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sense of humor. The news would be around the building within minutes of him entering his private office. No need to send out a staff memo. Nicole’s efficient use of e-mail, fax, and telephone would get the job done in half the time.
    Whistling, Drake sauntered into his office and shut the door. He mentally ticked off the "get the news to the office staff" memo on his virtual priority list. That should shake up a few people around here. Maybe flush out just the person he wanted--whoever had been working with Jack.
    * * * *
    In Miranda’s department a floor below the executive level, a rising and falling wave of excited voices filled the vast room. Only "pod" dividers broke up the sound. As she entered, heads popped up and down past the orange and blue dividers. An even more remarkable silence replaced the babble.
    Miranda narrowed her eyes and strode into her office. Kevin, her assistant, stood just inside with a mug of her favorite hot coffee in one hand, a stack of papers in the other, and a curious gleam in his young brown eyes.
    "Thanks." Miranda took the coffee and papers to her desk.
    Kevin shut the door and waited.
    She flipped through the stack of memos and hoped he’d go away. Nope, still there. Rats, she’d have to tell him something.
    "I supposed you’ve heard the news?"
    "I heard a rumor. Any truth to it?"
    Miranda sighed and waved him to a chair. Though only twenty-three years old, Kevin had been with her long enough to know she could count on his reticence. He wouldn’t betray a confidence.
    "Tell me what’s going around," she invited.
    "Scuttlebutt is that you eloped with the boss."
    "Eloped," Miranda repeated. "That’s too romantic a term for what happened."
    Kevin leaned forward. A frown marred his handsome features. His hands clenched the arms of the chair. "He didn’t hurt you, did he? I don’t care if he is the boss. If he laid one finger on you, I swear I’ll–-"
    Miranda held up a hand to stop his sputtering. His defense of her was touching, but under the circumstances, embarrassing. "He didn’t hurt me, Kevin. It’s true, we are married, but only for a little while."
    "Why? I thought you hated the guy." His nostrils flared as he leaned back in the chair.
    Heat rushed to Miranda’s face. She turned to the window hoping he couldn’t see her flush. "I suppose you heard what happened with Jack?"
    "The broken engagement?" Kevin’s voice gentled behind her. "I never liked him, anyway."
    A feeble laugh escaped Miranda’s lips as she watched fleecy clouds speed across the winter-blue sky. "I thought I liked him enough to marry him, and that he felt the same about me. We all thought wrong." She turned back to the room and flashed what she hoped was a reassuring smile at the young man. "To tell the truth, I’m relieved that the engagement is over. Did you ever notice that Jack is a chinless wonder?"
    "So, you’re okay with that?"
    "What, his weak chin? I could care less."
    "I mean that rumors are going around that Jack is already involved with someone else."
    Cold fingers traced across Miranda’s neck. She sank into her chair before her knees gave out. Good thing she’d drained her coffee mug, otherwise the thud she gave it would have spilled what was left. She rubbed the tight spot between her eyes. "You listen to too many rumors." A lame try at humor, but the pained expression on Kevin’s face told her this was yet another rumor that was all too true.
    "My sources are pretty accurate." Kevin’s voice both sympathized and implied a question.
    Miranda made a quick decision. "Don’t tell me who your sources are. I don’t have the time or energy right now to deal with it."
    Kevin leaned his hands against her desk. His dark eyes searched hers as if trying to decipher her mood, trying to decide how far he could stretch the comfort of their working relationship. After a moment, he straightened and stepped back.
    "Sure, boss. Whatever you say. Would you like me to send a formal memo to your