Playing with Power - Book 3: New Adult Office Romance Read Free Page B

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    She smiled at the last line despite herself as she tore open the package, uncovering a carefully wrapped black iPhone. It was fully charged, preloaded with contacts, and he’d even connected her email account. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized he’d held this phone. Could he have left me something hidden on it? She frantically hunted through the notes, reminders, anyplace where Landon may have left her a secret note but found nothing. Setting the phone on the desk, she stared at it while mentally chastising herself. You’re acting like a 10-year-old with a crush. This isn’t elementary school. If a man like Landon has something to say to you, he’ll just come right out and say it. She pushed the tense excitement away and tried to remind herself to act like an adult.
    A few hours later, she picked through a local convenience store, hunting for the perfect item in which she could conceal her new phone. The task was a lot more difficult than she originally expected. It had to be small enough she could carry it around all the time but inconspicuous, something that was completely normal to have in her purse but not make anyone go near it. She studied a metal tin of mints but quickly imagined a scenario where someone would see it and ask for one. Ornate cigarette holders were too thin and besides, she didn’t smoke. She even had the idea of hiding it in a small box of tampons before dismissing it.
    About ready to give up, her eyes landed on a tall rotating display of notebooks. The plain blank books ranged from huge to pocket-sized, the smaller ones secured with a strong elastic band. She held her phone up to one to test the size and thickness, surprised at how well they matched. If I can hollow this out and fit the phone inside, it’ll never fall out. Plus, no one will ever question what it is. Who goes through someone’s notebook, right? The subterfuge continues—

3.
    A week later, Lauren was busy at work in the StyleSpur offices. She and Faith began the arduous process of planning a company day out that they hoped would boost morale. They were hunched over the table in the kitchen picking through brochures.
    “I know this one will probably be fun for everyone, but I know I’ll end up playing mom with all their stuff. Look how high that rope ladder goes!”
    “Yeah, I think we’ve got a few too many people afraid of heights anyway. I like that this place is all-inclusive. I don’t wanna have to fuss with having to get lunch and drinks and all that,” Lauren said pointing to a paintball excursion.
    “Ugh, me too. Remember having to drag all those coolers when we went to the beach? I thought my arms were gonna fall off.”
    “Exactly. With this one, we just get on the bus and an hour or so later we’re there. They’ve got paintball, rock climbing, go karts. Looks perfect! Everyone signs up for what they want to do as we’re driving up there so we don’t have to stand around. Can you call them up and get us in?”
    “Yup, I’m on top of it,” Faith saluted with a giggle.
    “Then I think we’re ready! I just hope we can all go.” Lauren continued in a hushed voice, “I’ve been dreaming about nailing Parker with a paintball gun for years. Never thought I’d have the chance!” Faith laughed, looking over her shoulder to make sure he wasn’t coming in.
    Lauren’s phone buzzed on the table. Ever since Parker had sent her the new phone, she was careful to always carry everything together in a specific order. Her normal white iPhone sat face down on top of the black notebook. Inside the hollowed book, the black iPhone remained on silent, tightly secured and hidden from sight. Both phones had identical covers so the only way to tell either apart was to see the front side. Any vibration from calls or texts was immediately dismissed as coming from her normal phone. Lauren had even gone so far as to imply a family member was ill in order to explain the increase in texts and private phone calls.