Skin Walkers - King Read Free Page B

perfectly applied make-up.
    Jenny shrugged, “So.”
    “So,” Lilly made a show of straightening her desk before lifting perfectly polished nails to tuck in any loose strands of blonde hair that may have come free, “we’re expecting a new hire today.”
    “Ahhh, that’s right,” Jenny crossed her arms as she slid onto the edge of Lilly’s desk noting how the human woman scowled at the action.  Lilly hated when people even looked at her desk, let alone actually touched the damn thing.  “King Mulholland right?  Monroe’s old war buddy.”
    Lilly’s arctic blue eyes were still scowling at Jenny’s ass on her desk as she skirted the object to shoo Jenny off with her hands.  Jenny laughed as she stood. 
    “Mr. Mulholland is putting in for the position as Chief of Security.”
    “Putting in?” Jenny scoffed, “You make it sound as though there are other options.  You know Monroe isn’t interviewing anyone else.”
    “Well, you can’t blame him.  Mr. Mulholland is a Master Chief for the Navy’s elite Special Warfare forces.  He also did a tour with the Marines, and he’s Monroe’s closest friend.”  Lilly stood to eye her friend skeptically, “Plus, you’re the one who demanded Monroe beef up security.  Poof!  Your wish has been granted.”
    “Yeah, well just don’t forget that I need King at the infirmary before anything else.”
    “I know,” Lilly sighed as she grabbed her suit coat off the back of her chair.
    “Lilly!” 
    She lifted her gaze to meet Jenny’s.
    “He’s got to have testing done before he runs around.  I don’t want some damn epidemic hitting the estate.”
    Lilly rolled her eyes, “Oh please , Jen.  He’s been at a military facility, I’m pretty sure he’s clean.”
    “You don’t know that!  Military people lie all the time.”  Jenny lowered her voice to a mock male tone, “I’ve been stationed at the base in North Carolina.”  She sobered, “When really they’ve been on some elite, super-sensitive, spec ops, mission in some ass-backward, third world country.  For Christ’s sake, he could have malaria.”
    Lilly st opped with one arm shoved halfway into her jacket, her face scrunching in a mask of displeasure.  “Hang on,” she stalked back to her desk and jerked up her phone before punching several numbers and waiting as one hip cocked out when she crossed her arms over her ample chest.  “Legion, this is Lilly Worthington, Mr. StoneCrow’s assistant.  Today when you arrive with Mr. Mulholland, you’ll need to take him to the infirmary prior to bringing him to see Mr. StoneCrow.”  Lilly eyed Jenny and could’ve sworn she’d seen relief wash over the other woman’s features.  “No, it isn’t by request of Mr. StoneCrow.”  Lilly’s brows speared down, “Mr. StoneCrow doesn’t make requests .  See that it’s done.”  She hung up and looked at Jenny.  “The nerve.”
    “The nerve,” Jenny nodded, smiling.  “Cafeteria?”
    “Cafeteria,” Lilly confirmed, “I swear that damn restaurant upstairs is never going to open.”
    “Construction takes time, Lill.  Give it a minute.”
    Lilly hooked her arm through Jenny’s as the two walked to the door, “I know it’s a wildlife preserve and rehabilitation facility, but why does it have to be so damn far from the city?”
    ***
    One hour and one turkey sandwich later and Lilly was back at her desk.  Monroe had returned while she’d been gone and was pacing his office in anticipation of King Mulholland’s arrival.
    His office door jerked open, “Is he here yet?”
    Lilly didn’t look up from her typing, “No, Mr. StoneCrow.  Again, I’ll send him straight in once he arrives.”
    “He should already be here,” the CEO growled.  “Where is Legion?”
    Lilly immediately stopped typing to pick up her phone, “I’ll call him.”
    “Leave it,” Monroe commanded, “I’ll do it myself.”
    Lilly replaced the phone’s receiver and started when Monroe’s office