Dungeon Time (Play at Work) Read Online Free Page A

skip having a normal home life just to satisfy my darker desires. I want children playing tag in the summer dusk, a warm woman in my arms on cold winter nights. Shoot, I’ll even go for Taco Tuesday and Meatloaf Monday.”
    “You don’t eat meatloaf.”
    “I would if the right woman made it for me.” Exasperated, Edward yanked the door open. “Anyway, that’s not the point. The only reason I even brought this up is I plan to ask your employee for a date. You okay with that?”
    “Who am I to judge? I violated my own rules when I spanked Mona on my desk that day. Best move of my life, by the way. You don’t work for me, and Anna can make her own decisions.”
    “Fine.” They boarded the elevator. “I’ll ask her out later this afternoon, when we finish working on the Acme acquisition.”
    “I’ve never heard you express these sentiments before, so excuse me if I’m a little surprised.” As the doors slid open, Randolph rested a hand on his arm. “Just one thing. You hurt her, and you’ll have me to answer to. She’s Mona’s best friend, and I don’t want my woman upset. Or that sweet kid, either.”
    “Understood.” He shrugged. “But she’s more likely to shoot me down. What does a woman in her early twenties want with an old man like me? Let’s get to work.”

Chapter Two
     
    “Oh, Mona, I shouldn’t have had that last glass of wine.” Anna clung to her friend’s arm, lost in giggles. “You’re a bad influence on me.”
    Mona swayed a little and regained her balance. “Sshhh. Maybe nobody will notice.” At reception, Anna dropped into her seat and watched her friend stumble down the hall, humming under her breath…leaving her purse on the front desk.
    “Shoot.” Anna stood, let the dizziness dissipate, and started after her , black clutch bag in hand. Maybe she should just tell the office manager, Trudy, she needed to go home—plead female troubles. As long as she did it on the phone or from a sitting position, she might be able to hide her peccadillo. Drinking at lunch, what a dumb move.
    Approaching Mona’s office, she paused at the sound of low voices behind the closed door.
    “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have done it.”
    “It’s utterly unacceptable for one of my managers to be drunk in the office.”
    The boss!
    “I’ll go home….” Mona’s tone held regret, but then she laughed. Dating Mr. Marks or not, she would be in trouble if she didn’t pull it together.
    “Bend over and lift your skirt.”
    What? Three sharp thwacks and a muffled sob.
    “ Sit here and do not accept any phone calls. Let your voice mail pick them up. I will conclude my business with Edward and give you a ride home.”
    Shocked, Anna fled. She grabbed her purse and raced for the door. She would call Trudy after leaving the building. Had Mr. Marks struck Mona? He seemed severe but not the type to abuse women. She couldn’t take it in. Why would her friend stay with a man who beat her?
    Should she call the police? Try to talk to Mona? Ignore it—no, she couldn’t do that. She came from a household with a firm father and dominating mother, but nobody lay hands on anyone, even when tempers flared. At the safe haven of her car, she dropped into the driver’s seat and paused. She felt sober, but did that mean her blood alcohol was reduced to legal range? Because her trembling hands didn’t imply she could drive at all.
    She fished her cell phone from her purse and told Trudy she’d taken ill at lunch. Bad cramps. Her supervisor’s sympathy made her feel guilty for lying but she didn’t know what else she could have done. Dropping her head to her steering wheel, she wept. She had to save Mona. Convince her to walk away from someone who beat her, before it was too late.
    Her big move didn’t matter when her best friend’s life was in danger.
    Did Mr. Masters know? He and Mr. Marks were close associates, but surely he wouldn’t approve of his behavior.
    Thoughts tumbled through her head