The Opium Room Read Online Free Page A

cut off someone’s balls. Even mine. I think he was castrated in his previous life.” She let her hair unravel from her finger and her feet stilled. Her full eyebrows shot up toward the ceiling. “Do you believe in reincarnation?”
    “Uh… I… never really thought about it,” Lea said.
    “Humph.” Silence.
    Right back to leg swinging and hair twirling.
    So Karrigan was on her third or fourth life, and Roman was into the cruel and unusual. That was all nice, but still didn’t tell her what she really wanted to know. Was Fox a player or what?
    Not that it mattered. Her mind was made up.
    She was staying at the Sedgewick.

CHAPTER TWO
    —Fox
    As he rode the elevator up to the top floor, Fox fumed thinking how Karrigan had sabotaged him, whether she’d meant to or not. God, that girl was irresponsible, and even though she may not have a care in the world, some people did. At thirty years old, his priorities were beginning to change. He’d enjoyed his bachelorhood up to this point; it was the only feasible lifestyle for the last ten years. He’d run the hotel single–handedly while Roman barked orders from his wing back chair.
    Now that he’d met someone who’d really made an impression, it was time to start taking his love life more seriously—if Lea would still have anything to do with him. He hoped she hadn’t left.
    He stepped off the elevator, and just in front of him were the double doors to Roman’s lavish office, large enough to house the Duggars. Fox liked to humor his father, make him feel like his pedestal was still standing when the reality was, it wasn’t.
    Fox hesitated to turn the knob as he knew what awaited him on the other side—a bunch of nonsense. In Fox’s opinion, most of Roman’s demands were ridiculous and not cost–effective to put it mildly. Like this partnership with Northside Hotel Consultants and their over–the–top representative, Jill Sandling. The woman created more problems for Fox; she certainly didn’t do her job and alleviate them.
    Fox rubbed the back of his neck, and stopped putting off the inevitable.
    “Foxworth, sit down,” Roman said, as Fox walked in. He gestured to a chair from the other side of his sleek–lined desk. “About damn time. I needed you here thirty minutes ago, so you could speak with Jill yourself. Just how in the hell did you let time get away from you? You knew she was coming today. Oh, and that reminds me, Jill wants to know who’s handling your calendar these days?”
    “Are you finished, Father?” Fox asked, irritated. “I mean, is it possible that I can get a word in edgewise, or do you want to continue beating me under the table for the next half hour?”
    “Might I remind you who you’re talking to, boy? If you want to be included in my will, I’d advise you to think hard before you take that tone with me again. Are we clear?”
    Huge and foreboding, even at seventy–five, Roman Kemp was a man not to be toyed with. Fierce–tempered and strong–willed, Roman had managed his climb to the top by intimidating those who stood in his way. Fox had tried to emulate that approach to business, but could never pull it off very convincingly. What Fox did have over Roman was a mind for business. He’d didn’t have to puff up and bulldoze adversaries out of his way; he simply outsmarted them. And as far as the hotel, he managed every department himself. Except the cooking, of course.
    “Yeah, we’re clear,” Fox said. “And Karrigan handles my calendar. Always has.”
    “That’s your first mistake. Karrigan has too much going on to worry with your schedule. Jill said you need to hire a secretary.”
    What Karrigan had going on was fraternizing with Hypnotic’s employees. You talk about AWOL. Fox had to cover for her ass on numerous occasions when she was supposed to be at the front desk. Later he’d find her holding up the counter at the bar chatting with Martin, the bartender. One time he’d gotten a positive identification