Page 8 of Heart of Stone

“Stone Enterprise strikes a $280 million dollar deal with the near-bankrupt Rushmore Industries to purchase one of the tallest residential buildings in New York. Soaring over 1,000 feet high, Stone Enterprise plans to remodel the neglected Rushmore building. It will eventually hold 92 luxury apartments and two penthouses. Wall Street says the purchase was steal and predicts that it will pay for itself in less than two years, as the penthouses alone will contract for at least $84 million each once they are completed. CEO, Alexander Stone made no comment when asked if he was going to rename the building.”

Two hundred eighty million! Wow – this guy isn’t just rich, he’sthatrich!

I may have been fortunate enough to grow up comfortably, but even Frank didn’t bring in that kind of dough. Not even close. I moved the mouse to click on the next article. This one was a gossip column from the local entertainment magazine, dated two months earlier.

“Alexander Stone, one of New York’s most eligible bachelors, arrived at the Chamber of Commerce Ball with yet another red headed bombshell on his arm. Who knew that there were so many stunning red heads in New York City?”

Hmmm…yes. Who knew?

The article contained a picture of a drop dead gorgeous woman with flowing red locks, holding the arm Alexander Stone. She looked like she just stepped off the stage of America’s Top Model.

Enough of that.

I hit the back button again and came across another sleaze article. This one was a little more recent, dated only three weeks ago.

“Alexander Stone, the 32 year old real estate mogul, refused to answer questions regarding his relationship with Miss Suzanne Jacobs. The couple has been seen together at three separate charity engagements, causing the rumor mills to fly. Anyone who follows our column knows that Mr. Stone is never seen with the same woman twice. Could she be the one to finally capture his heart of stone? Miss Jacobs was unavailable to answer our questions.”

Never the same woman twice?Bingo – that’s what’s wrong with him.

All men were exactly the same. Alexander Stone was just another stereotypical millionaire playboy.

Good luck with that one, Miss Jacobs.

I gave into a big yawn and stretched my back. The hour was nearing midnight, and I had to work the next day. It was my turn to work the mid-shift, so at least I got to sleep in a bit. I closed the laptop and headed back to my room.

I wearily climbed into bed, pulled the blankets up and tucked them beneath my chin. I fell asleep within five minutes of my head hitting the pillow, putting all thoughts of those powerful blue eyes to rest.

CHAPTER 3

When I arrived at Wally’s for my shift the next morning, Jim was waiting for me by my locker in the break room. He didn’t say anything to me a first, but he looked like he was steaming over something. He stepped aside so that I could open my locker and deposit my things inside. Pretending to be preoccupied, I ignored the indignant look that he threw at me and glanced down at the broken screen of my cell phone. I made a mental note to stop by the cell phone store tomorrow morning to see about getting it replaced.

“Are you even going to say hello?” Jim eventually spat out.

Yep, he is definitely pissed off.

“Um…hi, Jim.”

I didn’t know what else I could say. I wanted to avoid engaging in a conversation that would inevitably lead to one thing, and I didn’t have the energy to deal with Jim’s advances today. I was tired and irritable from a restless night. Dreams of Alexander Stone’s blue eyes haunted me all night, making it impossible for me to concentrate on much else this morning.

“Your bruise looks pretty nasty,” Jim informed me in a cynical voice.

Gee, how nice of you to say. Like I don’t already know. What bug crawled up your ass today?

I silently counted to ten in an attempt to reign in my temper.

Be nice.

“Jim, is there something wrong?” I asked, my voice coming out clipped, despite my efforts to remain patient.

“Oh, no. Nothing is wrong, really. Besides the fact that I had to clean your coffee spillandyour drool off of the floor in aisle nine yesterday.”

“My drool?” I eyed him quizzically.

“Oh, come on, Krys. You could barely even speak when that guy Stone was looking at you. I’ve never seen any woman act so gaga over a guy, especially you!”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” I said curtly.

Was I that obvious?

---