Seven Days Grace (A Grace Rose Novel Book 1) Read Online Free

Andy Williams , caught in allegations of drug use. He had tested positive , though denied all charges. Nick knew Andy ’ s coach was one of Grace ’ s closest family friends and a good source for stories.
    She hoped Nick felt the brunt of the newspaper ’ s board of directors ’ wrath. They raked him over the coals for the mistake. She had seen him through his office windows. He had the opposition ’ s paper in hand and had thrown it into the bin. She smirked at his self-centredness that caused this type of thing to happen regularly. If he hadn ’ t kept her in the office working on another story , one Grace felt was not as important as the William ’ s one , he would have had the story. However , it didn ’ t change him.
    Grace strode back to her desk , plonked down on her chair and sighed. She would cool off over the situation eventually , however , she was at the end of her tether with Nick and she was barely hanging on by her fingernails.
    ‘ Don ’ t worry ,’ Kate said from behind her , ‘ the staff are over his vanity and see him for what he is – a womaniser with too little heart and too much ambition. ’
    ‘ Yeah , you got it. You know , I love my job but I loathe my boss. Let ’ s talk about something else , please? ’
    ‘ You bet. What ’ s happening with de Silva? ’
    ‘ Oh man. I gotta go. Meet me for lunch at JJ ’ s? ’ Grace asked as she grabbed her bag and threw in her notepad , pen and phone then scanned her desk for other necessities.
    ‘ Of course , call me when you come out of court. ’
    ‘ Ciao , bella ,’ and she marched to the lift , praying the case hadn ’ t started without her.

5
    Grac e ’ s curiosity and sense of justice welled within her and she quickened her step into the building where Antonio de Silva ’ s fate would be determined.
    ‘ Grace. ’ She heard someone behind her call her name as soon as she walked into the courthouse.
    ‘ H i Celia. Have you worked out your angle for the story yet? ’
    ‘ Oh , it ’ ll all depend , won ’ t it? Know anything I don ’ t? ’ the woman who wore her signature colour daily asked. Today , it was a red , woollen wrap draped around her shoulders. Celia had large brown eyes and the sort of hair Grace had come to covet. It fell in soft brown curls down her back and she knew it was natural and required minimal maintenance. She and Celia had rivalled it out at university. They were friends yet arch enemies. They were both intelligent and competitive with a bent towards injustice.
    ‘ I doubt it , you ’ re continually on your game ,’ Grace said.
    ‘ It all hinges on the verdict ,’ Celia cocked an eyebrow and lent in conspiratorially to her old friend. ‘ In all honesty , Grace , surely these people have seen those border security shows on television. I mean , fancy smuggling diamonds into the country in shampoo bottles. You know ,’ she whispered behind her hand , ‘ they ’ re supposed to be undetectable. ’
    ‘ Desperate people do desperate things ,’ Grace said.
    ‘ Don ’ t we know it? So , Henry called you , huh? Going to join us , Grace? ’
    Grace tried to speak though words failed her.
    ‘ Grace , we work in news rooms , word gets out. And besides , Henry tells me everythin g. ’
    And Grace knew why. She had a way with men. Without promising anything they would tell her everything she wanted to know. Grace had seen her work her charms on professors at university and corporate media suits during their internship together at a lesser known rag , CityLife. All of them were unknowingly wrapped around her flirtatious nature.
    ‘ I can imagine. I ’ ll keep you informed re the job. In this game , ya don ’ t know , Celia , ya don ’ t know ,’ she said distractedly.
    ‘ See someone you know? ’
    ‘ I thought so , however , hmm , I ’ m not sure. Guess not. ’
    Celia winked at Grace , said her goodbyes then made her way to a seat in the media section. While they were the same age , Celia had