Absolute Zero Read Online Free PDF Page A

fraternization policy. We do not encourage relationships between employees, but especially between employees and management.”
    You said it, sister. She tried that once with David. It worked so well …she thought sarcastically.
    David. Her mind wandered away from the voice that kept speaking in some strange monotone cadence. I wonder if he married Ingrid? They would make beautiful babies. They deserve each other. Rotten, superficial couple that they are. She should have known something was up when he and Ingrid broke up and immediately he had started asking Anne out. She finally succumbed to his charm, flattered that he would even notice her in a sea of beautiful women…
    Back to reality. What was this lady talking about?
    “So if you…oh! Excuse me, I…ah…” Anne looked from the screen to the stuttering woman to the opened door.
    A man walked through. Nice enough looking but apparently his appearance brought this well practiced speaker to a speech-impaired state.
    “Mr. Ah, well…Mr…”
    “Mac. Just call me Mac, eh?” he asked as he sat down at the table opposite of Anne. He had an accent. Almost like a brogue. His eyes were on her and he gave her a small smile. She acknowledged with a nod before her eyes shifted back to the screen.
    Silence.
    “Carry on,” he stated with an authoritative tone and still there was…nothing.
    Finally, she croaked something out, something unintelligible which caused Anne’s eyes to focus on her once more.
    “I…just…Ok, well…” she reached over to press a button on her computer and inadvertently knocked over a small glass of water. It clattered to the table surface, spilling the contents and spreading immediately. She stood stunned for a few moments before springing into action, moving the computer away from the spreading water, pushing papers to the side as Anne and the new arrival sat and watched.
    “Here…” Anne handed a few small napkins from the center of the table to the woman, throwing a couple on the spreading water before sitting back.
    The woman was wiping, muttering something below her breath in her obviously nervous state. Anne and the new arrival glanced at each other as she continued her frantic wiping and blotting.
    “I need some…could you just…umm…excuse me…” she stated before walking out of the door abruptly.
    Anne stared at the door before the new arrival’s voice caused her to shift her eyes to him.
    “That was strange,” he stated. He was staring at her, making her feel a bit self-conscious in the small confines of the room. Her eyes shifted to the table.
    “Yeah,” was the only response she felt necessary.
    “Was she like that the whole time?” he asked. If she cared to look up, she would see his intense gaze focused on her. As it was, she could actually feel it…
    “She was fine until you walked in. Then she lost her mind,” she muttered absently to the table.
    “I have that effect on women,” he stated seriously, causing her eyes to fly up and meet his. Was he serious?
    No. Apparently he must have been joking because one side of his mouth was turned up. He was still gazing directly at her, his dark blue eyes focused intently on her face.
    He certainly wasn’t the most handsome guy she’d ever seen, yet there was something about him. There was a scar near the middle of his upper lip, his nose was by no means perfect, maybe a little crooked, his hair was fighting the skin on his forehead for territory. He reminded her of Daniel Craig with darker hair or maybe…nah, definitely Daniel Craig .
    Her eyes shifted back toward the screen. She could see why the other woman fled the room. Would it be strange if I walked out too?   There was something about him. He seemed to fill the room when he walked in. He was unnerving, intense, and he was still staring at her. She could see his face turned towards her in her peripheral vision. She fought the urge to fidget or clear her throat in a nervous gesture. This was just so