Mythe: A Fairy Tale Read Online Free

Richard smiled at that. “When Curt came and asked us if we’d be interested in working on it with you, I was excited. It’s always nice to work on something that really matters—something that makes a difference.”
    “Thanks,” Richard replied. “We hope it’ll make a difference. That’s the plan, anyway.”
    “With you guys behind it, how can it not?” Manda assured him confidently.
    Richard laughed and turned it back on her. “Well, with you guys behind it, how can it not? That’s what we’re counting on, anyway.”
    “Ouch!” Manda grimaced. “No pressure or anything.”
    The elevator arrived then. Richard let Manda precede him, and then stepped in behind her, pushing the button for the lobby. He found himself enjoying the humor and easy friendliness of this young woman, just as he enjoyed the same qualities in David. The two seemed to have a very close, familiar relationship. The banter between them was relaxed, almost intimate. He suspected that if Josh decided to pursue this girl, he might not find her available. That bothered Richard but he didn’t quite know why. After all, it would be good for Josh if just once a woman didn’t swoon at his feet the first time he smiled at her. Richard chuckled softly to himself. Manda hadn’t shown any sign of that yet, which no doubt made her even more attractive to his little brother.
    “Something amusing?” Manda inquired, her lips turned up at the corners in a small smile. Richard had noticed that she almost always appeared to be either smiling or on the verge of doing so. The exception was when she was deep in concentration, when a small frown would narrow her wide eyes and crinkle her forehead.
    “No offense, but you are,” Richard admitted, grinning to take any sting from the words. He decided to be honest. “Josh has been flirting with you from the first minute he saw you and I get the impression that you couldn’t care less. Sorry, but I find that funny, and rather refreshing.”
    “Oh!” Manda looked down self-consciously. “He’s very attractive, but really young. Honestly though, I just assumed he was that charming to everyone. Hmmm. Good to know though. Thanks for the heads-up.” Manda looked thoughtfully at the elevator doors.
    Richard blinked in surprise. Josh was young? That was ironic coming from Manda. Richard tried to decide whether he had hurt or helped his brother’s chances with this girl but couldn’t tell from her considering expression. Of course, if she and David were a couple it might be a moot point.
    The elevator doors opened onto the lobby and Manda stepped out, smiling again.
    “I can smell the pizza,” she sighed appreciatively, and Richard heard her stomach growl. She gave him a sheepish look. “I told you, I’m starving. I missed lunch.”
    Richard scanned the lobby quickly, noting with relief that it was mostly empty. He spotted the pizza delivery person waiting near the security desk and groaned inwardly. Just his luck—it was a girl. He pointed her out to Manda and they crossed the lobby to meet her. The girl wasn’t paying attention when they approached, staring instead out the glass doors with a bored expression.
    “Pizzas for Amanda Jensen?” Manda inquired politely to get her attention.
    “Yeah,” the girl confirmed, turning toward them. “That’ll be…” Her voice trailed off when she saw Richard, and her eyes widened in shock. “Oh my God! You’re Richard Raines! Oh my God!”
    Richard sighed inwardly but smiled politely. “Yes, I am. And I believe you have my dinner.”
    “Oh, y-yeah, h-here you go,” the girl stammered, thrusting the stack of pizza boxes toward him. Richard took them from her and then handed them to Manda with an apologetic look.
    “How much do I owe you?” he asked the girl, still smiling politely.
    “Uh, umm…” she stammered again, looking confused and distressed by her sudden inability to pull the answer to his question from her shell-shocked mind. Richard