Page 4 of An Irresistible Force (Vancouver Vice)

“The reception is crap down here.” He checked his watch. “Look, I have to make a couple of quick calls, and I think I’ve got enough time. If Richardson gets here, tell him I’ll be right back. And make nice, Lucky.”

“What? I know how to be friendly.” These guys were always babysitting me. I was an honest guy and I wasn’t going to change that now that I was out of hockey.

Swanny shook his head as he left. A couple of minutes later, a woman walked in without even noticing me. She wore a boxy white shirt, grey pants, and flat shoes. She must have been a secretary, because she was balancing a big pink box of doughnuts atop a bigger stack of papers.

“You’re a lifesaver, baby,” I told her with a grin. “These early meetings don’t give me enough time for a real breakfast.”

She turned and saw me. “Oh my God. You’re Chris Luczak!”

I nodded. She was closer to my age, so hopefully she was the fan and not her mom.

“I had no idea you were going to be here.” She stared at me with her full lips slightly parted. She was sort of pretty—with light brown hair, pale skin, and hazel eyes. But not a dick-hardener like the receptionist. In fact, she was giving off a masculine vibe that was a complete turn-off.

“The doughnuts?” I reminded her.

She finally got it together and carefully placed the files and folders on the table. She walked over, opened the box, and offered it to me. I grabbed a glazed one.

“Now, if you tell me there’s going to be coffee too, I’m going to be one happy man.”

She didn’t crack a smile. “What do you take in your coffee?”

“Just black.”

“I’ll be right back.” She walked quickly out of the room. The way her feet turned out reminded me of a ballet dancer, but her back view sucked. Why wear baggy clothes that hid whatever nature had given her? I grabbed one of the napkins she had left and took a bite of the doughnut. Then I realized that this might be an opportunity for a little reconnaissance work. When the secretary came back with my coffee, I thanked her.

“Have you worked for Gregory Richardson for a long time?”

She smiled. Her smile was kind of weird because she didn’t show any teeth, but her eyes crinkled up.

“No, I just started last week.” She sat down in the chair beside me.

“So, no scoops for me on what the boss-man is really like?” I focused in on her and smiled.

Her eyes widened, and she nervously pushed bobby pins further into her bun. “Sorry, what was that?”

“Just asking about Greg. Guess you haven’t been here long though.”

“Oh, I know him very well. What would you like to know?”

“Just any pet peeves. It’s me—I keep jumping in like the old bull in the china shop, and I don’t want to mess up this time.”

“You, mess up? I can’t believe that.” She blinked up at me. She was a fan for sure, and I wished Swanny was here to see I still had it.

“I’m not really a suit,” I confessed. I still had a full supply of Italian suits from hockey, but wearing a tie all day felt a little like being on a leash. I stuck a finger inside my collar.

“I would say that being honest and laying your cards on the table would be the best way to do business with Gregory Richardson. He’s a pretty straightforward person.”

I nodded. “Okay, that’s great. That’s how I operate too. So, how’s it been around here—you know, ever since the harassment suit and all that stuff? I guess morale must be in the crapper.”

Her mouth became a straight line and her already perfect posture became even stiffer. “I wouldn’t know. As I said, I just started here.”

I pondered asking her about whether the organization might be willing to sell, but I figured that she wouldn’t have a clue about that. Still, I felt good. I’d gotten some valuable intel, so I’d have something to offer Swanny.

I smiled at the secretary again. She wasn’t really my type, but it couldn’t hurt to have someone around here I could call and maybe ask about stuff. I held out my hand.

“So, you know I’m Chris. What’s your name?”

“I’m Amanda.” She reached out and we shook. As I touched her hand, a blush came over her pale cheeks. She exhaled and pulled her hand away. I grinned at her reaction.

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