The Fatal Fortune Read Online Free

dolefully as Guinevere blithely ran up the tab for the reception he was planning. Hard to believe that initially it was just an off-the-cuff suggestion he’d made, when he’d decided to move the offices of Free Enterprise Security into a suite higher up in his office building. Business had been improving for his firm lately, and Zac was anxious to move up in the world. Time to get a real office, a view, and a secretary. One had to think of the image. And wouldn’t it be nice maybe to invite some of his clients to a little reception to celebrate?
    Guinevere had assured him it was a brilliant notion. The next thing Zac knew he was planning a no-expense-spared party. The formal announcements had gone out last week. Guinevere had sent a clerk over to help him address the envelopes. After that, he was committed. Panic had set in almost at once. Now he was beyond panic. He had placed himself in Guinevere’s hands, and Lord only knew what the result would be. One thing was certain: He was going to be a lot poorer when it was all over.
    But that was the thing about Guinevere Jones. Life hadn’t been the same for Zac since he had met her. And when all was said and done, he knew he wouldn’t ever want to go back to the way things had been before she had entered his world. Zac tended to take a realistic, pragmatic view of life and of himself. He knew himself well enough, for example, to know he’d do anything to keep Guinevere safe. It was a measure of the differences between them that she would undoubtedly be shocked if she knew that. As far as Zac was concerned, it was just a fact of life.

Chapter Two
    The headquarters of Gage and Watson occupied two floors in a Second Avenue high-rise that was only three blocks from Guinevere’s own office. She checked in at Camelot Services to make certain Trina was on top of the early morning rush, and then she walked up the hill to Second Avenue.
    It had been a while since Guinevere had gone out on one of her company’s assignments. In the beginning she had done it frequently, rather than have to turn down a job from an important client. But Camelot Services was getting bigger, and her employees more diversified and efficient. It was rare these days that she found herself having to fill in on a moment’s notice.
    But this situation was different, Guinevere reminded herself as she walked through the revolving doors and into the two-story lobby of the building. This time she was undertaking her own investigation. This was her first, very own big case. She couldn’t wait until she could put the results in front of Zac. He was going to have to admit that she had definite talent in the investigative business. Besides, she thought, as she rode the elevators up to the nineteenth floor, where she was to report in for work, this whole thing was going to be rather exciting. She would be on her own this time around. Damned if she would ask Zac Justis for any more advice. Zac could be a wet blanket at times—usually when she was really getting excited or involved in something of which he did not approve. Zac didn’t seem to realize just how many things there were in this world of which he didn’t approve.
    On the nineteenth floor, Guinevere stepped out of the elevator into the lobby of Gage and Watson. There was the usual confusion at the reception desk while the receptionist sorted out the situation. After three phone calls the woman looked up with a cheerfully relieved smile.
    “You’re to report in to Miss Malcolm at the end of the hall. She’s in charge of the typists and word processors.”
    “Thank you,” Guinevere said politely, and turned in the direction indicated. She ducked into a ladies�� room halfway down the hall and double-checked her appearance in the mirror. The royal blue blazer fit like a glove, nipping in slightly at her slender waist and causing her small bust to appear a bit fuller than nature had ordained. Guinevere had had her own blazer especially tailored and