Embraced by Fire Read Online Free PDF Page A

not like you to be diverted.”
    She wasn’t sure what to make of the speculative look on his face. “No, you’re right. I can call him and get a full history.”
    “No, don’t worry, I’ll talk to him.”
    “You will?”
    “Yes. I have my doubts about employing ex-military men.”
    “Why? You’re ex-military.” In a strange way Ryu reminded her of Victor, even though the two men looked nothing alike.
    “That’s why I have my concerns.” His face was oddly blank, as if his mind was momentarily elsewhere. “Military types seldom mix well with artistic types.”
    “He’s ex -military.” She found herself defending Ryu.
    “I’m sure you’re right. Tell you what, why don’t you invite the whole gang over to my place after the show on Saturday. We can all get to know the new guy, plus it’s about time everyone had a few drinks and relaxed. Reward for working so hard.”
    She smiled, mostly to cover her worry about Victor talking to Ryu. “Sure, that’s a great idea.”
    “Actually, while we’re on the subject of working hard, there’s something else I want to talk to you about.”
    “Yes?”
    “You’re working too hard, Kait. I appreciate all the extra hours you’re putting in, but it’s important to me my employees have a good work-life balance.”
    “I have a good a work-life balance.” She stared at her pen.
    “No, what you have is a ‘work-work’ and there is no balance.”
    “We’ve been very busy.” But that wasn’t the reason, and now someone had noticed work had become her refuge.
    “Not so busy you have to put in the hours you do. What’s going on, Kait?”
    “Nothing. Everything’s fine. Maybe I’ve been getting a bit caught up in things lately. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I’ll make sure I don’t overdo things.” She knew she sounded stilted and formal but she couldn’t help it.
    She couldn’t tell Victor how much she hated going home to an empty house. How much loneliness had been weighing on her lately. He would tell her to buck up, to get out more, meet new people—date more. In fact, she wouldn’t put it past him to set her up with someone. No, she couldn’t tell Victor.
    He nodded slowly. “Very well.”
    She could see he didn’t believe her, but he wasn’t going to press further. She smiled, hoping he understood she appreciated his concern.
    He nodded again and stood up. “I’m out of the office tomorrow but I’ll see you Saturday.”
    The door closed behind him and she looked at her computer with a sigh. Had she got so bad even her boss was noticing she was replacing her non-existent social life with work? She gave a silent laugh. What was she thinking? Of course he noticed, he just reprimanded her about it, in the nicest possible way, but a reprimand nonetheless. He probably didn’t want to have to deal with her burnout.
    The problem was, her love life sucked.
    There were no two ways about it. She worked because she didn’t have a special-someone reason not to. She liked her job but not so much she wanted to live at the office. No, the problem was her empty house reminded her of her empty life.
    She organised her pens in a straight line, rearranged them, then straightened them again. She was starting to think when it came to men she was cursed.
    They were jerks, left her for Rachael, got job transfers, got back with an ex, one even came down with a near-fatal disease… The list went on. An image of Ryu twirling flames, his odd, copper eyes focused on her, snuck into her mind. She shivered. She’d had a crush on the boy, but the man threw that out the window and replaced it with a brand new crush.
    Of course, since she was attracted to him, he would probably turn out to be gay, or married, or leave the country—oh, and he was an employee. As far as she was concerned that put him into a giant, red no-go zone. Maybe she should take Rachael up on her offer to introduce her to someone.
    No, she’d done that before and she was never going