The Mercenary and the Shifters (The Turning Stone Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page B

low table in front of the sofa. Falhman poured a cup for her and rotated the tray so she could reach the cream and sugar.
    “I suppose you wonder why I called you here this early,” he began.
    She nodded, stirring the sugar into her cup. Then she poured cream into her teaspoon and stirred it into the coffee.
    A tiny smile tipped the edges of Falhman’s mouth, and his eyes softened. He plucked a danish and a chocolate-iced doughnut from the tray, cut them in half, and presented them to her.
    As she took the bakery items, she stared at him. How did he know which ones she liked, and how much she only ate of each?
    The question must have showed on her face because he said, “You prepared your coffee just like your mother did. I guessed you’d eat the same pastries as well.”
    After all these years, the man still remembered how her mother took her coffee?
    “She was very special to me,” he said, as if he’d heard her thoughts. “Did she ever mention me?”
    Fiona shook her head. “No. Mother never talked much about her life before marrying Father. She was a private person.”
    “Yet, she must have told you something, because here you are, with her ring, wanting a mentor.”
    The nostalgic expression left his face, replaced by a cagey one.
    Fiona sipped her coffee, formulating a reply. “She left me with a basic knowledge of her ring and the shifter world. But she’s gone now, and I want to know more.” She studied Falhman for a long moment. “I’m surprised someone as important as you would want to mentor me, Mr. Falhman. Can I ask why?”
    He leaned against the white chair he occupied. “Call me sentimental. I have fond memories of your mother. Call me curious. I wanted to know what her daughter looked like. Call me a shrewd businessman. You have something OmniWorld needs, and they have something I want.”
    “My company isn’t part of this deal. I made that clear to Mr. Swindell.”
    Falhman leaned closer and the buzzing in her body intensified.
    “Not your company, my dear. Your beauty.”
    The teacup in her hand rattled against the saucer. “My beauty?”
    “Your mother was an exquisitely beautiful woman who could charm every man who saw her. Swindell told me you were gorgeous, but he lied. You, my dear, have your mother’s beauty.”
    Fiona had no response for Falhman’s praise. She thought herself good looking, but an exquisite beauty? No one had ever complimented her so. The heat of a blush crept over her neck and face.
    “We are going to use it to get the Morrison Shipping Company. You will charm the owner into falling in love with you and marry him. No prenups, so when he goes you own it all. Then you will turn it over to OmniWorld.”
    The heat drained from her flesh as if she’d landed face down on a polar ice cap. She set her cup on the table with a clank. “You’re going to pimp me out and make me an accessory to murder?”
    “You agreed to help us in exchange for keeping your company.”
    “I agreed because OmniWorld threatened me. I won’t murder anyone.”
    “You completely misunderstand, my dear. OmniWorld isn’t asking you to kill. They just want you to marry the owner, with no prenuptial contracts. Then you’ll own not only your shipping company, but his as well. They’ll handle the other sordid aspect. Your hands will be lily white.”
    “But not my conscience.”
    Falhman studied his nails, a bored expression on his face. “As you wish.” He waved for the butler. “Show Miss Kayler out. Our business is concluded.” He stood and offered his hand to her. “I hope you won’t hate the messenger, but I’d like to give you some advice. Sell whatever you can and buy as many shares of your company’s stock as soon as possible. When OmniWorld finds out you’ve reneged on your promise, they will come after you. They won’t be nice about it.” When she didn’t take his hand, he placed it on the small of her back as she rose, and guided her toward the door. “Good-bye, my