Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 108531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 543(@200wpm)___ 434(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Sienna looked up from her desk, a smile dying on her face as she realized it wasn’t her sister who’d come back with him. She straightened up. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Havery.”
His mother looked Sienna up and down and instead of replying, turned his way. “Where is Cindy?”
This woman had raised him to be a gentleman but wasn’t bothering with politeness herself. “She’s on . . . I don’t know what to call grandparental leave. She’s home with her daughter who had a baby recently. Sienna Cardet is going to answer the phones and run the office until Cindy retires. Then she’ll take over as my paralegal.”
“Cardet? As in Jayna?” His mother managed to make the question sound like a condemnation.
Sienna stood, picking up her purse. “Jayna’s my sister. She’s a lawyer and a smart one, too.”
“Well, I’m sure she’s fine, though from what I can tell she’s simply taking the cases Quaid doesn’t want.”
He was about to scold her when Sienna’s brows rose, and she stood right in front of his mother.
“Quaid is lucky to have her. My sister can run rings around him when it comes to the law. She had to do everything he did during law school while working thirty hours a week to pay her way through school. I assure you those cases Quaid doesn’t want are in good hands.” She looked Quaid’s way. “I’m going to lunch.”
“You feel free to take a long one, Sienna.” He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
Sienna was going to work out just fine. She was already finding her feet and emulating her sister’s confidence.
It was really the only way to deal with a woman like his mother.
“Well, you should think about firing that woman. She’s rude,” his mother huffed.
“You were the rude one. I think you’ll find that Sienna has beautiful manners when the person she’s with is worthy of them. You’re a snob, Mother, and I’m not putting up with it when it comes to my staff. You can be polite or you can leave.”
Her face flushed. “I am perfectly polite to Cindy. I was simply surprised that you hired someone new. Your father never needed more than his secretary.”
“Because Father was happy to work eighty hours a week. I’m willing to spend the extra money so we’re not overwhelmed.” He opened the door to his office. It was apparent he wasn’t getting out of this meeting. He would have to make a sandwich or he’d be hungry all afternoon. “What do you need, Mother?”
She stared at him for a moment before taking the seat in front of his desk, placing her purse on her lap, hands holding the handle. “I need for you to be reasonable. This is ridiculous, Quaid, and people are starting to talk.”
“I didn’t realize they’d ever stopped.”
“Quaid, you’re going to cause a scandal.”
“Mother, don’t pretend like it’s Regency-period England and our family name is going to be tarnished because I’m dating a woman outside my financial class. I’ve done that a lot, you know. Most of the women I’ve dated have not had our money, not that it matters.”
“But they came from solid families. The sister of hers, the one you hired, has been married not once but twice. Her daughters have two different fathers.”
“And one loving mother,” he argued. “That’s all that matters. She’s going to be excellent at her job once she’s fully trained.”
“Did she even go to college?”
“No. And that is not a requirement for her to become a certified paralegal.” He was curious. “You know she’s raising two children on her own and working hard to better herself. What exactly is your problem with her? Beyond that she doesn’t have the amount of money you require to view someone as a human being?”
“That is not true, Quaid, and beneath you,” his mother huffed. “I do plenty of charity work. I’ve done it all my life to help people like the Cardets, and they still end up in trouble. She’s raising those kids herself because she made bad choices, the same kind of choices I see you making. How well do you know that woman who’s moved in with you after what? A week? How do you know she’s not trying to trap you into marriage?”
He laughed at the very idea. “I assure you Jayna’s not trying to trap me. If anything, I’m the one trying to trap her. You think I should get her pregnant? I’ve been trying to tempt her with my helpful nature and mystery novels. Maybe I’m going about this the wrong way and I should poke a hole in one of the condoms I bought.”
His mother gasped. “Don’t you dare.”
He decided it was time to get serious. “I want you to stay out of my relationship with Jayna Cardet.”
“Tell me you aren’t serious about this woman,” his mother said. “I’m worrying myself sick over this. Did you know she’s the subject of an ethics review?”