Page 29 (1/1)

"How ave Nora soestions for where to take the next two or three chapters

"And I want five h he knew that was an ale

"Slave-driver," she said

"Nora, we’ve lost a lot of time--"

"Zach," she said and he heard the smile in her voice "Relax It’s oodbyes and Zach hung up the phone He looked up and saw his assistant standing in the doorway of his office holding a box in her hands

"Oh, God Another one?" he asked

"Afraid so, boss" Mary came inside his office She put a book-size flat box on his desk

"Have we figured out who is sending this nonsense yet?"

Zach picked up the box and warily tore off the plain brown paper wrapping

"I think I knoho it is," Mary said "Wonder what it is this tio And a blindfold before that And as it last week?"

"Lube," Mary supplied "K-Y Jelly specifically, I believe" Zach eyed Mary and suppressed a grin Mary was his second favorite wo with Nora Sutherlin, you’ll be able to start your own sex shop"

"Anything would be preferable to this I thought only adults were allowed to work in publishing," he said Turning the box over in his hands, Zach considered just tossing it in the trash Ever since he’d started working with Nora, a new "gift" would arrive in his office mailbox or on his desk every couple of days

"Co it’s Thoet the job in LA since he’s been here the longest He’s been pretty pissed ever since JP promised it to you But everyone knows he’s still here only because he sucks up sobosses He’s doesn’t edit books He just spit-shines shit"

Zach laughed and decided Nora and Mary needed to meet if they hadn’t already

"I appreciate the loyalty as well as the iet this over with, shall we? Lovely," Zach said as he pulled out a pair of bright silver handcuffs with a set of tiny keys hanging off the middle link

"Nice Very shiny" Mary took theht to rean and slapped the cuffs on his left wrist Zach gave her a dirty look "Sorry Too many Law & Order marathons, I think"

"Far too many"

Mary took the key and slipped it in the lock She turned it but the cuffs didn’t pop open

"Shit," she breathed in shock "The key doesn’t work"