Inferno Read Online Free

Dictionary
    Jack – m’s be trippin.  Where’s r boo Lex?
    Bella – self-imposed shamecation… smdh
    ********************
    It’s Monday morning, and I am freaking out.  I have my first solo client.  That’s why I spent all day Sunday reading the miniscule dossier on a new restaurant marketing campaign that was assigned to me.   When I say miniscule dossier, I really mean a folder with one sheet of paper that Kathleen, my boss, had hand written:
    Restaurant – Sebastian Graham
    Monday morning 10:30 – 125 Pike Street
    Do not be late & dress to impress!
    Ok, I admit, I mostly napped on Sunday.  Can you blame me after the epic fail of a night I had.  Making a complete fool of myself, by getting into a catfight with that rent-a-ho, could not have made a worse impression on my dream man.  Oh well, it’s not like I’m ever going to see him again.  I mean, I didn’t even get his name.
    I am dressed in a knee length, dark forest green pencil skirt, long sleeve, black fitted blouse with a little flare at the hem and cuffs, black pumps, medium sized hoop earrings, and a long necklace consisting of varying lengths of silver chains.  I didn’t do too bad picking this out all on my own, I think to myself.  I double check my bag to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything and then I’m off.
    I pull up and parallel park across the street from the address on the note.  I’m early so I take that time to organize my thoughts and practice my deep breathing.  I am so nervous that I am going to screw this up, but Kathleen has faith in me.  She keeps insisting that I am ready to fly out from under her wing, and this is my opportunity.  Kathleen is an awesome boss.  She is the head of the Community Advertising Division.  We concentrate on local businesses in the tri-state area and leave the national marketing to the much larger Corporate Accounts Division.  I am perfectly content in my little niche, and I have no desire to enter that cutthroat atmosphere.  Plus, us little guys have more creative freedom and less red tape to hack through.  Oh, and weekends off.  I like my weekends off.  I take one last look in the review for a lipstick check, and it is go time. 
    I push through the unlocked door and take a moment to look around.  First thoughts, this place is freaking cool.  The walls and ceiling are painted charcoal gray, and the slate floor is just a shade darker than the walls.  Black tables are scattered about in a deliberately jumbled formation.   Some with bench, booth style seating, others with high, straight back chairs, but all are in varying shades of red.  A bar ran along the back wall with the same black granite top as the tables.  Red leather bar stools were scattered about haphazardly, probably moved out of the way by the work crew who is installing shelves on the back wall.  Soft lighting adds to the intimate atmosphere.  It reminds me a lot of Inferno …minus the blonde bimbo.  I can’t help but to smirk to myself on that thought.
    “Can I help you?” said a male voice from…somewhere.  I turned slowly in a circle looking for the source of the voice.  No such luck.
    “Um, my name is Alexis Reed.  I’m from Bridgestone Marketing.  I, um, have a 10:30 appointment with Mr. Graham.”  I felt really stupid talking to a disembodied voice. 
    “Oh yeah, forgot about that.  Sorry,” said the voice.   “Be right there.”
    I didn’t wait long before a door, I hadn’t noticed in my earlier perusal, opened and out walked who I assumed was Mr. Graham.  He looked to be about five-nine, broad shoulders with sandy brown hair a little on the shaggy side.  He had on loose fitting jeans and a long sleeve, green tee advertising an Irish pub.  Definite eye candy.  As he made his way to me, hand extended in greeting, he introduced himself.
    “Hi there, I’m Sebastian Graham, co-owner of this dump.  My business partner will be a little late.  He’s running some kind of