Read Online Marny by Anthea Sharp - Free Book Online Page A

she finished it anyway as
sunlight illuminated the side of a nearby skyscraper. Gray windows
turned to silver, flat metal sparkling as it caught the light, and
colors burst from wan to brilliant.
    She liked being high enough to see the sky.
Mentally calculating that the window faced southwest, she figured
the apartment would get some nice afternoon sun.
    Though whether she’d ever have free time in
the afternoon remained to be seen.
    She glanced at the screen mounted on the
wall, currently displaying the time and weather. Brenna would be
there in five minutes to take them downstairs for their first day
of work.
    Marny rinsed her cup in the kitchen, then
went back to her room. She grabbed her tablet and slipped on the
new pair of shoes, dressy but still relatively comfortable. Wil was
moving around in his bedroom, and Anjah was still in the
bathroom.
    “You guys coming?” she called as she strode
down the hall toward the front door.
    “Right here,” Wil said, stepping out of his
room.
    Marny pursed her lips and nodded. “You clean
up nice.”
    His wild hair was tamed back with gel,
showing off his strong features. Wearing slacks and a button-down
shirt, he didn’t look quite so gawky and uncoordinated. Not that
she was any more attracted to him, but it was an interesting
transformation.
    “Glad you approve.” He winked at her. “You
look pretty sharp yourself.”
    Anjah threw open the bathroom door and sailed
out on a cloud of steam and flowery perfume. Of course she was
dressed perfectly, in a blue-green ensemble that was like a sunlit
sea.
    “Let me get my shoes,” she said. “And my
bag.”
    She led the way to the entry, where she
deftly donned a pair of aquamarine high heels and plucked a
matching purse from the closet.
    Somebody knocked on the door.
    “Come in,” Wil said through the speaker
interface, and buzzed the door open.
    It slid back to reveal Brenna standing in the
hallway.
    “Good,” the liaison said, giving them each a
once-over. “After today, you guys need to get yourselves down to
the offices, but this morning there’s an introductory meeting to
attend.”
    “Aye-aye,” Wil said, snapping a salute.
    Brenna gave him a look. “This isn’t boot
camp. You all ready?”
    “Yep,” Marny said. “Let’s go.”
    “Wait a second.” Anjah set her hand on
Marny’s arm, pulled her to the hall mirror, and handed her a tube
of lip gloss. “Put this on.”
    “I’m fine—”
    “Humor me. Besides, you have beautiful
lips.”
    “Hurry up,” Brenna said, folding her
arms.
    It was quicker for Marny to slick some gloss
over her mouth than keep arguing with Anjah. Besides, she could
always wipe it off when Anjah wasn’t looking.
    “Nice.” Anjah nodded. “Keep it—it’s not
really my color.”
    Marny had to admit the subtle sheen did look
good on her, and not too obviously like she was wearing makeup.
Maybe she wouldn’t wipe it off, after all.
    “Guys,” Wil called from the hall.
    Moving alarmingly fast in her high heels,
Anjah hurried out the door. Marny was right behind her.
    “Finally.” Brenna gave Marny a stern look.
“Do your primping a little earlier next time, okay?”
    Marny just nodded. No use arguing.
    They were silent as they rode the elevator
down ten floors. When the doors dinged open, Brenna led them down
yet another hallway and past several offices and official-looking
meeting rooms.
    “This morning you’ll meet your supervisors
and get your assignments,” Brenna said. “If you have any questions
or concerns, make sure to speak up. And here we are.”
    Marny looked through the glass window into
the conference room Brenna had indicated. It seemed full of people,
and her stomach tightened again.
    “Sure looks busy in there,” Wil said, voicing
her own worry. “Do they really need nine people to run herd on
us?”
    “Ten,” Anjah said. “You missed the guy in the
dark blue suit at the far end of the table.”
    “Don’t argue, just come in.” Brenna