Rocking back in her chair, she picked up the synopsis of a company she’d had her eye on for years and began to read the report again. With pen in hand, she jotted down notes as she went, but before Addison reached the third page, she scowled at a repetitive beat that kept forcing its way into her head.

Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum.

Addison’s head snapped up. “What the hell is that?” she said, looking around the room. She sat stock-still, listening for even the slightest blip of noise, but when all she heard was her own breathing, she frowned and returned to the papers in her hand.

Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum.

“Bloody hell!” Addison said, tossing her pen and papers on the desk. “Whoever the fuck is making that racket is going to be unemployed!” Jumping to her feet, she strode to the door and pulled it open. As it slammed against the wall, Addison marched into the foyer.

Busy dusting the banister at the top of the stairs, the shock wave caused by Addison’s fury caused Iris to jump. Losing her balance, she grabbed the railing, and promptly sitting down on a step, she placed her hand over her heart. Sally, in the midst of exiting the drawing room, didn’t fare any better. Letting out a shriek of fright, she dropped the cleaning supplies she was carrying, and bottles and aerosol cans bounced and rolled their way toward Addison. Not daring to raise their eyes to meet their employer’s, Iris and Sally became statues, but thankfully the only Gorgon in the house was in the shape of a candelabra.

Addison ignored the women she had just traumatized while she strained to hear the noise again, but the room was deathly silent. She shot the two maids a look, silently damning them for their intrusion, and convinced they wouldn’t do it again, she stomped back into her study. Retrieving the papers she had tossed on her desk, Addison sat down and began to read again.

Da-Dum. Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum.

In an instant, Addison launched out of the chair, but this time the papers and pen weren’t treated so nicely. The report flew in one direction, and the Montblanc rollerball spiraled out of control in the other. She strode back to the foyer, intent on beheading her staff, only to find herself alone. “What the fuck?” she said, jamming her hands in her pockets. Addison stood there, squinting and listening and waiting for something or someone to make a noise, but when not a sound reached her eardrums, she turned on her heel and returned to the study. She made it halfway to her desk before she abruptly came to a stop and looked down at the floor.

Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum.