Midnight’s Queen (Stroke of Midnight #3)

Chapter 6

Portia paced the length of her office. She hadn’t been able to concentrate since Aleks had left. After instructing her assistant that she was not to be disturbed, her focus had been on the threat posed by the Solveig Consortium.

There was no way the other company would meekly let the matter drop. They might not have the reach that the Tremaine Corporation did, but they had something more potent: a desire for vengeance. She’d understood the unspoken threat—they were coming for Portia’s company. And she didn’t know if she could stop them.

Although it had pained her, she’d called Dizzie and asked for a meeting. She’d been surprised when the other woman had agreed to meet her this afternoon. The easy acceptance felt like another trap to Portia and she could only fight so many battles at once.

Halfway through her back-and-forth circuit, the office door opened and her assistant announced Dizzie.

Keeping her back to the door, Portia pressed a hand to her uneasy stomach. Surely it was lingering resentment over Dizzie’s role in the bombing, rather than nerves.

“Hello, Portia. You wanted to see me?” Dizzie’s tone was cool, businesslike. And for some reason, it ratcheted up Portia’s tension.

This was just a business meeting like any other. Pasting on her corporate smile and steeling her spine, Portia turned and faced her nemesis. Whenever she saw Dizzie, Portia experienced an entire range of emotions. Rage that Dizzie lived when Tommy had died. Wonder that she had a sister after so many years alone. Isolated when everyone around her was creating twosomes.

“Hello, Dizzie,” she said, marveling that she didn’t choke on the words. “Thank you for coming.”

Dizzie stepped into the office slowly, followed by Killian St. John—Portia’s best friend. Or maybe that was former best friend. Portia’s feelings about Killian were just as conflicted as they were for Dizzie. For many of the same reasons.

“Killian.” Part of her wanted to run to him and fling her arms around him and pretend everything was the way it used to be. Would they ever get back to that place?

“You’re looking well, Portia.”

She searched his words for hidden meanings, hating that they were so stilted with each other. “Thank you.”

He looked happy. And while she was truly happy for him, a tiny part of her was jealous too.

Tamping down that irrational emotion, she returned her attention to Dizzie. She wore heeled black boots and leg-hugging leather pants with a blue silk blouse that highlighted her eyes. Somehow, she’d managed to merge the styles of her days as a courier with the high fashion of the corporate world. Portia had never been effortlessly stylish like that.

Bitch.

“Please have a seat.” She gestured toward the corner of her office where a small cluster of more comfortable furniture provided a tiny oasis.

Dizzie eyed the space warily. She shook her head and her ponytail swung behind her. “I’ll stand.”

Portia felt a twinge of empathy. When she’d moved into her father’s office, the place had been filled with memories. A few were good, some were neutral, but most of them were bad. How many times had she stood at attention in front of his desk while he berated her for not meeting his standards? How many times had he shut down her ideas for change?

Even their conversation on the day he’d disappeared had been contentious. Though she’d tried to put her own stamp on the office’s decor, years’ worth of memories remained. So Portia understood Dizzie’s reluctance.

That didn’t mean she had time to indulge it. “Please? I have a lot to discuss with you.”

Dizzie’s lips pressed together. Portia clenched her jaw for a moment and then added, “Both of you. Please.”

That got Dizzie to sit, though she took the chair in front of Portia’s desk. As soon as Portia was seated as well, Killian grabbed a chair and arranged it next to Dizzie.

Sitting side by side, Dizzie and Killian looked like the power couple they were. The newsies had heralded her as a real-life Cinderella story, the lowly courier who was actually a corporate princess. And now she had the chance to gain even more power in their world when she was embraced by the Solveigs.

Portia had no problem with Dizzie joining the Solveigs. But it seemed unlikely to stop whatever else they were planning.

“Am I here so you can yell at me again?”

Portia hid a smile. Dizzie’s bluntness was refreshing compared to some of the games played in the business world.

“No. Not today.”

Dizzie snorted.

Portia ignored the interruption and continued. “I have a request for you. Actually, I’ve been asked to pass on a request.”

“No,” Dizzie said.

“Hear me out. Please,” Portia added.

“No.” Dizzie shook her head.

Killian leaned over and whispered in her ear. She rolled her eyes, then sighed. “Fine.”

Dizzie smoothed out her expression. Suddenly, her face gave away nothing of her feelings. Portia was almost proud—she’d obviously been practicing. That skill would serve Dizzie well in their world.

“What can I do for you?” Dizzie asked in a voice just as smooth, just as expressionless.

“I met with a representative of the Solveig Consortium today.” She paused. “Your mother’s family would like to meet you.”

Dizzie paled and jerked back in her chair. Her mouth opened but no words came out. In the next instant, she popped up and raced from the room, back into the reception area.

Portia blinked in surprise. That was unexpected.

Killian stood then stopped and looked at Portia. “Does this have anything to do with Tremaine?”

“It all has to do with the company,” she answered honestly. “But the first thing the representative asked for was a meeting with Dizzie. I directed him to her assistant, but thought I should let her know in advance. I don’t know anything more than that.”

“Thank you,” Killian said after a long pause. “We’ll get back to you.”

The “we” struck Portia in the heart and she sucked in a breath. She missed being part of a “we.” After a careful exhale, she said, “I appreciate that.”

Killian half-smiled and tipped his head. Then he followed Dizzie out of the office and left Portia all alone again.

She stared at the closed door. The meeting hadn’t been as terrible as she’d expected. In fact, as far as meetings with her sister went, this one had been relatively painless. Still, it left her feeling edgy and out of sorts.

Everyone wanted Portia to embrace Dizzie as her sister, but no one was giving her time to get used to that unexpected development. She ran her thumb over her bare ring finger. There’d been so many changes over the last year.

Portia had barely gotten used to her new normal and now she worried that things were about to change again. She didn’t like change. It never worked out for her.

Her spacious office suddenly felt small and airless. She had to get out of here before the walls closed in on her.