Obsidian (Mystic Stones Series #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

10 minutes to get through. Simon was already walking into the building when I pulled into the lot. I assumed he carpooled with someone.
    “Hello, Ava!” he said as we walked in together. He was in a slightly better mood than the previous day. “Staff meeting in half an hour!”
    “Okay, boss.”
    I went to my desk and pulled out the paperwork I’d been neglecting. The disturbing thought that this may be the last time I’d have to fill out my revenue report came to the front of my mind. Then I remembered no one else knew.
    They were all so unsuspecting of the coming events. Even Simon, whose whole life revolved around his career, didn’t know what was coming. I wondered about the reaction Simon might have to Herrick-Peyton selling. I imagined he’d be upset by the news.
    The meeting itself was pretty short and sweet. He talked about things we could do without our computers and the possibility of pulling out some old ones that would work as long as they weren’t hooked up to the internet At the conclusion, Simon turned on the radio and told us to work in the boardroom if we wanted to keep updated.
    I didn’t want to hear it. Word would travel fast once the virus was fixed. One thing that wasn’t traveling fast was supply ships from the mainland, so I made a mental note to stock up on groceries after work.
    My paperwork took less time than I thought, considering I didn’t use a computer. My hard copies of receipts provided all the information I needed, allowing me to complete my paperwork by lunchtime.
    Simon was in his office when I went in to say I was done for the day and he gladly let me leave early. I clocked out and went to the lobby. I lingered so that I might catch Tom going out to lunch. Amazingly, he walked into the lobby about two minutes after I did. He immediately noticed me and approached with a smile.
    “Ava, how are you today?” he asked.
    “I’m doing great, how about you?”
    “Much better, now that I’ve seen you,” Tom mused.
    “You aren’t having a bad day are you?” I asked.
    “No, it just lacked a certain spark until now. You light up my days, Ava,” he said with that sly grin that came across his face frequently.
    “That’s sweet of you to say. Would you like to eat lunch together?”
    “I wish I could, but, regrettably, I have a business lunch to attend with our, uh, visitors,” he said gesturing to a group of pale men in suits.
    I imagined they were most likely from New York and spent 24 hours a day in their offices.
    “May I take a rain check?”
    “Yes, that would be fine,” I replied.
    “How about I take you out to lunch tomorrow, after the big meeting?”
    Tomorrow just seemed so soon for my life to change drastically, but at least he told me before everything happened. “Yes, then maybe we can discuss a few things I’ve been thinking about today.”
    “If you wish to talk about business we can, but I prefer to wait until after lunch to do that. I’m hoping to make up for our nearly disastrous dinner,” Tom said.
    I saw by the apology in his eyes he meant what he said. “Okay, I’d like that too, no business until after lunch then.”
    “Alright, my dear, I must leave you, but I will meet you here at noon tomorrow.”
    We parted ways, and I dove into my thoughts. Tom always seemed to be respectful. He was well-spoken and used manners from the last century. Maybe it was the way he was raised, but it was almost as if he were a time traveler. Something else about him—possibly the sly grin—made him seem dangerous.
    I shook my head. I needed to stop thinking about Tom. Groceries should be my main focus right now. Not my budding romance with a client.
     

    The grocery store was packed, but I’d gotten the idea soon enough that the shelves were still half stocked with food. The lines at the check-out were even worse than the aisles full of people. It took thirty minutes to get checked out and everyone had to pay with cash. I was glad that I kept a little cash on