POX by Angela Pearse EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Authors: Angela Pearse
- Language: English
- Genre: contemporary romance
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 4.3 MB
- Price: Free
Oxford, present day
‘Anna, I’m leaving.’
Becca’s words filtered into my Monday morning brain fog, but I didn’t
fully comprehend their meaning. I sipped my coffee, unconcerned. ‘I’m not
sure why I need to know you’re going to the loo. But thanks for telling me.’
There was a silence, and I glanced over to the adjoining desk. Becca’s
face had taken on a patient expression, as a mother’s might when dealing
with a small child. Oh, OK, that wasn’t what she meant. Despite being a
senior researcher with a doctoral in history who could rattle off all sorts of
facts and figures, sometimes I failed to understand basic communication.
My stomach dropped as her real meaning sunk in. ‘What? But you can’t
leave. I need you, and I’ve just gotten used to you!’
Becca had been hired fresh out of her master’s degree six months ago as
my research assistant for Professor Jeremy Trelawny’s book The Impact of
Smallpox on Eighteenth-Century England.
Despite a three-year age gap, we’d bonded over endless cups of tea and
a shared fascination with endemic diseases. Becca’s caustic wit reminded
me of my twin sister, Beth. Plus she had the same first initial and our long
dark hair, slim build, and green eyes. Not that I’d seen Beth for two years.
She might have shaved her head, put on 100 pounds, and now wear
coloured contacts for all I knew …
Becca hitched a shoulder and looked sheepish. ‘As much as I like
working with you, I’ve had a great offer—a three-month research post in
Africa.’
‘Africa!’ I screeched a touch too loud, and Becca winced.
‘Wow,’ I said in a softer tone. ‘Doing what?’
‘Collecting oral histories from people affected by malaria and
documenting their personal experiences related to the disease,’ she
explained. ‘It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. And my time working
on the pox project boosted my application to the top of the pile.’
I folded my arms, frowning at her. ‘Does Jeremy know about this?’
‘Yes, he was the one who acted as my referee. I didn’t want to say
anything to you until I was sure, but I got confirmation over the weekend.’
Jeremy hadn’t mentioned anything to me about Becca leaving. But then
again, there was a hierarchy in the faculty—one I was duly aware of at
times like this. Information tended to flow upwards or sideways and only
down the chain when strictly necessary. But still … Becca was my assistant,
and I’d miss her.
A thought struck. What if Jeremy hired someone unbearable to replace
her? We shared a small office, and I wasn’t great with other people in my
personal space. I needed quiet and calm to do my job. A foot tapper, gum
chewer, or loud headphones-music player would irritate the heck out of me.
There was also the worry he’d hire a woman I couldn’t compete with.
Becca, once I’d gotten used to her little quirks, was safe as she was
ensconced in a long-term relationship. And as far as I knew, she didn’t find
Jeremy remotely attractive; she’d never said anything to me anyway.
‘Has he …’ I started, and Becca knew instantly where my mind was
headed.
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