Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
She knew Billows was shrewd and cunning. At times, he exhibited knowledge in areas she was rather shocked he knew anything about. Other times, he appeared to be totally obtuse. Whether he just affected ignorance or whether he really couldn’t understand didn’t matter. He insisted on everything being his way, and he didn’t seem to care how he made that happen.
“I’ll get to work, then,” she told him, hoping he would go away. Deliberately, she turned her attention to the computer.
Billows didn’t leave her office. He continued to pace, casting her speculative looks as he stalked from one side to the other of the relatively small room.
She pretended to be engaged in her research, but who could possibly work with a lethal tiger in the room? She was terrified that at any moment he would erupt into violence. Even though it had been months since she had heard the woman scream, she thought of it often. The sound echoed through her mind whenever she was alone in the office, but it was worse when Billows was there.
She thought of the woman and what could have been happening to her. It wasn’t sounds of pleasure the unknown woman had been making. The screams were animalistic, as if she suffered great pain. Billows’ anger toward Azelie when he discovered her trying to hunt down where the horrendous sound was coming from made her feel as if he had something directly to do with the woman’s pain and fear.
Azelie didn’t like being alone in the soundproof office with only Bobby as a witness to her entry. She was acutely aware she could disappear, and no one would know where to look for her. She knew from experience that a man who supposedly loved his family could turn on them in a moment. Billows was inherently cruel and selfish. She had no doubt that he would beat his wife and do so casually if he ever married. Being in the small room with him was distracting and a little terrifying.
She finally sighed and looked up. “I can’t concentrate with you in here, Alan. I need to be able to pay attention to the numbers and names. Time stamps when money arrived or disappeared. You’re going to have to leave.”
Azelie forced herself to be firm with him. She poured confidence into her tone and carefully adjusted her expression. All the practicing in front of her mirror would hopefully pay off.
There was silence as Billows stopped his relentless pacing and once again swung around to confront her. She couldn’t read his expression very well. He didn’t look quite so angry, but he was frowning. He also had that same look in his eyes that told her he was looking at her differently than he ever had before. She really wanted to go home and maybe hide under her bed.
“It has occurred to me you didn’t understand what I was telling you, Azelie. It’s important you are perfectly clear so there are no mistakes made.”
It was her turn to frown. She pushed back away from the desk and turned fully to him, folding her hands on her lap so she could twist her fingers tightly together.
“What did I misunderstand? I thought I was on the same page with you trying to find who stole your money.”
He shook his head and settled one hip on the edge of the desk, too close to her. She was grateful she’d already pushed her chair back. There was a small distance between them, but she doubted if she could outrun him. She went through the weapons on the desk she had available to defend herself with. A stapler. It was heavy. She could wrap her fingers around it like a fist and clock him in the head. She went over the maneuver several times in her mind, never once looking at the stapler. She didn’t want to give the impression of being nervous, or that she might lunge for that weapon.
“I’m not talking about the money. I want you to look into it, but you’re right. I need a computer expert to figure out who stole that money from the accounts. That isn’t your gift.”
She hadn’t expected him to acknowledge that he needed someone else. He sounded grim but resigned. She braced herself for what was coming. She had a very bad feeling.
“I’m talking about you needing a man to take care of you. And I want to make it very clear that the only man you’re going to have in your life is me.”
Her heart jumped and then went crazy. She was in so much trouble. She pressed her lips together to keep from blurting out the hell no that pounded through her brain.
“I thought we agreed that would be a bad idea. I’m not looking to lose this job anytime soon.” She forced her eyes to meet his. “Do you have someone else you want to do the books? Have I let you down and you didn’t say anything?”