Richard McLennan was a young spoiled rich brat that never knew a day of hard work in his life. He was unsuitably left to run an accounting firm he’d inherited as a result of his father’s sudden death. Recently, he’d been doling out sexual harassment settlements like federal income tax payouts after April 15. Cadence, along with the company’s board, had been advising him to focus on the business rather than his employees’ “assets.” Unfortunately, the young know-it-all was convinced he had everything under control, despite the new claims being filed on a weekly basis. Cadence knew that if the media caught wind of this fiasco, the company would suffer a serious blow to its image.
The hiss of the coffee machine settled as the last drops of brew gurgled into Cadence’s mug, capturing her attention. Adding French vanilla creamer to deepen the flavor, she closed her eyes and sniffed, taking in the rich aroma. Just as she was about to take a much-desired sip, Kerry Cooper’s nasal voice sliced right through her indulgent moment.
“Morning, Cadence,” Kerry purred like a slick feline. Cadence’s stomach contracted and she discreetly rolled her eyes.
Standing straighter, Cadence spread her lips into a tight smile and turned to face her colleague. “Good morning to you, Kerry,” she said with what she’d hoped came across as a polite nod of her head.
Kerry pranced into the break room, sporting a sly smile, and stepped dangerously close to Cadence before grabbing a K-Cup of her own. “Guess who I had dinner with last night?” Kerry sang.
Who cares? “Who?” Cadence asked, immediately taking a sip of her scorching coffee in an effort to hide the scowl that threatened to take hold of her lips.
“Richard McLennan.” Kerry raised her brows as if dropping the name gave her a big win.
Cadence paused mid-sip, feeling heat rise from her belly. Did you sleep with him, too? Instead of the curt words she wanted to say, she opted for something a little less cheeky. “He seems like your type.” Cadence tilted her head and smiled pleasantly, enjoying the questioning look and narrowed eyes glaring back at her. Though her head was filled with questions and she felt like a knife had been lodged in her back, she refused to let Kerry get a rise out of her. “Chat with you later,” she said cheerfully. Exiting with a glide, she could feel Kerry’s eyes boring into her back.
Once she got into her office, she dialed Alana on her cell phone.
“Do you know what that woman did this time?” she poured into the phone without giving Alana a chance to say hello.
“It’s too early for this. Hold on and let me close my office door.” The line went silent for a moment and Cadence could hear the door shut. “Okay. I’m back. What on earth happened?”
“She had dinner with my client!”
“Shut the front door! Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”
“Not necessarily. As long as nothing substantive about the case was being discussed, there’s no problem with it. You know that.”
“Well, it should be.”
“I know, but it’s not like she’d admit to anything anyway. She’s clearly up to something. Ever since she found out that I was also in the running for senior counsel, she’s been slithering around this office trying to rile me up one way or another. I don’t trust her as far as I could throw her.” Cadence paced circles around her desk.
“How did you find out?”
“She just told me.” Cadence pivoted, her breathing escalated with every step. She plopped down on the front of her desk and took a deep breath. “You should have seen the devious smile on her face.”
“Who else was there?”
“Just us.”
“And what did you say?”
“That he seemed like her type, and I sauntered my behind out of the room with a winning smile.” Cadence chuckled.
“Ha! That’s right, my lady. Never let ʼem see you sweat! Sounds like you could probably use a drink after work. Why don’t you meet me in that lounge over by Seventh and Twenty-Third?”
Cadence frowned. She really could use the drink, the company and a dose of her best friend’s humor, but when she thought about how much work she had ahead of her, she knew she’d have to decline. Reasons for saying yes and no volleyed in her mind.
“Come on! I can tell by your silence that you’re probably thinking of an excuse to tell me why you can’t come. We all have a lot on our plates,” Alana said as if she had read Cadence’s mind. “We all need a break sometimes, Cay. Come let down your hair. I won’t keep you out too late.”
What else could she tell her? “Aw, what the hell! I’ll be there.”
Alana’s piercing squeal caused Cadence to pull the phone away from her ear. “I promise it will make you feel a little better.” Cadence shook her head, chuckling at her friend. “Oh. I forgot to tell you,” Alana said. “I’m meeting a few folks from the organization there, also. They’ll arrive around seven. We have to hash out some details for our next mixer. You and I can meet right after work so that by the time they show up, if you want to head home, you can, but you are more than welcome to stick around. It shouldn’t take long for us to handle our business. Please don’t say you won’t come because of that.” Cadence could hear the pleading in Alana’s voice.
“Okay.” She dragged the word, stretching out the response. “See you at six.”
“Yeah!” Alana squealed again.
Cadence cringed and then she heard a light tapping at her office door. “I gotta run. See you later,” she whispered into the receiver.
“Blake will be there,” Alana added just before she disconnected.
Cadence acted as if she hadn’t heard what Alana said, but her core tightened slightly at the mention of Blake’s name. “Come in,” she caroled, rounding her desk as she headed back to her chair.
Adam Benjamin, her direct boss and one of the partners whom she held in high esteem, stuck his head in her door. “Morning, Cadence.”
Cadence stood, offering a polite nod and smile. “Morning, Mr. Benjamin.”
Adam looked behind himself before entering her office completely as if he was sneaking around. “I just want to say you’re doing a great job. Keep up the good work.” He clasped his hands. “You never know who’s watching.” His friendly smile warmed the atmosphere.
Cadence dipped her head. “Thank you, sir. I’ll keep that in mind.” Out of all of the partners at the firm, Adam had always managed to make Cadence feel welcome, in a sincere and professional kind of way. Had the decision of making her senior counsel been solely up to him, she would have had the position already. Unfortunately, it took more than Adam’s approval.
Cadence should have been elated about Adam’s surprise drop-in. Despite the enlightening fact that he had let her know she was on their radar, she couldn’t keep her mind from slipping back to what Alana had said before she ended their call. “Blake will be there.” Why would Alana say that? Why should I care? She had to admit to herself that despite his apparent arrogance and obvious playboy ways, he was absolutely gorgeous.
Cadence saw him staring at her from across the bar the other night, but when all those women—beautiful, voluptuous and ultrathin women—continued to pour all over him, she decided she probably wasn’t his type. She found herself a corner and stayed holed up in it until Alana was ready to go.
“Blake will be there.” Alana’s voice replayed in her head and tingling sensations that had long since become unfamiliar to her came rushing back with fervor.