Splendor (Inevitable #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

suit he wore, no matter the color, style or fabric.
    “He was also out pretty late last night,” offered Alicia. “My mother texted me this morning that she saw him at a benefit dinner for the symphony last night.”
    “Oooh, and what very lucky lady was he escorting last night?” asked Kevin, his pale blue eyes sparkling with interest. “Was it the bank president, the news anchor or the ballerina?”
    Alicia gave a shrug that was meant to seem careless. Tessa knew that despite her co-workers feigned indifference, Alicia was actually very interested in who Mr. Gregson dated. And that it bothered her to no end that the man had such a rigid policy of never dating employees. Alicia had reportedly been one of many in a long line of hopefuls who had found that hard truth out. And while she never outright flirted with Mr. Gregson, she always went out of her way to greet him with a very interested smile, making it quite plain that if he were to ever change his mind she was ready, willing and available.
    “I couldn’t say,” replied Alicia a little huffily. “My mother didn’t mention it and I didn’t care to ask. But he’s rarely seen with the same woman twice so whoever he escorted it can’t be too serious.”
    “So that means there’s still hope for you, Ali,” teased Kevin, using the nickname he knew she despised. “Have you considered finding another job so that he might actually ask you out? I mean, that way he wouldn’t have to worry about his hands off the employees rule.”
    Gina smirked. “She talks about doing that all the time. The fact that she hasn’t actually quit must mean she doesn’t think he’d ask her out regardless.”
    Alicia threw a wadded-up piece of paper at her roommate. “Hah, hah. I haven’t noticed you turning in your resignation, either.”
    Gina shrugged. “I’ve got my hands full with Alex at the moment. He’s not as hunky as His Hotness, and of course nobody’s even half as rich, but he’ll do for now.”
    Kevin heaved a dramatic sigh. “Well, whoever the lucky lady he escorted last night was she’s probably wobbling around this morning. If that man isn’t built like a bull, I’d be shocked speechless. And for me, you know, that’s saying something. No pun intended.”
    Shelby emitted one of her annoyingly chirpy little giggles. “What’s that saying about a man’s shoe size? I’ll bet he wears at least a size thirteen.”
    Kevin cackled with glee, and for the next twenty minutes the conversation turned downright bawdy as he, Shelby, Gina and Alicia continued to speculate on Mr. Gregson’s sexual prowess. Tessa kept her attention focused on the report she was working on, trying desperately to conceal the embarrassment she felt and the flush that stained her cheeks. It certainly wasn’t anything she hadn’t heard before – or much worse after sitting next to Kevin for two years. But she was more embarrassed for Mr. Gregson than herself, finding this talk about the size of his “equipment”, or how many women he’d nailed, or what sexual position he would probably prefer, to be completely disrespectful to a man who wasn’t just their boss and part of the family who owned this company, but a kind, dignified and almost regal man. If Mrs. Carrington could overhear even a snippet of their crude commentary she would fire every one of them on the spot.
    Tessa missed the cantankerous office manager who had been her boss, her mentor, her friend, and at times her surrogate mother. Mrs. C. – as she preferred to be called – had taught Tessa everything about office etiquette and had instilled a strict work ethic in her. The very fearsome office manager had put the fear of God in her about gossiping, being late, eating at her desk, not proofreading everything she typed at least three times, or wearing her skirts too short. The rules of conduct the older woman followed were, by her own admission, very strict and more than a little old-fashioned. But Mrs. C. had