Call of the Dark (Dark Paranormal Steamy Monster Encounter) by Cassia Dureza Page A

of that job was leaving.”
         Scott answered her.  “She’s just upset that she has to go with Tom.”
         A look of comic pity swept over Diane’s face.  “Oh, I see.  How long do you have to put up with him hitting on you?”
         Natasha sighed.  “A week, unless I can convince Matt otherwise.”
         Diane replied, “Hah, good luck with that.  Once Matt gets in his mind to do something, it’s a done deal.”
         “Yeah, but maybe I can convince him to hire a local bilingual guide.”
         Diane snorted at her.  “Not likely, with the budget spent for this article already.  He’s also a better photographer than you.  He has a gift of getting the perfect once in a lifetime shot.”
         Natasha grumbled to herself.  Diane practically echoed what Scott had said.  Convincing Matt to send someone else was going to be difficult.  But perhaps a naughty personal one on one with him would change his mind.  Another voice interrupted the conversation as a pretty young blonde walked up to them with a dozen file folders in her hands.  “Hey guys, what’s the latest gossip?  Don’t leave me out.”
         Scott smiled, ran his hands through his spiky brown hair and blushed at her.  He had a not-so-secret hidden crush on her.  “Hi Jessica.  No gossip.  Just giving Natasha a brief run down on her latest mission.”
         Diane interrupted him.  “She’s going with TMI Tom to Europe .  For a week .”  
         Jessica stuck out her tongue and squinted.  “Romantic NOT.  Bring earplugs to drown him out.”
         Natasha responded.  “Noted and agreed.”
         Jessica blurted, “He always finds a way to take the most mundane topic and warp it into something disturbing about himself you can never unhear.  I’m making a top ten list.  What’s your worst contribution?”
         Diane started, “That he calls his testicles Thunder and Lightning.”
         Jessica choked and said, “His left hand is his LTR.  But it’s an open relationship.”
         Scott chimed in, “His mom told him he was the first one to be hatched from the egg sac and he has no brothers or sisters because he ate the rest of them.”
         Natasha stopped them.  “Ok, I’m depressed enough.  I’m sure by the time we’re ready to publish, I will have more to add.  My ears are starting to bleed just thinking of it.  I think I’ll go head over and plead my case to Matt now.”
         The gang snickered and shouted in unison. “Happy travels!” 
         Natasha walked over to Matt’s office and knocked on the shut door.  She heard a muffled sound of him talking as the door opened for her.  She entered his office as he hung up the phone and closed the heavy door behind her.  He smiled warmly at her as he ran his eyes up and down her body and lingered at the short black satin skirt that showed off her tanned thighs.
         “Glad to see you.  I was going to call you in for a meeting after lunch.  I have to talk to you about the latest assignment you’ll be working on.”  He leaned back against his expensive mahogany desk as he curled his hands around its corners.
         “Yeah, thanks, I heard.  About that though.  Tom?  Really?  Is it too much to expect another competent photographer to go along with me?”
         “Don’t be so dramatic.  He’s the best one to assist you for this job.”  Matt leaned forward and closed in some of the space between them. He had his pep talk game face on.  “This is a great opportunity for you.  Take it and have some fun with it.  I expect a fantastic article when you return.”  He put a comforting hand on her shoulder and massaged it.
         She playfully brushed it off, and scowled at him. Glancing around the office, she tried to plot out a strategy. Along the walls were the covers for the first edition and popular editions of ‘Blast!’, the edgy magazine/travel