Book of Dreams Read Free Page A

but then in Kyle’s eyes, he himself could do no wrong. ‘So, what has Uncle Jim got planned for this piece of paradise … a car park perhaps?’ Kyle mocked her complacency. ‘And how convenient, hey.’ He motioned to the waterfall. ‘A ready-made car wash.’
    Zoe took offence at the cutting assumptions. Her uncle had given and given to her over the years, and had never once asked for anything in return. This land was her uncle’s only stated desire that she could fulfil to repay some of what she felt she owed him.
    ‘I have my reasons,’ Zoe impressed on Kyle, ‘and I don’t feel the need to explain them to you.’
    ‘Don’t worry.’ Kyle’s mouth curved into a cocky grin. ‘I don’t expect you to be able to justify to me what you haven’t fully justified to yourself yet.’
    Zoe should have been furious, but the accuracy of his statement stunned her speechless.
    Kyle, who had been expecting a slap in the face, was stoked to discover he had, in fact, amazed the young heiress.
    ‘What in hell’s name is going on in here?’
    Kyle and Zoe turned to look at James Nivok as he stormed towards his desk to offload his briefcase and portable PC. Another man who, in Kyle’s opinion, looked rather like a hired thug, accompanied Nivok into the room. ‘Shut that racket off!’ Nivok roared, making sure he made himself heard.
    Zoe and Kyle looked at each other, unable to comply with Nivok’s demand, when the room suddenly fell silent. As the problem resolved itself, Kyle smiled. Zoe, however, was not smiling.
    She gave Kyle the foulest glare possible before approaching her uncle. ‘I’m so sorry, uncle —’
    ‘I don’t want to hear it right now, thank you.’
    Her uncle served her an ‘I am most displeased’ look. Zoe knew it was time to take her leave. ‘Can I get either of you a coffee? Tea?’
    ‘Nothing, thank you, Zoe.’
    Zoe glanced at her uncle’s rather large bodyguard, Ivan, who was still lingering by the door. He shook his head, and she was out of there.
    Nivok was almost amused as he watched Kyle meander towards the office door after Zoe. With a glance in Ivan’s direction, Nivok had Kyle hauled back by the overalls for a little chat.
    Kyle saw the confrontation as fated, so he surrendered without a fight.
    ‘Do you work for me?’ Nivok took a seat in his soft leather desk chair.
    ‘Yes, sir, I do,’ Kyle replied in a loud cheery fashion.
    ‘Good.’ Nivok relaxed back into the chair’s comfy confines. ‘You’re fired. Be out of the building in five minutes.’
    ‘Thank you, sir.’ Kyle slapped his hands together, very pleased by this turn of events, and moved quickly to make good his exit by the said time.
    As Kyle had not given him the expected response, Nivok had to be suspicious. ‘And I’d advise you to stay away from my niece in future … or my associate here will make it his business to see that you do.’
    ‘Hey,’ Kyle delayed his departure to assure them both, ‘no problem, what-so-ever.’ He closed the door on his way out.
     
     
    No sooner was Kyle out of Nivok’s office, than he broke into a little victory dance. ‘Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!’ He fell to his knees and looked to the ceiling. ‘Thank you, God.’ That’s when he noticed Zoe standing over him, hands on hips.
    ‘Did I miss something?’
    ‘I got fired, and I wasn’t even trying!’ He sprang back to his feet.
    ‘And this is surprising?’ Zoe scoffed.
    ‘Back on the dole, no eighteen percent non-payment period … yes!’ Kyle started up his little dance again, and Zoe rolled her eyes.
    ‘Well, ace, when you’re done congratulating yourself, you might want to consider how much shit I’m going to be in tomorrow. And what about Matt? He’s still stuck behind the bar, you realise?’
    ‘Ah!’ Kyle raised his eyebrows. ‘Not for long.’ He began stripping off his filthy overalls.
    Zoe was a little taken aback until she realised Kyle wore a T-shirt and jeans underneath his uniform,