Beauty and the Chief Read Online Free PDF

Jillian pulled her legs to her chest, wrapped her arms around them and dropped her head down, trying to catch her breath among tears.
    When she managed to get herself in control enough to move, she looked at the clock. The digital number read five-twelve. A glance at the darkness outside her balcony glass doors confirmed the truthfulness of the time. Taking a deep breath, she tried to push her fear away as her heart rate slid closer to normal.
    Jillian looked at the window again. It wasn’t totally dark because of the condo’s lights along the walkways, but unfortunately, she couldn’t make the sun rise sooner. Still, she could refuse to let the night beat her.
    Knowing there was no going back to sleep, she pushed aside the blanket. She went to the bathroom, pulled out a clean towel and turned on the shower that she had only left a couple hours earlier. This time the shower was a little more successful in washing away the night’s terror.
    Cuddled in the thick robe that had been a present to herself on her last birthday, she wandered around unable to settle down. After the third trip up and down the stairs, Jillian decided she’d had enough and headed for her closet. Taking out what she labeled her power suit, she dressed. A few minutes later, she had her hair twisted up in a French knot and headed for her car.
    Once in the seat, she hit the button on the garage door opener and started the car. The door hardly cleared the car before she backed out. The faint morning glow started to light the streets, but the shadows were still too deep, pulling a shudder from her, but she pressed on.
    With no traffic to slow her down, it took only a couple minutes to reach her design studio, Taylored Interiors. The sight of it gave her a jolt of pleasure even the ugliness of the night couldn’t dim. She had worked so hard the last couple years, given up a lot on a personal and social life, but it had paid off. Her client base was getting stronger every day. She had all the work she could handle. Now was a perfect time to spend a couple of extra uninterrupted hours.
    At the door, she felt a moment’s hesitation until she hit the light switch. Light flooded the studio bringing it alive with color. This was her work space. Here she ruled. The wave of confidence rushed over her wiping away any doubt. Clicking the lock behind her was normal practice when she was there alone after hours.
    ***
    “Jillian.”
    Jillian jumped. A whole row of markers clattered to the floor. Her shriek ended in more of a squeak as she spun to face Nan. Jillian dropped her head to her hand propped on the table as the other hand came to her chest.
    “Sorry, I didn’t realize you didn’t hear me unlock the doors.”
    “I guess … I got caught up.”
    “Submerged might be a better word.” Then the woman who was her assistant really looked at her. Jillian feared for a moment that Nan would see the bruises under the layer of makeup, but the woman shifted her attention to her desk and the surrounds. “What’s all this? How long you been here?” She motioned to her jacket on the back of the chair and the design boards strung along the wall and stacked on her desk.
    “A while, I couldn’t sleep so decided it was better to work through it.” Jillian shrugged.
    “Work being the optimum word. What’s this one?” Nan grimaced, looking at a board next to the waste basket. “Definitely not your usual quality.”
    Jillian met the grimace with one of her own. “It took me a minute to get into it.”
    “I’d say. Want to tell me what’s wrong?”
    “It’s nothing.”
    “This is me, Sweet Pea. Want to try again?”
    “I’m glad you don’t call me that around the clients.”
    Nan had a handful of flower nick names she called her. The woman treated her more like a daughter than an employer, but that was how their relationship worked and it worked great.
    A year ago, Jillian was looking for help around the studio, figuring she’d find a college student. She