Deceived - Part 1 New York Read Online Free PDF Page A

and
jumped out of the cab.
    As I stood in the front
lobby of the restaurant, a wave of nausea turned my stomach into
knots. I was getting cold feet. Suddenly the idea of interrupting
their business dinner, just to get Patrick’s attention, no longer
seemed like such a great idea. But this wasn’t just about getting
his attention, I reminded myself, this was about blocking the
Baroness’ attack on Patrick. I couldn’t let her stop me from my
true mission. Fear and uncertainty gripped at my thoughts. My
determination faltered briefly, but my resolve surfaced again when
I remembered how sweet his lips had tasted when we kissed and how
secure I felt in his embrace. The mere thought of the passion was
more than enough to magically dissolve any doubt that had raised
its ugly head. Play to your opponent’s
weakness Chloe, play to her weakness.
    A gorgeous dark Italian
looking host greeted me at the reservation desk.
    “ Good evening Miss. Welcome
to Scalini Fedeli. Could I have your name for the
reservation?”
    “ I’m just here to meet my
boss, Mr. Patrick Collins” I replied nervously.
    “ Oh yes, Mr. Collins...” He
glanced at the seating plan. “Right this way Miss.” The handsome
young man swiftly guided me around the elegant main dining tables
into the secluded side room.
    “ Chloe,” Patrick exclaimed,
clearly surprised. “What are you doing here?” He stood up, greeting
me with one arm outstretched and the other one holding his napkin.
It was obvious that I had interrupted the Baroness’ ploy for
Patrick’s attention. Her expression was one of pained intolerance
and her lips puckered with annoyance. She didn’t even attempt to
hide her distaste at seeing me.
    “ You forgot your iPhone at
the office and it kept ringing, so I thought you might need it,” I
explained as I handed over the cellphone. A deep chill ran down my
spine, as I felt eyes of steel burning into me from across the
table, where the baroness was sitting.
    “ If my head wasn’t attached
I’d forget that too. Thank you so much Chloe,” Patrick
beamed.
    ‘ Oh, no problem. It was
nothing.” I said with the most seductive smile in my
arsenal.
    “ Well, seeing that you came
all the way down here let me at least offer you a drink.” His eyes
swept the room with a searching glance. “Tony, we need another
chair here. Would you bring one for Miss Swanson?” he said with a
wave of his hand.
    “ Certainly, Mr. Collins,”
Tony replied.
    Perturbed with my decision
to stay for a drink, the Baroness’ eyes flashed me a cold glance,
so I welcomed Patrick’s offer and a couple of minutes later, a
perfectly crafted Gray Goose vodka Cosmopolitan was sitting in
front of me. Feeling a little unnerved under the Baroness’ razor-
sharp scrutiny, I downed half my drink in one gulp.
    So far the plan had worked
like a charm. I had interrupted the Baroness’ attempts to steal my
prince and the ball was now back in my court.
    “ Tell me Chloe, how long
have you worked for Patrick?” the baroness asked
pryingly.
    “ Oh - only about six
months,” I replied not quite sure where she was going with
this.
    “ And
you’ve already been promoted?” she insinuated. “You must be really
good at what you do?” her tongue was heavy with sarcasm. “And what
exactly is it you, do , so
well?” The contemptuous tone in her voice angered me, but I
wasn’t about to let her get to me for a second time in one day. I
was holding my tongue, hoping she would back off but the baroness
kept going, twisting that knife even deeper.
    Patrick must have sensed
that an argument was about to erupt, like a steaming volcano, and
before I had the chance to speak, he quickly
interrupted.
    “ I'm considering Chloe as
my new apprentice and she is showing very, very promising results.”
He gently laid his hand on my forearm, “In fact, I don’t think it
will be long before I’ll have to look for a new assistant, as Chloe
will be moving up in the firm.”
    Touché Bitch!