Free Orchid by Jayne Castle

Orchid who had led the small revolt that had resulted in the termination of the project. She had walked out of ParaSyn in the middle of the study. Morgan and Theo had followed.
    “I hated that place,” Orchid said. “The last thing I’d ever do is go back for some stupid follow-up research.”
    “What about the other two ice-prisms who were part of that study?”
    “I’m still friends with Morgan Lambert.” Orchid put down her half-eaten fry, her appetite suddenly gone. “But I heard yesterday that Theo Willis died in a car crash recently. They say he drove himself off a cliff. Apparent suicide.”
    “How sad.”
    “Theo was not what you’d call a friend. I don’t think he had any friends. But he and I and Morgan sort of bonded during our experience at ParaSyn. He was a little weird. Maybe even crazy. But, hey, he was an ice-prism, just like me. Everyone knows we’re not exactly normal.”

Chapter
4
 
    “About time you showed up.” Byron Smyth-Jones, Psynergy, Inc.’s receptionist, secretary, and avant-garde fashion guru, glared at Orchid over the rims of a pair of glasses fitted with purple lenses. “The boss is having a fit.”
    Orchid raised her brows at the sight of Byron’s latest wardrobe addition, a violet-colored, skin-tight suit styled with massive shoulder pads and wide cuffs.
    “How can you tell if Clementine is having a fit?” she asked with grave interest.
    “Very funny.” Byron took a bunch of notepads out of a box and stacked them in a supply cupboard. “And completely beside the point. This time it’s serious.”
    “It’s always serious.” Orchid glanced at the notepads. They were each neatly imprinted with the Psynergy, Inc. logo and the words “Think Exclusive” at the top of each page. “What’s going on?”
    Byron glanced over his shoulder. Orchid followed his gaze to a large poster featuring a photograph of an improbably huge chunk of extremely rare fire crystal. It was emblazoned with the logo and partially obscured the closed door of Clementine’s office.
    “Her new exotic is here to sign another contract.” Byron lowered his voice to a hissing whisper. “He insists on using you.”
    “The new exotic?” In spite of herself, Orchid felt a tiny thrill go through her. “You mean Rafe Stonebraker asked for me again?”
    “You got it. He’s been here for the past half hour, signing papers. Clementine tried to get hold of you to confirm the assignment, but when she couldn’t reach you, she went ahead and drew up the new contract anyway.”
    A fluttery sense of panic instantly wiped out Orchid’s incipient excitement. Last night in the euphoria that had ensued when she and Rafe had escaped the gallery, she had thought it would be exciting to work with him again. Now, in the cold light of day, she was not quite so sure.
    “I was thinking of talking to Clementine about using someone else the next time Stonebraker called. If he called, that is.”
    “He called, all right,” Byron assured her.
    “I wonder why. I got the feeling he was not overly pleased with my services.”
    “Whatever gave you that idea?” Rafe drawled softly behind her.
    Orchid spun around and saw him standing in the doorway behind her. He wore a dark jacket over a dark shirt and a pair of dark trousers. There was a plastic cup of coff-tea in his left hand.
    She narrowed her eyes. “Must you sneak up on people like that?”
    He looked amused. “Sorry.” He held up the cup in his hand. “I just went down the hall for coff-tea. You were here when I got back.”
    With an odd sense of desperation, Orchid glanced at Clementine’s closed door. “I, uh, thought you were in there with my boss.”
    “Ms. Malone and I finished our business a few minutes ago. She said you were due to stop by the office after lunch so I decided to wait.”
    “I see.” Orchid tried to squelch the embarrassed heat that threatened to rise in her cheeks. She devoutly hoped that he had not overheard the reference to