Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
The interrogation continued until I wanted to tell her how, as a kid, my family had had to scrimp and save and get by on beans at the end of the month just to see how horrified she was.
When the maid had cleared the dishes, Mrs. Wainwright offered us coffee to go with dessert, but I’d had all I could take. If I was going to keep myself from telling off Mrs. Wainwright, I needed to get out of there.
I pushed my chair back from the table. “Thank you so much for dinner. The food was delicious, and I’m much too full for dessert. Please excuse me.”
I didn’t wait for her to dismiss me, I simply rose and headed for the stairs. When I made it to my room, I had to resist the urge to slam the door.
If I’d had any chance with Ford, her humiliating me in front of him had certainly lessened it. Sure, he’d defended me, and I knew he was nowhere near the snob she was, but he had to know I’d never fit in his world.
I flopped down on the bed and draped an arm over my eyes. I longed to fall asleep and forget the whole evening, but every word from the interrogation at dinner replayed in my mind, over and over.
26
FORD
I watched Jay walk from the room. If he’d turned, snapped, and put my grandmother in her place, I wouldn’t have been surprised, and he wouldn’t have been in the wrong. Somehow, he managed to exit the room at a normal pace. I couldn’t even hear his footsteps going up the stairs.
I turned and glared at my grandmother. “Why did you do that? There was no need to put him on the spot?”
“I simply wanted to know exactly who this man is if he’s going to be part of your life.”
“He’s a colleague. He’s in danger because of his involvement with a client who is pitting herself against Miles.”
“Well, that was foolish of him to begin with. He should have known he couldn’t win that case.”
“He was assigned the case, and he needs to win to be up for a promotion.”
My grandfather sighed. “Julia, you know how these things work. You don’t always get to make those kinds of choices in your career. For all you know, if they’d had a level playing field, he might be an excellent opponent in the courtroom.”
My grandmother sniffed. “You think he could beat Ford in court?”
“None of that is relevant,” I said. “And it doesn’t matter who his family is. You don’t have to keep pushing for answers.”
“You can sit here and say he’s a colleague all you want. I know there’s more to it. You wouldn’t have brought him here otherwise. You would simply send him somewhere he could be protected.”
She had me there.
Maria, their cook, brought in dessert, and none of us spoke until after we’d been served. I hated that Jay had needed to leave, Maria had made cheesecake with blueberry topping.
As soon as Maria returned to the kitchen, Grandfather picked up his plate and announced he was going to his office. He never stuck around for the arguments between me and my grandmother. I supposed he’d had enough conflict during his years practicing law and being in the Senate. That didn’t mean it didn’t piss me off. I could use his help, but I’d learned to win these battles—or at least negotiate a favorable settlement—on my own.
Grandmother scowled at him as he walked out of the room, but she didn’t bother to encourage him to come back. He usually gave in to whatever she asked, but she knew he would ignore her when she was like this.
I decided to take the offensive. “You embarrassed Jasper and made him feel terrible.”
“I simply asked him some questions.”
“Questions designed to point out ways you think he is beneath us.”
“Questions I would ask anyone.”
No doubt that was true. “It doesn’t matter how or where he grew up or who his family is.”
She gave me her best shocked expression. “How can you say such things Ford? If there’s any chance that you and he are—”
“What we are to each other is none of your business.”
“So you admit you are more than colleagues?”
“We’re friends.”
She huffed. “I’m trying to look out for you. That’s what I’ve been trying to do all these years.”
In her mind, I was sure that was exactly what she was doing. “I don’t need your help in choosing my friends, though I appreciate your concern.”
“I know he needs to stay here for his safety, but surely once this is resolved—”
“Once this is resolved, Jay and I will remain friends.” And hopefully more. “Grandmother, I appreciate all you’ve done for me. You know that. I know I’m lucky to have this place to come to where high-level security can be provided, but I could have made other choices.”