Winds of Heaven Read Online Free Page A

credit for that too.”
    Her spirits plunged at the portentous tone of his voice, but still she managed a careless smile. “It’s a small world, isn’t it?” At his skeptical expression her smile faltered, but she made herself continue. “Who would have thought we’d meet in such an unusual way? I’m here to direct a conference for your company, and you’re here to—”
    “Kylie,” Nick interrupted, pinning her with a regretful but steady gaze, “I’m here to fire you.”
    Her heart plummeted and her mind raced in several directions at once. Shock and anger pushed a defensive response to her tongue, but Kylie made herself stop and think. She mustn’t let him intimidate her. “You can’t do that,” she said finally and prided herself that she sounded as cool and authoritative as he had.
    “I believe I just did.” The sympathy in his eyes faded noticeably. “I’m sorry it turned out to be you, but that’s the way it is.”
    That’s the way it is. His words fell into the whirling chaos of her mind and restored order. Just like that. No questions. No explanations. Just, That’s the way it is. Outrage inflamed her cheeks with hot color, but Kylie calmly lifted her napkin to her lips and returned it to her lap before she slanted a strained but composed smile toward Nick. The need to challenge his assumption of unimpeachable authority was no longer a mischievous impulse. This time she had too much at stake.
    “I don’t believe you understand the terms of the contract, Mr. Braden. My attorney was very thorough. A cancellation requires advance notice—a month’s notice.” She paused as his mouth firmed into a disapproving line. Masking her inner trepidation, she matched his hard stare. “In the long run, you know, a six-week seminar will be much less expensive than a two- or three-year lawsuit.”
    His gaze didn’t waver in the deliberate one-on-one confrontation, and as the tense, silent seconds crept past, Kylie found it increasingly hard not to look away. Hidden from his view, her fingers pleated the linen napkin in folds of doubt.
    “Is that the type of training you propose to give my employees, Kylie?” His voice, low and intense, rippled over her. “Do you teach them to assert themselves by threatening legal action against the management? Tell me, after the seminar do you stick around to oversee the mutiny, or do you scurry home to safety?”
    The unjustness of his accusation refueled her temper. “I’ve never led a mutiny. Of course, I’ve never before worked with such an overbearing….”
    “…autocratic idiot?” Nick supplied smoothly. “I believe that was your term for anyone who disagrees with your line of reasoning.”
    “No. That’s my term for anyone who doesn’t take the time to find out what he’s talking about before he passes judgment.”
    “And that’s the way you see my decision to nullify your contract?”
    “How astute,” she said through tight lips. “But I should have known you would be. After all, there must be some quality that got you into a plush office where you can make arbitrary decisions instead of working for a living.” Kylie knew she was burning bridges she couldn’t afford to rebuild, but she couldn’t sit passively and allow him to deprive her of this chance to prove herself. She believed in the principles she taught, and if Nick would only give her a fair hearing she could convince him of the value of the training sessions too.
    The flash of anger in his eyes was quickly brought under control. “Look, Kylie, I’m sorry. I know you must be disappointed, but I’m sure you can understand my position.”
    “Certainly.” Her voice shook with cool hauteur. “Just as, I’m sure, you can understand mine.” With shaking fingers Kylie folded her napkin and placed it beside her plate. She pulled the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “Thank you for dinner.”
    Nick’s hand closed around her wrist before she could get more than halfway out of