Out of Bounds by Dawn Ryder Page A

with perspiration and her heart was thumping hard.
    It really pissed her off too.
    Anastasia didn’t rate high enough for nightmares.
    At least she shouldn’t.
    A glance at the clock told her it was three in the morning. With a huff, she turned onto her side and tried to go back to sleep. But she made the mistake of choosing her bruised side and ended up jerking away from her pillow when pain sliced through her.
    Maybe it was time to take Celeste up on her offer to teach her some self-defense moves.
    ***
    “Good morning, Ms. Donovan.” Claudia flashed her a bright smile. “I’ll get your morning tea.”
    “Thanks.”
    It still felt a little awkward to be on the command end of a working relationship, but the moment Sabra sat down at her computer and logged in, she realized she didn’t have time to get a cup of tea. Her inbox was full and her internal messaging system was lit up like a Christmas tree. Life on the sixteenth floor was going to be a hustle. Now that she had a project to manage, she was getting a quick education as to why no one on the lower floors ever saw the VPs. It was because they were all chained to their desks.
    The sheer level of work waiting for her attention almost made her feel guilty for how harshly she’d thought about those VPs for ignoring the calls on a Saturday night. It looked as though free time was going to become precious. Very precious.
    It also made Tarak’s cut-to-the-bedroom attitude on sex a little easier to understand. Being a successful business tycoon probably didn’t leave a lot of time for long walks on the beach.
    But that wasn’t what she wanted from him anyway.
    Claudia delivered the tea as Sabra was trying to sort through the internal messages.
    “Your morning meetings have changed because Mr. Nektosha has left.”
    Sabra looked up instantly. Too fast really, but Claudia didn’t notice; she was on her way out already.
    Left?
    She bit her lip, trying to tell herself it didn’t bother her. She failed, but at least ended up with the notion that it was for the best.
    By the end of the day, she was mentally exhausted from the struggle not to think about it. It was quite possible she’d have spent less energy if she’d just let her disappointment surface.
    Someone from accounting turned to stare at her in the parking garage, surprise appearing on her face as she got a good look at the bruise still darkening Sabra’s eye. The woman turned away quickly, but it was enough to remind Sabra of her nightmare.
    She dug out the business card Celeste had given her and punched the address into her navigation system. It was a long overdue visit. Martial arts training was the one thing they hadn’t shared.
    The martial arts school Celeste taught at was a direct opposite to her stylish friend. Sabra looked at the business card twice to make sure she was at the right place. The strip mall was a decade out of date. Sabra was sure Celeste didn’t have a pair of shoes that was three years old.
    The first step inside made her pause. The place smelled like sweat, pure and simple. There was a long seating area with a collection of mothers sitting in groups. Most of them were playing with their cell phones as a group of young students practiced in front of them. Every one of the kids wore a white uniform. They had different colored belts and were quick to snap to attention when the instructor gave them commands. He was using a pair of padded training paddles that popped when he hit them together. A fan was blowing back and forth in the far corner, but the air was still stale.
    “May I help you?”
    Another man had come out of an office. A tattered black belt was knotted around his waist. His uniform was red, but it was the threadbare condition of his belt that impressed her the most. The guy spent a lot of hours with it on. He was of Asian descent with a warm honey skin tone and black hair.
    “Yes, I think I want to try some self-defense classes.”
    ***
    “You’re going to hurt