Black Sparkle Romance Read Online Free

working herself to death.
    Adeleye lowered himself into a chair. “You’ve got to tone it down, Mira; you’re burning yourself out. We’re on schedule for the next edition: I hear that columnists are already sending their copy in and letters from our readers are also coming in. And on the design front, yours truly is on top of it. So, chill! The puffy eyes and thesudden caffeine dependency isn’t really appealing either … and the girls said you’re starting to look skeletal. Sad to say but they’re kind of right.”
    She laughed. “They’re just annoyed because I always mess up the blind-date plans they make for me.” She stood up. “OK, enough chitchat … time to get these write-ups to—”
    The door opened and Lade, Lauren’s secretary, popped her head in. She was chocolate-complexioned with a round face, pouty lips and full eyebrows. She had an undying love for contact lenses that matched her dresses; today she had on hazel-green ones that went with her beige-green military jacket. “Mira,” she began in her cheery, talkative voice, “Lauren wants to—” Then she spotted Adeleye and stopped short of speaking. “I’ll just come back later.”
    “No it’s OK, Lade … I’m listening.”
    Lade looked down. “Lauren w-wants … to … to see you n-now,” she stammered, sounding nothing like her usual chatterbox self. Mira raised an eyebrow, but then noticed how Lade avoided looking at Adeleye. She grinned.
    “OK, thanks, I’ll be right there.”
    Lade nodded and turned around. Adeleye, oblivious, said. “Morning Lade! How are you this beautiful morning?”
    The girl mumbled an incoherent word and bolted. Adeleye stared at the closed door, puzzled. “Was it me or did Lade just ignore me?”
    Mira chuckled. “Yes, she did, and as your buddy I suggest you do something about it.”
    He raised his hands. “Like what? I just said hello … was that a crime? Besides, Lade and I used to be great pals, you know. We used to have lunch in the canteen and joke together. Now she barely looks at me.” He shook his head. “You women are a complicated bunch, you know that?”
    She laughed as she headed to the door. “And, sometimes, you men ignore the little details that matter!”
    ***
    When she walked into Lauren’s office and saw who was sitting there Mira was tempted to step right back out again.
    It was the stranger from the parking lot.
    Most times, Mira knew how to maintain her professional composure in difficult circumstances. It could be an unsuccessful attempt to book an interview for the magazine or getting on Lauren’s nerves on one of those days. However, when she saw the stranger, her ability to remain professional toppled like a stack of dominoes. She froze, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. A ring of heat wrapped around her abdomen, and her feet felt like gelatine. Confusion swirled around her brain and, as she gawked at him, one question flashed like a neon signs in her head: What the hell is he doing here?
    Lauren looked up. “Oh good, Mira, you’re here,” shesaid. “Get me a glass of water, and please shut your mouth before you suck up all the oxygen in my office,” she added.
    “Sorry,” Mira mumbled.
    The stranger was grinning; he recognised her. Tearing her gaze away, she closed the door and walked unsteadily towards the water dispenser, her hands shaky and her palms sweating. Oh God, what the hell is he doing here? How did he find me? He hadn’t taken her card, had he? What does he want? The thoughts filled her with confusion, but she managed to fill the glass up without spilling any water and placed it on the table.
    Lauren smiled broadly at her. “Thank you, dear. You are efficient as always!”
    “Hmm,” Mira gulped. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her eyes anywhere but on the visitor. “You sent for me?” she asked.
    “Yes. Sit down,” Lauren said, and for a second Mira was undecided whether to sit on the leather chair beside the stranger or on the