The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (4 page)

“
Amy tagged you, did
n’
t she
?
”

“
Perhaps
.
”

She held her hands out, palms facing Colin
.“I’
m fine
.”
Resting her hands on the ledge, she leveled her gaze
.“
Le
t’
s focus on the living, and those not damned to Mardova. What we can do for this new client and her family. I have treatment info ready to go, thanks to you. I think you covered every program on the planet. My read on Veronica is sh
e’
ll stick close if she goes. Sh
e’
s involved with her family and her community
.
”

“
Do you think sh
e’
ll go
?
”

“
Yeah, I do. She loves her family, and wants to do right by them. The Aurora Foundation would be a good fit for her
.
”

“
Rigorous, high success rate. It encourages family participation
.
”

“
You never cease to amaze me
.”
She caught his grim look, and forced a broad smile
.“
You know how I love a new case. I
t’
s exactly what the good doctor herself would prescribe
.
”

“
Funny. Am
y’
s recommendation had more of a tropical flai
r—
beaches, hammocks, fruity cocktails
.
”

Ruby sniffed
.“
Wha
t’
s that I smell? An ulterior motive
?
”

Colin turned to his screen and averted his gaze
.“
Oh, look here. You have a prospective intern arriving shortly
.
”

“
Real smooth.
I’
ll be in my office
.
”

“
Ther
e’
s hot coffee waiting on your desk. I
t’
s as strong as our coffeemaker would brew. We could really us
e
—”

“
An espresso machine? W
e’
ll upgrade soon. And yo
u’
ll get that vacation. I
t’
s been a hectic three years
.
”

“
A lucrative three years
.
”

“
Yes, but you know me
.
”

“
Investing before splurging. Yes, yes.
I’
m not asking for a prime machine
.
”

“
And
I’
m not saying no.
I’
m simply saying not yet
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re the boss
,”
he said to his screen, and sighed.

“
Are you in for lunch
?
”

“
Yeah, and I feel like Thai, if that makes any difference to you
.
”

“
How about the international buffet on Third? They always have Thai, Mexican, and Indian. I think i
t’
s Moroccan week on the rotation
.
”

“
I suppose that would work
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re the best, Colin. Better than any prime automaton in development
,”
she teased.

“
Damn right. You may think tha
t’
s a big joke, but I follow tech. I
t’
s only a matter of time
.”
He gave her a sidelong glance, caught her grin, and lost the battle to keep his dimple hidden.

Satisfied, she strode to her office and tossed her briefcase on her sleek black desk before continuing down the hall. Stopping in front of the engraved plaque reading
Cassandra S. Dayton
, Ruby gave it a tilt. Knocking on the doorframe as she entered, she said
,“I’
m interviewing another eager law student today. I have a good feeling about this one
.
”

Cassandra pushed back from her desk, scooped her long copper hair up in one hand, grabbed a clip from a drawer with the other, and twisted it into a bun before securing it. She spun in her chair to give Ruby her full attention as a few tendrils fell free to frame her oval face
.“
Think i
t’
ll go better than your interview yesterday? What was his name? Jason
?”
Her clever azure eyes danced with humor.

“
Jerome. Je-Romeo, more like. A stereotypical defense lawyer in the making
.”
Ruby lowered her voice and wiggled her brows over eyes that flashed bright green
.“
Direct quot
e
—
‘
A good looking lady such as yourself could use a man like me around
.’
I asked him if he was after a job or a date. He did
n’
t think it was rhetorical
.‘I’
m well-qualified for both
.
’
”
Ruby imitated his smarmy smile, and had Cassandra clutching her stomach
.“
I have hope for this one, Cass
.
”

“
You are ever the optimist
.
”

“
Positive visualization, Cass. Fresh eyes, eager to learn and work hard. Wha
t’
s not to like about an intern? You decide if yo
u’
re getting one yet
?
”

