Captivated Read Free Page B

Her company actually had no desire to keep Lolly and Pop Computers in business. She’d been instructed to buy out the company for its inventory and real estate, a prime location on the main street of a small town. What QPQ’s owner decided to do with all of that, Colleen didn’t know. Also didn’t care.
    Mr. Lolly sighed. Then sighed again. He hung his head, but if he thought puppy eyes were going to gain him any sympathy from her... Colleen put on a smile. She pushed the pen across the desk to him.
    “Please sign, Mr. Lolly.”
    He did, but with a resentful look she took as an affront, even though she didn’t react to it. At the doorway, the check still clutched in his hand, he turned to her. “It just seems like a very cold way to do business, that’s all.”
    He didn’t give her time to respond, and even if he had, what might she have said? Colleen wasn’t the one who’d pursued the sale or even closed the deal. It was her job to see difficult acquisitions through to the end, that was all. And she was good at it. Over the years, she’d sold her soul to the devil for the ability to support herself.
    With the plunging temperatures outside and bad weather in the forecast, all she really wanted to do tonight was put the day behind her, take a hot bath, get into a bed made up with fresh sheets and go to sleep. Her sleep last night had been interrupted again by bad dreams about losing her dad. About waking up in bed next to Steve, their divorce being the dream instead.
    But it was Thursday, she reminded herself as she poured another cup of coffee from the office communal pot. Thursday meant The Fallen Angel and her ritual.
    “Colleen.” It was Mark, looking dapper as usual in a three-piece suit complete with pocket watch. “You took care of Lolly?”
    She nodded. “Yes. He signed, took the check. I passed everything along to Jonas.”
    Jonas would take care of the final settlement with the Lolly and Pop Computers employees.
    Mark grinned and poured himself a cup of coffee. Then he made a face.
    “This is swill!”
    Colleen laughed. “Um, well, yes. I tried to tell you not to buy the coffee service company. You didn’t listen.”
    “I can be a fool.” Mark pulled a sad face so exaggerated that she laughed again.
    He narrowed his eyes, looking her over, up and down. “Turn around.”
    “No...”
    “Colleen, turn around.”
    “I’m going to sue you for sexual harassment,” she muttered, but did a slow twirl.
    Mark huffed. “Go ahead. That skirt doesn’t suit you at all. Why do you insist on covering up your legs? They’re gorgeous. And those shoes, my God. A nun would think they’re dowdy.”
    “I like these shoes.” Colleen looked down at her outfit. She had a few pairs of heels she wore to the office, but today, with the bad weather alert, she’d gone with a serviceable pair of loafers paired with thick tights and a long wool skirt. “Anyway, this is warm.”
    “But it’s so not hot.” Mark shook his head. “I should fire you.”
    She looked up, startled, to see if he was joking. “You wouldn’t!”
    “I like pretty things. This makes me sad.” He waved a hand at her ensemble with a serious look.
    She wouldn’t put it past him to fire her for her fashion faux pas. He was just unstable—and rich—enough not to care if there were repercussions. Colleen lifted her chin. “Too bad. I’m not here to look good. I’m here to do my job.”
    She paused. Both of them stared each other down.
    “Besides,” she added, “you act like I come in here every day looking frowsy. And that, I know for a fact, is not true.”
    Mark smiled and tipped his head back in laughter loud enough to make Jonas and Patty both peek over their cubicles to see what was going on. He spilled some coffee on the floor in his delight, which made him put his mug on the counter. He pointed at the coffee station.
    “Get someone to take care of this. This is disgusting. And you,” he said to Colleen, “leave early today.