Chapter 45
Julianna
“And I thought Alessa was a wonder at scheduling.” I sit at my desk while Vern attempts to not quiver in his loafers before me. “Count your lucky stars that I don’t take your head off right here and now.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Marcon.” To his credit, my executive assistant is a wonder at keeping his composure even when I’m pissed as hell. “There was nothing else I could do. The Moreau meeting was already scheduled in advance, and the lawyers couldn’t...”
“Whatever. Couldn’t do it any other day. I get it.” Sighing, I pull a tablet from my top desk drawer and pretend to get ready for my important meeting coming up in ten minutes. “There have been worse gaffes. But do we have to deal with the lawyers and the Moreaus?”
“Actually, ma’am, the lawyers are already here.”
I roll my eyes as I stand up and straighten out my blazer. “Tell the lawyers they must wait. Danica isn’t going to hang around when there’s baby shit to take care of back on the East Coast.” For all I know, this is the woman’s first vacation from a screaming baby in her house.
Vern stiffens where he stands. “Ms. Penrose is with them.”
My hand hovers above the off switch on my computer monitor. “What?”
“She’s here with the lawyers. Should I...?”
“Tell them to keep waiting. I have a more important meeting to get to.”
“You’ll be happy to know that Ms. Lieberfield is not with them. I asked. She doesn’t plan on attending.”
“I’m sure Presley will be happy to hear that.” Are we still doing this? Alessa is here? With her lawyers? With HR? In some damn office we’ve holed them up in until I can finish signing papers with Moreau and her lawyer?
Yeah. Her. Sure.
It’s quite evident that my guard is already so down that I am less than prepared to see the sophisticated blond woman sitting in the conference room, flanked by two bodyguards and a timid lawyer.
It takes me about five seconds to realize that Danica Moreau is not in attendance. Instead, I’m graced with the presence of Mrs. Alicia Moreau, and she is more than capable of taking care of this meeting. Normally, I wouldn’t question a last-minute change like this, especially knowing that she’s involved with her wife’s enterprises, but... didn’t she literally give birth recently? The hell is she doing on the other side of the country?
“Mrs. Moreau,” she greets me with a smile and a nod. It’s only after I’ve completely entered the conference room that she gets up and offers to shake my hand. Her black dress is tailored in such a way that I would never guess she was still losing weight. The only reason I could tell—if I hadn’t known already—that she is in a delicate disposition is from how she carries herself. There’s an urgency to her movements that suggests she’s in a hurry to get home.
“Mrs. Moreau. Forgive me if I’m surprised at your presence. I was expecting your wife.”
“I’m sure. It’s my team’s fault for not getting back to you about the change. Danica came unexpectedly down with a cold, and her doctor refuses to let her travel, let alone on a plane. So, here I am. Hope you don’t mind—everyone’s given me a thorough run down of the events here, and I’ve had quite a bit of time holed up in a hospital room doing my research.”
We both sit at the same time. “I do hope that it’s not too much of a bother.”
“Bother? I flew from the East Coast to Portland, Oregon. Nothing’s a bother now. But if we may, I’d like to get started.” She then introduces me to her lawyer. Nobody mentions the bodyguards, so neither will I.
“Quite. Let’s get started.”
This isn’t exciting business underway. What it is are lawyers going over the terms and the Moreau camp signing off on them in front of me. After this is taken care of, Bradford & Marcon will have a full run of whatever money the Moreaus send our way. All we must do is deliver on their investment. Something that I would’ve said was in the bag a few weeks ago.
Now? Both Presley and I are in way over our heads with this lawsuit.
Well, I’m not sure about Presley. She only comes to work half the time now. The other half she spends at home or finds herself a new weekend-only girlfriend.
I’m good at putting my head down and getting work done, however. It’s easy for me to charm Alicia Moreau and make her laugh while we sign the final papers. I can briefly forget about Alessa now that the promise of millions of more dollars starts coming down the financial pipeline. When this meeting is over, I will wander back to my office and get right back to work.
Except I have another appointment after this meeting. With another lawyer.
And Alessa.