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Chapter One

No one told me that the reason my brand-new pair of Christian Louboutins are called killer is because they are actually going to killWhat else should I expect from a pair of five-inch ruby-red stilettos? Even ones that come with the promise of comfort? After all, every woman knows that after a few hours and a few miles, even the most comfortable heels become instru so I spend most of my life in old jeans and older T-shirts And ballet flats I’ht now I’d pretty much sell my soul for a pair of them

Which is why I’d planned to wear a totally sensible pair of shoes today Navy open-toed pumps with a two-inch heel that perfectlyIt’s the same suit I scrimped and saved for for the better part of last seetMy dream job Technically, I suppose it isn’t actually a job, as I’ quality of being employed, after all--but it is an internship In the intellectual property depart biomedical corporation in the country The world, even If that isn’t a job and a daood one, I don’t knohat is

But when I laid the whole outfit out onthe individual pieces for any stains or tears or wrinkles or scuffs--anything that e student I a future lawyer I intend to be--my best friend and roommate was horrified by my choice of footwear She’d insisted that a suit as kick-ass as this one deserved shoes just as kick-ass That’s when she’d pulled out the Loubies with a druift to me on the first day of the rest of h so much trouble to make this day special for uest room, rent free, for the summer just so I could actually afford to take this internship Just so I could start the journey that would turnaround on these skyscraper heels and doingblisters And it’s only lunchtime I still have five s probably wouldn’t have been so bad if I’d been able to stay at my desk, or even on the two floors that were devoted to intellectual property law at Frost Industries’s main headquarters But since it was my first day on the job, my mentor--another intern who seeht it’d be a great idea to show me around the property A property that includes five s and a number of smaller labs and encompasses several acres of prime beachfront realty here in sunny La Jolla, California It had been a great tour of a great company, and I probably would have had to pinchit for me

But the tour is finally over, I ree cafeteria that overlooks one of the prettiest beaches in San Diego There’s nothing on the agenda for this afternoon except lunch and a four-hour-longwith the other interns, all of whoer than I They’re supposed to bring me up to speed on the various patents and contracts we’ll be doing research on this su toI’ve wanted to do since I found out being the Pink Power Ranger was not actually a viable career choice

Doing my best not to lie, cavernous room with its 842 seats (that number came directly from my mentor, who is as proud of this place as Ethan Frost hile before it, Frost Industries is known for its state-of-the-art cafeteria With two goure their type of cuisine served on a weekly basis--not to mention the salad, juice, and dessert bars--it boasts so for everyone And they do mean everyone It doesn’tas you have your ee, you eat free Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon snack They’re all on the house for Frost Industries employees--another reason I’ve been able to take this internship With no rent and no food bills to speak of, h until my scholarship and work study coh it’s one o’clock, I’ry--residual nervousness fro a little--so I head over to the juice bar A sht for lunch today It’s not too heavy, but it is substantial enough to get h until dinner Besides, the juice bar is the closest thing to et there, there’s no line--everyone see at the pizza and Indian food stations today There are two guys behind the counter, neither of who a rush to take my order Which is fine, since I don’t knohat I want yet anyway

The ht different srass and beet, neither of which is high onto uy tries to wait on h, especially since it looks like I’uys is definitely instructing the other on the fine art of s about things like the proper juice-to-fruit ratio and how iurt is just the right teoes so far as to instruct hio into the sht nuht

Couy, the whole speech probably would have sounded jerky But this guy is so passionate about sht, that he doesn’t sound jerky at all Instead, he co Patient, wise, o on his every syllable, like the words that fall from his lips are actually directions on how to reach nirvana I’m amused despite myself, and am alets poured into two cups Or I would be if therapidly away

"Excuse me," I say when it eventually becomes obvious that they’re bothat the reddish blue smoothie in front of them for many moons to come It’s like they’re both co that al-substance policy all that seriously Because these guys have to be high on soht? Otherwise a si "I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m ready to order now"

The trainer looks up at the sound ofin on mine That’s when I realize he wasn’t as oblivious toto see how each of us would handle the situation

The knowledge gets my back up It’s just a stupid drink, just a stupid little power play, but I don’t enjoy beingas ridiculous as a drink

"No need to order," he says, pressing a lid down onto one of the cups before sliding it across the counter at me "You can have this one It’s the Ethan Special"

"No, thank you" I don’t even glance at the cup "I’d prefer a Hawaiian Sunrise"

"How do you know that’s what you’d prefer? You don’t even knohat’s in the Ethan Special"

Judging frorass of the non-wheat variety And since this is my first day, I’m not exactly prepared to risk it, no matter how hot he is "I don’t have to knohat’s in it to know that I’ blend of strawberries, bananas, pineapple juice, and orange sherbet None of which appear to be in the drink you just made"

"This drink has strawberries in it Seven, to be exact"

Thirty-eight blueberries and seven strawberries Is this guy for real? There’s a part of ued despite myself, but I’m not about to let him see that So I just look down redients is not what I would call a perfect match"

"Is that important to you?" he asks, one dark eyebrow raised "That things match up perfectly?"