Rulebreaker by Cathy Pegau

Author:Cathy Pegau
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2011-09-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Tonight was the night.

I’d had to deflect Willem’s harping again after returning to the flat yesterday, but promised him that while the building was essentially empty during the company party I’d access Zia’s computer. I felt a small sense of relief, not at his reluctant approval, but to finally get to the meat of the job.

Though that didn’t make me any more relaxed when it came to Zia Talbot.

I started fielding comm calls almost from the moment I walked in the door. Zia arrived an hour later with a nervous-looking project manager at her heels. She nodded to me as she passed. Anyone seeing it would have noted the curtness of the movement, but when our eyes met, hers held the same heat as the day before.

Something must have shown on my face as well, despite the effort to keep my expression calm, because she smiled. It was almost predatory, entirely exhilarating, sending a tingly wave rolling through me.

I jerked my gaze from her back to my screen and swallowed hard into my comm mic. “Miss Talbot is with someone now, Miss Carrington. I’ll put you through to her message folder.”

Zia and the project manager disappeared into her office as I tapped icons. When the door clicked closed I let out a ragged sigh. It still startled me a little every time I reacted to Zia as I did. But I couldn’t let my body undermine my brain and screw up this job. If all went well tonight, I wouldn’t have to worry about that anymore.

By unconscious effort or deliberate design we spent little time alone the rest of the day, but both of us knew what the other wanted. Well, on the surface she knew what I wanted. If Zia ever learned what I was really after, her desire would have been more along the lines of seeing me in orange detention garb than in her bed.

With the shindig scheduled for 1900, most of Exeter’s upper echelon quit early to get ready. Being a mere assistant, and the one responsible for setting up the party, I’d brought my clothes and makeup with me that morning, knowing I wouldn’t have the chance to go back to my flat. I changed and applied my makeup in the office lav. By 1810 I was on my way up to the ballroom to direct caterers and arrange table settings.

Chaz Grey and another guard stood at the main doors when I got off the elevator. Chaz looked and acted very official and didn’t make any sign to indicate he knew me, but his cold eyes followed me as I went in. Despite the fact we were working together, I had a feeling he was merely waiting for me to screw up so he could snap my neck.

Shuffling Chaz to the back of my brain, I tottered around on eight-centi silver heels, dodging hired help and trying not to sweat as time for the party drew near. The bare-back-and-slit-to-the-thigh, five-hundred-credit, silver-on-silver silk embroidered halter dress I wore kept me cool under pressure.

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