Change of Harte (Harte, #2) (Harte Series) Read Online Free Page B

Julian’s fist. Julian had to concentrate not to laugh again; the thought hadn’t even entered his head. Well, not right now anyway. If he were going to punch Nathan, it wouldn’t be in his own office. He wasn’t going to give Nathan a juicy ‘’Boss Assaults Intern’’ headline.
    ‘Sort of,’ Nathan replied, still edging further away.
    ‘You sort of have a story. Wow, I’d say your editor must bloody love you.’
    ‘It’s not what you think. I’m not investigating the financial side of things. This is more a more…um…a more personal piece.’
    Julian snorted. ‘I’m not sure if I’m more flattered or irritated that you’re obsessed with my life.’
    ‘Well, you have to admit…’ Nathan paused and Julian imagined he was searching for the right words to put it delicately. He needn’t have bothered. Nothing he could say would offend Julian.
    ‘…this place is off-the-scale unorthodox,’ Nathan finished.
    Julian nodded. ‘I don’t do conventional. But anyone who steps inside these doors,’ Julian pointed to the double doors of his office, ‘knows the score.’
    ‘But what about the ones who get hurt?’
    Nathan didn’t say her name but Julian’s mind immediately raced toward Eva.
    ‘Getting hurt is just part of being an adult. My life is sex, drink, repeat, and I make no apologies for that.’
    ‘And no apologies for the people you hurt?’
    Julian’s eyes narrowed and his back teeth grinded. ‘None.’
    A restless silence followed and Julian studied Nathan for a moment—the way he straightened his tie every twenty seconds, the twitch in this jaw, the nervous folding and unfolding of his arms. They were just scratching the surface, Julian decided. ‘C’mon, man. My choice of lifestyle is old news. It won’t sell papers. Don’t bullshit me. I know you’re fishing for something else.’
    ‘What makes you think I was talking about the girls who drop their knickers as soon as you snap your fingers? Messed up as that logic is, you’re right, it won’t sell papers.’
    Nathan’s twitching jaw was becoming distracting. He was holding his ground well, but he wasn’t fooling Julian.
    Julian glanced at his watch. His schedule for the morning was relaxed and Nathan had piqued his interest enough for him to entertain this nonsense for a little longer.
    ‘Drink,’ Julian said; it was a statement not a question.
    Nathan nodded.
    Julian leaned back a little further and pressed a button on his desk phone. ‘Shell, bring in the bottle I left in the cabinet behind your desk, will you, please?’
    Julian drummed his fingers against his desk and the rhythm echoed in the oversized office as both men waited for Shelly. Julian smiled as she entered, clutching a cut glass decanter filled with a clear liquid. Julian loved Poitin, but he rarely dabbled with the stuff. A little more than two glasses was enough to knock a grown man out cold, Julian included. But if there were ever a time he longed for the fiery flavour of the truth syrup disguised as alcohol, this was it.
    Julian couldn’t miss the look of disgust Shelly shot Nathan as she brushed past him and slammed the decanter against Julian’s desk with a loud thud. The force knocked the stopper off and Julian caught it just before it crashed against the floor. Shelly didn’t acknowledge the accident, and Julian simply placed the stopper on his desk carefully so it didn’t roll onto the floor and said nothing. Instead, he stared at Nathan. If the prick were messing Shelly about, Julian would beat the shit out of him. Right there in his office and fuck any headline. But not now. Right now, he needed Nathan conscious and telling him exactly what in the hell he knew.
    Shelly stepped to the side and Julian didn’t ask her to leave.
    ‘Glasses,’ Julian said, flicking his eyes toward a shelf above his bureau.
    Shelly hurried to hand Julian a couple of designer crystal tumblers. 
    ‘Are you a teetotaller this morning, Shell?’ Julian asked,