Angel After Dark Read Online Free PDF Page A

finally arrived. They met in graduate school, both pursuing MBAs and had been friends ever since. Alex’s degree was in economics and finance and Darian’s in marketing and communications. Alex’s family owned a conglomerate of businesses, and he was CFO of the parent company. He’d come back to Chicago after a short stint in New York City at a huge investment firm, and he’d been very smart about investing at Avery Enterprises as a result of his experience. The company had new resources and was able to acquire several smaller companies under his watch. Some observers might call it luck, but his father and the board of directors knew it was shrewd business dealings and rock solid negotiation skills combined with know-how to turn failing businesses around.
    “It’s about damn time, man. Where have you been?” Alex growled as he shoved his phone back in his pocket without answering Whitney’s text.
    Darian leaned in casually and ordered a beer from the bartender. “If you’d listen to your friends, Alex, you’d know that I have that new radio show at the station.”
    Alex vaguely remembered Darian mentioning a hot psychologist that he was trying to land for that gig several weeks back, but had lost track of when it was supposed to happen or even it if materialized.
    At the time, Alex had been skeptical and teased him. “How can a psychologist be hot? Probably wears Mary Janes and bifocals, and can freeze ice in her vagina,” he’d mocked .
    “Dude. She is. Trust me ,” Darian had retorted with a laugh, but the subject had been dropped.
    “Oh, sure. How is that going?”
    “It’s doing well. The promotion is starting Monday, and I expect the phones to ring off the wall. Dudes will be clamoring to talk to her when they see what she looks like, but she is one tough cookie. She’ll make hamburger out of them. I’m expecting to laugh my ass off.” Darian smiled as he took a long pull on his longneck beer.
    “Hmmph,” Alex scoffed, unimpressed. “Whatever.”
    Darian just stared and shook his head at his friend’s disbelief.
    “What’s your problem?” Alex asked at Darian’s expression. He ran a hand through his thick midnight hair and took a swallow from his glass.
    “You mean… what’s your problem, don’t you?” Darian scowled.
    “Listen, if you have something to say, I wish you’d just say it. I’ve had a rough week, and I’m wound too tight to have you dancing around something you clearly want to say.”
    “Ah. Things not so good with Whitney?” Darian’s eyebrows shot up in mock inquisition.
    His relationships weren’t something Alex discussed in great detail. His friends knew he saw women as a convenient way to sate sexual urges and fulfill business obligations, but he never talked about them much. Darian was aware that Alex had yet to meet a woman that he actually wanted to spend time with outside of the bedroom. It was cool, though, because Alex took full responsibility and was honest about his intentions.
    Alex was so focused on growing the family business he didn’t have time for romantic distractions. Even if he would have had the inclination to seek it out, he didn’t, not because he was a cold bastard, but it was just a choice that worked.
    “Why do you say that?” Alex asked with sincere interest, pulling out a stool and finally sitting down. Where is he going with this?
    “You’d better get prepared for a shit storm, man. That’s all I’m saying.” Alex glanced at his friend and Darian’s eyes widened, but only very slightly. “Whitney called in to the show tonight.”
    An angry flush rose up underneath Alex’s skin at the implication of Darian’s comment. His expression hardened and the muscle in his jaw started to twitch. Part of the bargain was that he’d provide Whitney with an apartment and bank account, and she’d keep her mouth shut about the true nature of their relationship and not try to turn it into more than it was.
    “She did what ?” His tone