Much More Than a Mistress Read Online Free Page B

you.”
    Jane stopped so abruptly she wobbled on her heels. “They?”
    â€œMr. Blair, Mr. Suarez and Mr. Everette.” She paused and said, “The other Mr. Everette.”
    Suddenly Jane was having a tough time pulling in a full breath.
    She thought she was just meeting with the CEO, which was intimidating enough. But to be in the same room with the CEO, CFO and CBO all at the same time? No wonder she felt faint. Meeting clients as a lawyer had never been a big deal, but then, she knew the law so well she could practice it in her sleep. The investigation business…not so much. She was still learning, and there was nothing shehated more than looking as though she didn’t know what she was talking about.
    Bren must have sensed that she was on the verge of a panic attack because she flashed Jane a reassuring smile and said, “Don’t worry, they don’t bite.”
    Jane tried to smile, when what she wanted to do was turn and run in the opposite direction.
    â€œI’m sure they just want to ask you about the investigation.”
    Jane blinked. “The what?”
    â€œIt’s okay, Miss Monroe. What Mr. Blair knows, I know.”
    Mr. Blair obviously trusted his secretary implicitly, which could definitely work in Jane’s favor.
    â€œYou know,” Bren said, lowering her voice, “we all like and respect Mr. Everette, and no one wants to believe he could have anything to with the sabotage. The sooner this investigation is over with, the better. If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word.”
    â€œThanks. And we’ll get to the bottom of this,” she told Bren, hoping to convey a competence she was nowhere close to feeling.
    Jane turned to the door, pulled back her shoulders, and took a deep breath. “Well, I guess I’d better get in there.”
    Bren smiled and said, “Good luck.”
    Considering that her knees were actually knocking, she had the feeling she was probably going to need it.

Three
    L ike Mr. Everette, Mr. Blair had a corner office, but it was nearly twice the size and much more luxurious. Mr. Blair, whom she recognized from the television news stories that had run after the refinery explosion, sat behind his desk. He was dark-haired, conservatively handsome, and the touch of gray at his temples said he was probably in his early forties.
    â€œMiss Monroe,” he said, rising from his chair, as did the man seated across from his desk. A third man stood by the window. “Come in. Close the door behind you.”
    She did as he asked and crossed the room, hands trembling, palms sweaty, praying she didn’t trip and make a total fool of herself. Her toes were pinched so tight in her shoes that each step was torture.
    Good lord, she was a wreck. She could only hope she didn’t look half as terrified as she felt.
    â€œMiss Monroe, I’m Adam Blair, and this is NathanEverette, our Chief Brand Officer.” Mr. Blair indicated the man by his desk, then he turned to the one by the window and said, “And this is Emilio Suarez, our Chief Financial Officer.”
    She nodded to both men, who each gave her a very subtle once-over. Nathan Everette was darker than his brother, and a little larger in stature, but there was a strong family resemblance. Mr. Suarez was the utter epitome of tall, dark and handsome and of Hispanic descent. All three men were above-average in the looks department and she nearly felt faint from the ridiculously high level of testosterone in the room. She wondered if looking like a GQ cover model was prerequisite to their positions.
    â€œPlease, have a seat,” Mr. Blair said, indicating the chair next to Mr. Everette.
    She sat primly on the edge. Mr. Blair and Mr. Everette both took their seats while Mr. Suarez remained standing, arms crossed, his expression dark. As an attorney, she had gotten pretty good at reading people and situations, and there was a definite negative vibe