Debra’s mouth opened and shut. Her gaze swivelled around the faces, all eagerly awaiting her answer. Her tongue doubled in size. Meg, bless her heart, tried to intercede but was told to put a sock in it.
    Debra swallowed. Lying further to these people seemed insulting after they’d welcomed her so warmly. With a shaky breath she realised she did have one liaison she could share.
    “I used to think he was wonderful,” she answered the last question first. “But he turned into a real sleaze bag.”
    “So, what’d he do?”
    Caution caught at revealing words before they escaped. “He stole something very precious from me,” she substituted.
    “Ahh.” Understanding nods circled the group. “Your virginity.”
    Laughter clawed its way up from her very core and erupted. Stronger and more uncontrolled than she could ever remember, it forced tears down her cheeks at the hilarity of their assumption. “That, too,” she gasped when she could find enough breath.
    “Ohh. There’s more to this story.” They were waiting for Debra to expand when a shrill bell rang from somewhere in the vicinity of the kitchen.
    “Damn!” Cathy ran to kill the noise.
    “We always set an alarm,” Meg explained. “Otherwise we’d be late for work more often than not.”
    “Especially when we have something juicy to listen to,” another chipped in.
    “Next week, girl.” Someone tapped Debra on the shoulder as they gathered up their coats. “Next week you get to tell us all about this city dude.” A burst of laughter greeted Debra’s shaken head. “We’ll put you right. Drive him out of your mind forever.”
    Debra couldn’t burst their bubble of enthusiasm by telling them Roger barely warranted a thought from one year to the next nowadays. As they all squashed back into Toby’s car, she couldn’t help wondering if she’d known people like this back when he’d betrayed her, would Roger have wreaked such havoc in her life?
    ****
    Prior to the commencement of the evening meal Debra followed Cathy into the staff dining room. The girl looked about in surprise and Debra realised what was different. There was absolute silence coming from the adjoining kitchen.
    Subdued staff worked with heads down making a huge effort to avoid any clanging of pots or clinking of dishes. The activity was so unlike the bustle and almost constant noise she’d seen there during the last two days.
    Cathy sat beside a young chef jamming food into his mouth. “What’s up?” she whispered.
    The young man glanced at her but continued stuffing instead of replying. A sharp dig in his ribs from Cathy earned an indignant if very quiet “oow” before his Adam’s apple began bobbing up and down. He made a nervous, sideways glance at the door before answering. “Mercury.”
    Cathy’s voice assumed a conspirator’s whisper as her eyes rounded. “What happened?”
    “Dunno. Sailed in here about an hour