Free The Diary of Brad De Luca by Alessandra Torre Page A

one hand to the other, before tucking it under his arm. “I’m Todd Appleton, sir. I’m your intern.”
     
    Oh, right. It was already here. Intern season. “And who told you to come in here?”
     
    “I just assumed … sir. No one told me.”
     
    Brad grinned, moving past him and behind the desk. “You got past those three women?” He pointed toward the large lobby desk that housed his secretaries, three women who made a habit of chewing and spitting out little children. “And waltzed in here?”
     
    The kid shifted again, adjusting the collar of his blue shirt that perfectly matched his eyes. “Everyone seemed to be in a meeting when I came in. This office had your name on it, so—”
     
    Brad waved his hand. “Whatever. Don’t come in here again unless I call for you. Rebecca, or one of the other girls, will get you set up in an office. In the meantime, sit down and shut up. You can listen in on my calls.”
     
    There was a sharp rap on the door, and he glanced up to see Marilyn step in, a stack of folders in her hand. She moved forward, sending a quick look toward the kid.
     
    Brad gestured with his hand. “Todd, this is Marilyn—she runs this wing, listen to whatever she tells you. Marilyn, Todd will sit in on my calls, please come and get him when Mrs. Washington arrives.”
     
    The woman nodded quickly and stepped for the door, shooting the boy a smile that contained more vinegar than sugar.
     
    Brad chuckled, glancing at his desk clock and writing down the time as he dialed a number on his phone.
    first sight
    Two weeks later.
     
    He saw her speaking to Marilyn, a bit of hair falling over her forehead, catching on her glasses. He stood by the glass wall of his office, his eyes studying her, trying to place her face, her body. The name escaped him, but the hair, the glasses … She worked downstairs, handled travel arrangements. He watched the folder exchange hands, watched her smile and begin to turn. And reaching up, before she stepped outside, he rapped on the glass, gesturing for her when the noise caught her eye.
     
    He finished his call, watching her walk to the door, picking up details as she moved closer. Small waist. Small bust. Huge eyes, shielded behind thick glasses. A confidence to her step despite the tremor in her hands. She was nervous.
     
    He ended the call, his mind working, filing the clues and realizing the possibility of error in identification as he spoke. “I need a car.”
     
    She was confused, and the longer she stood there, the more certain he was that she was not the travel girl. She was someone new, someone different. Someone who had somehow escaped his notice. Someone, given her employer, he should avoid.
     
    He watched her walk out, noting the curve of her ass, his cock responding without thought, his hand reaching for the phone, dialing the number before he had good mind to rein it in.
     
    And when he found out who she was, his smile widened with the discovery of the forbidden.
     

     
    Brad stopped by Rebecca’s office, stepping inside and shutting the door.
     
    She looked up from her computer with raised brows, plucked to perfection. “Wow. That didn’t take long.” She glanced at her watch. “Four and a half hours. Hell, I’m surprised you made it that long.”
     
    He stuck his hands in his pockets, glaring at her in a way that would cause most to tremble. “What are you talking about?”
     
    She met his glare head on, her beauty not affected by her two hundred and fifty pound figure. “Cut the bullshit. I know you’re here about her.”
     
    “Who?”
     
    “Julia she’s-an-intern-so-forget-about-her Campbell,” she said the name with a smug smile, entirely too happy with herself.
     
    “Who?”
     
    She snorted. “Oh please. Give me one other reason you are in my office with the door closed.” She waited expectantly, her brows raised. “Well? Spit it out.”
     
    He furrowed his brow, searching for a case name, a menial errand,