Make Love Not War Read Free Page A

Christmas tree. He paid her well and was a generous benefactor to several charities. She often sent off six-figure checks, his only stipulation to the recipients being that his donations should remain confidential.
    He didn’t know how she felt about him, thank goodness. That would be the ultimate humiliation. She longed to be something more than a capable pair of hands and a polite mouthpiece, but knew it was an impossible dream. Pigs would fly to the moon before Bryce Harrington took any romantic interest in Caroline Dennison, with her light brown, not-quite-blonde flyaway hair and serviceable chain-store clothes.
    The door of his office swung open and Shereen sashayed out. Caroline had to admit she was a striking woman, her slender figure encased in slinky, skin-tight slacks. The matching camisole top displayed gold trim around the neckline and sleeves. She lifted her hand in a desultory salute before tottering off in her ridiculously high gold stilettos, a trail of cloying perfume wafting in her wake.
    The phone on Caroline’s desk rang. “Good afternoon, Mr. Harrington’s office, may I help you?”
    “Alexander Harrington here, put me through to my son, would you please?” Though Harrington senior sounded authoritative, he was always polite and friendly.
    She switched the call through to Bryce’s office and continued typing. A few seconds later he stormed out his face taut with anger.
    “Get me that file on the Mountainside estate. I want to see Geoff Davies in here, straight away.”
    He slammed the communicating door. Once again his mood had turned feral.
    She put through a call to Mr. Davies’ secretary.
    “Hi Dulcie, it’s Caroline. The boss wants to see Mr. Davies.”  
    “Another drama?”  Dulcie chuckled. “I’ll tell him. Why do you put up with Harrington?”
    “The money’s good.” What a pathetic lie. She knew perfectly well why she put up with his mood swings, but on pain of death would never admit it.
    Mr. Davies smiled as he walked into her office. “How are you, Caroline?” Being the company’s senior architect, he took charge in Bryce’s absence.
    “I’m fine, how are you?”
    “Not bad for an old codger. Do you know what the boss wants me for?”
    “No, but he’s in a filthy mood. This is the Mountainside file he asked for.”  She handed it over and watched Mr. Davies enter Bryce’s office without knocking.
    The buzzer on her desk sounded about five minutes later. She grabbed her notebook and pencil and hurried into Bryce’s office. “The information has been leaked,” he snarled.
    “I didn’t mention it to anyone,” Mr. Davies protested.
    “Then who did? You and I were the only ones to see those plans and specifications, except…”  Bryce shot out of his chair. “What about you, Miss Dennison?”
    “I didn’t mention it to anyone. I never discuss my work once I leave the office.”
    “Someone did. Geoff’s worked here for years, and I certainly didn’t do it.”   He glared at her. “How much money did they offer you?”
    “I didn’t do it,” she whispered. For Bryce to think her capable of such disloyalty nearly killed her, especially after the way she had slaved for him over the last few weeks.
    “If she says she didn’t do it, I believe her.” Mr. Davies leapt to her defense. “Don’t upset yourself, Caroline.”
    “Someone leaked that information,” Bryce growled. “The land will cost us a fortune now.”  He slammed his fist so hard on the desk Caroline jumped.
    “Those plans were on your desk for the last few days, Mr. Harrington.” Caroline fought to retain her composure.
    “So what?” He took an angry puff on a cigarette. “Someone let the cat out of the bag. God knows what other information has been leaked. With government defense contracts coming up for tender, a security breach like this could jeopardize our chances.”
    Caroline clenched her fists, nails biting into her palms. “Miss Francis spent time alone in your office