Share
CHAPTER 7
The week, which usually dragged when she spent it searching unsuccessfully for a full-time job, had simply flown. Any spare minute had been taken up with alterations to her clothes. Hems had been taken up or down, and seams let out where possible.
“Tell me again the name of the place you're off to, child?” Miss Rowland asked as she watched Genie packing the freshly washed and pressed outfits.
“Ritz-Carlton Hotel, in Los Angeles,” she replied, smiling as the old lady maneuvered the chair closer just by pressing a button.
In just two short days she'd become a real expert, whizzing up and down the hallway and rarely bumping into anyone anymore. Seeing Miss Rowland so happy made the sacrifice of the coming weekend worthwhile.
'It's one of the most expensive hotels in the city.”
“And what exactly is it you have to do there?”
&
Related chapters
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 8
The taxi driver let Genie in front of the clinic after taking almost all the money she had in her purse. She sighed, then glanced at her watch. She arrived there too early. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Genie picked up her suitcase and entered the clinic. Her stomach began to flutter as she made her way across the coolly tiled floor towards Phoenix’s office. When she found herself in the waiting room, Genie heard a little voice in her head. ‘Don't go,’ it said. ‘Run! Run now!’ Run? But how could she? She'd been paid, Phoenix knew her address, and she was almost broke. There was nowhere to run to… She took a deep breath to calm down. Genie couldn't help being a bit nervous about the weekend
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 9
“What was wrong with that little girl?” Genie asked abruptly, in order to break the awkward silence that seemed to have developed. They'd only been on their way a few minutes but it felt like an eternity to Genie. She was much too aware of Phoenix. She had been aware from the moment he'd taken her down to the darkened basement car park and personally handed her into the passenger seat of his BMW. She had quivered at his touch, her fears of blindly responding to this man well and truly founded. He looked at her for a second that his eyes turned to the road ahead. Her question puzzled him for a moment.“Oh, you mean Susie. She has scoliosis. Her spine is curved... to the left. About seventeen degrees.”“It sounds very serious.”“Maybe. Maybe not. She's only fourteen months old. Some correct themselves
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 10
Once again, they drew up at some traffic lights, a perplexing intersection on the western outskirts of the city. Phoenix finally took the right road and soon they were on the expressway south. Genie knew well the hotel and she had seen photos of the club where all the guests were invited to unwind after participating in the conference. It was the kind of location where her father loved spending time. Under other circumstances, Genie would’ve been really looking forward to her stay there. The meals were sure to be exquisite and it would be wonderful to be pampered for a change. But she knew that it won’t be easy to relax while pretending to be something she wasn't and worrying all the time about when Phoenix might kiss her, or something equally hazardous. It was one thing to hide this unwanted at
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 11
Genie grabbed Phoenix's sleeve before he could get down from the car.“Wait! Who's Henry?”“An esteemed colleague, so be nice to him… But not too nice,” Phoenix added drily. “My lady friends not only don’t gush over me, but they also don’t gush over other men.” ‘I bet they don't,’ Genie thought ruefully as she let Phoenix go and waited for him to open her door. ‘They wouldn't dare.’ Not that they'd be inclined to gush over another man when with Dr. Beaumont. No other man would measure up. Physically, at least. Genie wondered what exactly had happened between Phoenix and Whitney which had embittered the doctor so. She couldn't imagine any woman passing him over for the chubby man she'd just seen. Even ten years ago,
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 12
Their turn to approach the busy reception desk put an end to their provocative sparring, by which time Genie's delicious defiance had begun to give way to a churning nervousness. Phoenix was attracted to her, she realized as she stood there next to him. She could feel the heat beneath his bruising fingertips, had heard the ruthlessly sexual intent behind his declaration that he had plans for her. Suddenly she knew what those plans were. He wanted her, not just as his receptionist, but as his lover too. As his mistress. Genie should have been outraged by the prospect of such an indecent proposal. Instead, she was terrified of what her answer would be, if and when he made that proposal. Phoenix was given two sets of keys to their room and a uniformed porter carried their luggage ahead of them along to the ele
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 13
Phoenix was in the shower when the telephone rang. Genie turned from where she was putting the finishing touches to her hair, securing the sash of the complimentary cream bathrobe as she walked over to pick up. Without thinking, she said the words she always said when answering Phoenix's telephone. “Dr. Beaumont's room.” Dead silence down the line. “Dr. Beaumont's room,” she repeated. “Hello, is anyone there?” “Genie?” a voice she knew well said after a few seconds. “That’s you, isn't it?” Genie's hand flew to her mouth. Dear God… it was Nicole. What to do? Hang up, or change her voice suddenly and pretend to be the housemaid? “Genie, say something,” Nicole demanded sharply. “I know it's you, so there's no use hanging up or pretending it isn't.” &n
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 14
The bathroom door opened and Phoenix walked out, naked except for a large fluffy cream towel looped casually around his waist. His black hair was still wet from the shower, and a few wayward locks fell carelessly on his high forehead. The dark curls in the center of his chest were also still damp, tight little swirls of glistening hair which screamed out to have a woman's fingers slide sensually through them. Genie did her best not to stare, her heart sinking all the while. Whitney would definitely take a second glance. She was taking more than two herself. “Was that the telephone just now?” he asked abruptly. She swallowed and lifted her eyes back to his face, praying that nothing showed in her expression or demeanor to betray her X-rated thoughts. “No,” she lied fairly smoothly.
GENIE IN A BOTTLE CHAPTER 15
Ann and Henry were looking incredibly well together. Both of them dressed in the latest fashion, they were absolutely breathtaking. Genie was trying not to stare at them, was trying not to get too jealous of their happiness that could be seen written all over their faces with the naked eye. The two couples were moving along the covered walkway which led from the lobby to the main room all prepared to greet all the guests participating in the medical conference. The hotel was huge, so they all were following Henry which had a map in his hand and was doing his best not to get lost. She was looking around when Phoenix slid an arm around her waist. She got startled and looked at him a little bemused. “For appearances’ sake,” he whispered wryly into her ear as he pulled her close.
Latest chapter
