Sapphire by Taylor Lee

be a stinging reprimand. She’d known that at some point she would have to face Diamond’s ire without the buffer of Ian’s presence. But why did the intimidating woman have to make sure that the rest of the team knew that she is on probation at best. She thought that she’d handled herself well in the meeting. She’d been calm, professional and assertive. In other words, she’d been the epitome of the trained agent that she had spent her adult life becoming. Now, like a naughty child ordered to the woodshed, she followed her martinet leader into Riley’s inner chambers. Gabriella refused to look back at the three men she most wanted to impress, not wanting to see the amused expressions she was certain were on their faces.
    Closing the door behind her, Sapphire was grateful when Ruby reached out and squeezed her hand. The surprising gesture underscored that her fellow agent knew what she was going through. It also confirmed that Diamond was as fearsome as she appeared and that Sapphire wasn’t the only “lady” who had faced her ire. The thought was comforting and she threw Ruby a grateful smile. To keep from dwelling on her boss who’d marched to sit behind her desk as if mounting her throne, Sapphire took in the redheaded woman beside her.
    Ruby was indeed more petite than most of the agents Gabriella knew but she was surprisingly voluptuous. Her high, lush breasts, curvy hips, and cloud of bright auburn curls dancing down her back were show-stopping. Her cheerful smile and confident laugh were engaging. Gabriella had seen how the three men in the room brightened when Ruby smiled at them or let loose a peal of infectious laughter. And why wouldn’t they? Sapphire had felt that same appealing warmth from the vivacious sprite. But Ruby was clearly more than merely a beautiful woman. Her sharp retorts and insightful questions had livened the debate among the six of them. Intuitively, Gabriella knew this diminutive woman was not to be messed with. Glancing at Diamond’s stony countenance, she breathed a grateful sigh and squeezed Ruby’s hand. It was good to know that she had a worthy teammate.
    “I hope you know what you are getting into, Sapphire. This mission promises to be one of the most challenging I’ve agreed to. If Ian hadn’t come to me specifically requesting that I provide one of my agents. I would’ve dismissed it out of hand.” Her already stern expression hardened more. “And I can assure you that I wouldn’t have recommended you.”
    Gabriella nodded wondering if somehow her snappish boss thought that she hadn’t already made that clear. Not for the first time, Gabriella wondered how a woman as stunningly beautiful could be such a hard core bitch. She responded gamely, refusing to be cowed by Diamond.
    “I know you’re angry with me, Diamond, but, I assure you, I’m up to the operation.”
    Diamond gave a dismissive sniff. “You better hope you are. This is the last chance you will have to prove that you’re LOTN caliber.” For emphasis, and because she apparently liked piling on, Diamond added, “If it wasn’t for the fact that our mark has a penchant for willowy blondes with blue eyes and big tits, we wouldn’t be considering you.”
    To Sapphire’s relief, Ruby broke in.
    “Diamond’s correct, Sapphire. Jase got me into the Caligula but I didn’t get more than a friendly pat on my ass from the demonic Roberto Ventrilo. Seems that redheads don’t cause the predator’s flag to rise. But, I will tell you, you are golden in more ways than one.” Her lip quirked up and a twinkle sparkled in her dark brown eyes. “Except for the fact that this gig is dangerous as hell, the fact that you get to enter on the arm of that luscious eye candy, Jase Malone, turns me green with envy.”
    Before Sapphire could respond to Ruby’s surprising assertion that she was entering the job on “Jase’s arm,” Diamond took up the theme.
    “And that, Sapphire, is my primary concern. Jase Malone