Carved in Stone (The Stone Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

appreciates.”
    ****
     
                  An hour and half later (not to mention three more cups of double shot espressos for Mr. Anxious), Jeremiah and I have combed through every minute detail of the preliminary brief. We headed towards the elevators for the executive boardroom on the twentieth floor - only one level down from Aidan’s office and a tad too close for comfort as far as I was concerned.
                  Our events department has it’s own small conference room on the tenth floor but I was guessing with the importance of this event and the CEO of the Norwood Hotel group in attendance, the executive boardroom was more appropriate for this particular meeting.
                  All week I have dreaded running into Aidan. Anxiety engulfed me every time I walked through the lobby, drove into the parking garage or stepped on the elevator. And all week, I’ve made a point to get to work half an hour early and leave later than normal to avoid seeing him but I wasn’t holding out much hope that this tactic would work for long. Aidan was a workaholic and seeing as this was his company not to mention the whole freaking building was his, I had the sinking feeling my luck was going to end sooner rather than later. 
                  The elevator bell chimed, signally the arrival of our car. As the doors opened I subconsciously let out a relieved sigh.
                  “Gabby, everything okay?” Jeremiah’s asked, giving me a puzzling glance.
                  “Yeah, everything is good. Just a little nervous.”
                  “Ah, yeah you and me both Sunshine. Well let’s go ride this pony shall we.”
                  “Ride this pony? Really Jeremiah, I think your use of metaphors totally sucks big time babe.”
                  The twentieth floor of Stone Tower is almost as impressive as Aidan’s level with it’s sleek contemporary design and modern decorative artwork. But rather than the cool charcoal marble flooring like on the twenty-first level the floors here are a warm polished walnut timber. The walls are an inviting cream and the signature frosted glass doors are prevalent throughout this floor as well.
                  As we approach the double frosted glass doors to the executive boardroom a sense of panic engulfs me. What if Aidan is attending?
    No … surely not.
    Please not be!
                  Whirling on Jeremiah I gasp, “Besides you, me and Mr. Norwood is anyone else going to be at this meeting?”
                  “Yes,” replies Jeremiah cautiously, “Mr. Norwood’s personal assistant Ian Fleming. Ian is going to be our liaison with the Norwood Hotel group. Why?”
                  “Ah okay,” I exhale in a rush of relief. “Just want to be prepared.”
                  “Hmm,” Jeremiah studies me skeptically. “You know Gabby, you’re not going to be able to avoid him completely. This is his company and with this opening gala being a huge high profile event I expect Aidan is going to have some involvement even if it’s only attending a briefing or two. Not to mention he’ll most likely be coming to the event as well.”
                  Busted - Jeremiah can so totally read me. Why do I have to be such an open book?
                  Wincing, I nod at Jeremiah. “Yeah I know. Okay lets do this.”
                  The executive boardroom is spacious with floor to ceiling windows that take up one whole wall of the room. I layout copies for Mr. Norwood and his PA Ian of the initial ideas and designs Jeremiah has drafted for the gala on the polished walnut conference table and double check the water pitcher is full. Molly has already sent up a selection of pastries, a small fruit platter and coffee. She is waiting at the bank of elevators to show Mr. Norwood and Ian in when they