Read Ribbon of Steele: A Romance of Suspense for Free Online

to his mother. He wished she was here. She was honest, warm and caring. She truly embodied the saying on the ring.
     
    Veritas Lux Me a . Truth is my light.
     
    He placed the ring carefully in his pocket, and stepped back to survey the room. For a moment, he didn't want to return from the bunker. Six stairs above him was a changed world. He turned his attention to the letter and the folder. The folder was black and had Steele and Wickes' old company logo on it. Below the logo, there was one large word, written in a bold font and embossed with gold.
     
    Confidential
     
    Mackenzie ran the palm of his hand over the face of the folder to remove a fine layer of dust.
     
    Picking it up carefully, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. In only a few minutes, the last ten years of resentment he held towards his father had melted away. For a moment he felt a quiet calm, but it was replaced quickly by anxiety over the task his father had assigned. He paused for a moment and strengthened his resolve.
     
    Ok Dad, let's do this.
     
    He ascended the six stairs out of the bunker, stopping to close the heavy door behind him. Walking back to the estate, he caught the flicker of tail lights passing out of the Pemlilly gates and turning slowly towards the city.

15
     
    At five before six o'clock, the antique Duesenberg slowed to a stop in front of Nicole's apartment. Out of the car stepped Mackenzie's driver James. He quickly ascended the six steps to Nicole's door and rang the doorbell.
     
    "He's here," Nicole yelled under her breath from the living room. She opened the door, and James waited patiently in the foyer with his arms laced behind his back.
     
    Lizzie entered the living room. She wore a long formal black dress she had borrowed from Nicole, and her hair was tied back with a black satin ribbon. She felt sexy, but unsure. It seemed like everyone else knew more about this guy than she did. It was too late to turn back now. She stood in front of the door so James wouldn't see the couch full of laundry.
     
    "Mr. Steele wished that I might escort you to Pemlilly as he is detained with the preparation of dinner," said James.
     
    "I hate it when that happens," said Nicole jokingly from the living room.
     
    Lizzie shot her a glare while trying not to laugh.
     
    Quietly, she wondered if Mackenzie was actually cooking dinner. She pictured him in an apron, flying around the kitchen and barking out orders to chefs in white coats . Why does he never have a shirt on in my thoughts.
     
    "Shall we go ma'am?", James asked politely.
     
    The air had grown cold as she stepped out onto the street, and she was happy she had remembered her shawl. James held her door, and she stepped into the back seat of the Duesenberg. The chestnut leather seats were luxurious, and the wood grain trim added a richness seen only in a fine antique.
     
    As James began the drive to Pemlilly, Lizzie was deep in thought. She was out of her comfort zone, and it made her highly uneasy. The only thing higher than her anxiety was her desire to see Mackenzie again. She thought about how foolish she had been after their first meeting. There was no way she could put him out of her mind, but the thought of feeling desire again left her head swimming . It's just dinner. I can do it if it's just dinner.
     
    To quell her anxiety, she began following the scenery. The car was now in a steep climb as the road became more winding and the lights more sparse. Trees overhung the road in a perfect high canopy making it seem much later in the evening. The Duesenberg traveled around one more curve and slowed just shy of two massive iron gates. The gates slowly swung open, and the powerful engine of the Duesenberg pushed them forward into Pemlilly. The car circled around the driveway, and Lizzie got her first look at the massive estate. The stone arches and spires made the estate look more like a castle than a home. The main yard was perfectly flat, and a large fountain sprayed a