Read Awares for Free Online Page B

apparent. This is important.”
    The address turned out to be an eloquent suite in a prominent hotel. She rang the bell, and in a moment a portly older man answered. “I am Silver Sessions, a personal secretary sent by the Temp office,” she said.
    “You're beautiful!”
    By no accident. “You have work for me to do?”
    “Oh, yes! My regular secretary had an accident, and I have an important interview tomorrow morning. I have to review the background, and I don't even know how to organize it. My secretary has a system.” He paused. “But I'm babbling. Come in, Miss Sessions.”
    “Mrs Sessions,” she said.
    He didn't bat an eyebrow. “Of course. Here is her material. Do you think you can--”
    “Of course.” Elasa took the package, scanned it, and recognized it as an internal intelligence report. She could handle it.
    She sat at the table and got to work, while the man relaxed with the holo news and a glass of wine. She was conscious of his eyes on her, appraisingly. “He's checking you out,” Adela murmured.
    Elasa took a deep breath as though girding herself for a challenging effort. This put a strain on her tight decolletage.
    “You need to have him in you within the hour,” Adela said. “I will leave you to it.” She departed. What was she up to?
    Elasa had the material organized in minutes, then made spot notes to key it in for an extemporaneous presentation. “I believe this is ready, sir,” she said.
    “Already? You've hardly started.”
    “This kind of organization is my specialty,” she said. “I have prepared a standard format. You will want to verify it.” She leaned forward to hand him the note card.
    He almost dropped it, distracted by her cleavage. Then he glanced at the card and was surprised. He was of course familiar with the material; it was the presentation he had needed. “This is it! You have keyed in the salient points I need to make. Remarkable.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “Paul,” he said warmly. “Have a drink.”
    She hesitated. “I do not wish to seem unduly familiar and I prefer not to drink on the job.”
    “I think you have completed it, Silver. Now you can relax before you go home.”
    “If you are satisfied, Paul.” She glanced at her watch. “Darn! It's rush hour.”
    “A bad time to drive,” he agreed. He proffered her a glass of wine.
    She hesitated visibly. “If you are sure it's all right.”
    “Your notes are perfect. You have organized the material in a way I could not. You are a truly competent worker. I would like to know more of you.”
    She decided. She accepted the glass and took a sip. She could eat and drink; it merely did not do her any good and had to be eliminated later. “Divine,” she said, settling into an easy chair so that her perfectly crafted thighs were accidentally exposed.
    “I always prefer the best.” His pupils dilated as he took in the view. “Your husband is surely a lucky man.”
    “He knows my nature.” She crossed her legs carelessly while savoring the wine, and heard the faint catch of his breath. Seduction 101. “He understands when I have to work late.”
    “My wife has little interest in my work,” he said. “Or in me.”
    “That's too bad.” There was just a hint of a slur to her words, as if she wasn't used to wine this potent. Her inhibitions were clearly fading. “You must get lonely.”
    “I do,” he confessed. “But the company of a woman like you can do wonders for my comfort.”
    “Why Paul! If I didn't know better I might think you were coming on to me.”
    “I would never force myself on a woman.”
    She smiled invitingly. “As if force would be necessary. A handsome man like you.” They were getting there on schedule. Men were easy.
    “How is it that a woman of your elegance is doing common secretarial work?” Pauling asked. “You obviously have superior skills.”
    “My husband is—between jobs,” she said. “I do what I can to assist.” She stretched, at the risk of tearing