Rebel's Quest Read Online Free PDF Page A

thought of anyone offending her or any member of the Onotharian interim government practically guaranteed a death sentence, and she didn’t want to jeopardize anyone. Over the years, the OECS had imprisoned several Gantharians for perceived arrogance and insults against her. Her objections had mattered very little in the long run, and it pained her that people were still incarcerated in the asteroid prisons for actions that weren’t really a crime.
    She shook the thought of those men and women off and focused on Roshan, who glared at her as she addressed the concerned man. “Everything’s fine, thank you. Ms. O’Landha is an old friend from my university days.”
    Andreia watched Roshan stop breathing momentarily at this revelation. During the years of the occupation, neither of them had acknowledged their former friendship in front of others.
    “Really, ma’am? What an extraordinary coincidence. I had no idea you were…old friends.” His doubtful look spoke volumes; he was obviously trying to gauge their sincerity.
    “Acquaintances, really,” Roshan said with a rigid smile. “Many moons have circled our planet since then.”
    “So true,” the man said with a cordial bow of his head. “But you couldn’t tell that from looking at two such lovely ladies.”
    Andreia wanted to groan aloud at the farce. “Thank you,” she managed.
    Roshan smoothed her silk jacket and gestured toward the couch. “Why don’t we join the chairman? What can I get you to drink? We just imported some wonderful Imidestrian wine that we’re about to introduce on a global scale.”
    Amazed at how quickly Roshan recuperated from her rage and mentally comparing her to an unstable plasma-charge, Andreia pasted on a polite smile and returned to the others on the couches in front of the fire.
    “Is anything wrong?” Chairman M’Ocresta asked with a frown.
    “No, ma’am,” Roshan said, and sat down gracefully next to her honored guest. “Ms. M’Aldovar and I don’t share the same opinion of how the Gantharian market should be run and distributed. A domestic issue—only a matter of negotiations.”
    “Really. Well, then, let me make an impromptu and informal toast.” Villia M’Ocresta raised her glass in a ceremonial elliptic movement. “To…domestic bliss and successful negotiations.”
    “May your wish come true.” Andreia held her breath as she raised her glass. She was almost nervous to meet Roshan’s eyes while she murmured the correct response and swallowed a mouthful of the sweet Imidestrian wine. To her surprise, Roshan raised her glass as well and sipped. Andreia wondered whether Roshan could relate to the chairman’s toast, or if the deceptively frost-layered tycoon had something else up her sleeve. All Andreia knew was that she intended to keep an eye on Roshan from now on. She didn’t trust her.

Chapter Three

    Roshan watched the hovercraft lift off and remained at the window in the marble hallway until the last of them had passed the outer perimeter of her property. Small golden and blue lights disappeared into the foggy night, and Roshan breathed deeply, relieved that she didn’t have to pretend anymore tonight.
    She grimaced at the pain in her ankle and felt like massaging the back of her neck.
    “Lights out.” Roshan switched off everything but the emergency lighting via voice-command. Andreia M’Aldovar . To host the woman who’d gutted her emotionally and committed the ultimate betrayal twenty-five years ago had clearly been dangerous. Roshan had forgotten her closely guarded self-control for only a few seconds, but enough for her to risk everything. What an idiotic thing to do!
    To complicate matters, Andreia looked stunningly beautiful, even if her twenty-some years in the public eye had taken their toll. No doubt, Andreia, as many of her peers, had access to the best beauty spas in Ganath. Some things hadn’t changed. Andreia’s dark, golden eyes were still able to drill into Roshan and create