“I’
ll hold off for now
.”
She turned to her screen to hide her smile
.“
Maybe your intern will take a special interest in family law with the proper encouragement
.
”

“
Clever. I do the grunt work, secure an all-star intern, and you snatch up my resource. Give my intern varied experienc
e—
tha
t’
s great. But when I have work, you keep your grubby hands off. Got it
?
”

“
Hey, I object. My hands are lovely. I treated myself to a manicure to celebrate
.”
She turned back to face Ruby, and fluttered her fingers
.“
Eggplant. Is
n’
t it fabulous
?
”

“
I
t’
s purple.
I’
m surprised you did
n’
t go with your brand color
.
”

“
Citrus-orange nails
?”
Cassandra held her manicured hands to her heart and clucked her tongue
.“
You seriously know nothing about fashion
.
”

“
Guilty as charged
.
”

“
Now your brand color, on the other hand, would look truly mag
.
”

“
Teal nails
?
”

“
I was thinking a touch more green than blue. Seafoam green rather than turquoise
.”
             

“
I think
I’
ll stick to this shade
.”
Ruby pretended to study her nails.

“
What shade
?
”

“
I believe the fancy French term is
ongles naturel
.
”

Cassandra rolled her eyes.

“
What are you celebrating with your purple-plant nails
?”
Ruby prompted.

“
Eggplant
,”
Cassandra corrected. When Ruby gave her a blank look, Cassandra waved a hand in frustration, and said
,“
All right, my fashion-clueless friend. Le
t’
s stick to the law, shall we? I may have settled the case of the obstinate opposing counsel
.
”

“
Details
.
”

“
My client had to give a little on visitation where and when, but she ended up with full custody. Both parents wanted what was best for their kid. Ms. Mule got the boot after I played the threats sh
e’
d made at our settlement conference. Surprisingly, they were
n’
t sanctioned by her client
.”
She leaned forward for emphasis
.“
He was horrified, Ruby. I wish
I’
d snapped his expression, but I was too busy arming myself and ducking under the conference table
.
”

“
Ah, so Ms. Mule did
n’
t take her dismissal well. Wha
t’
d you grab for protection
?”
Ruby settled into an accent chair and mused that Cassandra would have a fancy term for this combo of orange and gray. Halloween came to mind, but Ruby held back on making this observation aloud. Cassandra was quick to show off her fashion-forward office, as she and Colin called it. Just another place where her horror-movie fascination showed up, Ruby decided, and tuned back into the conversation to hear Cassandr
a’
s reply.

“
A crystal vase. It had some real weight to it. Fortunately, I did
n’
t have to use it. Ms. Mule stormed out. When I replaced the vase on its stand, I noticed  that i
t’
s stunning. Wher
e’
d we get it? I
t’
s not your usual style
.
”

“
It was a launch present from Alfred
.
”

“
I
t’
s been there three years
?
”

“
In this suite, yes. Colin insisted on giving i
t‘
pride of place on a pedestal
.’
His exact words. That was a few months back
.
”

“
Oh, Ruby. Where did you have it
?
”

“
In the kitchen. In a cupboard
.
”

“
You did
n’
t. Not even you
.
”

“
What? There were other vases down there
.
”

Cassandra shook her head
.“
Knowing Alfred, he must have told you the story behind the piece
.
”

“
He did
.
”

“
Which is
?
”

Ruby slipped into her best British accent
.“
It once overflowed with fresh cosmos flowers and graced the mahogany desk of Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State and a trailblazer for women worldwide. When she ascended to this distinguished office, she discarded the war
dé
cor to create an ambience for peace
.
”

“
And then you go and wreck the beautiful legacy of this vase by stuffing it in some dusty cupboard
.”
She swept her hand toward the kitchen.

“
Excuse me? You wielded the peace vase as a weapon
.
”

They burst into laughter.

“
I ca
n’
t wait to tell Alfred
,”
Ruby said
.“
H
e’
ll get a kick out of telling his clients about the peace vas
e’
s lively new home
.
”