Page 2 of Draco's Defiance

“You have to know how to manage women, Oliver.” Jonas tutted, as though his son should know better than to show concern about his mother.

“Not a problem.” Oliver’s stare glided back to the busy server and as if she sensed the weight of his stare, she glanced back in his direction. “I know how to handle women.”

His lips twitched as heat bloomed in her pretty cheeks. The way she pulled her lower lip between her teeth made him wonder if she was worth an hour of his time. Presumably, the lunch shift at the golf club had to end soon. He could take her home for the afternoon. “No need to worry about that.”

“Especially if you make one your wife.” Jonas prattled on. “At that point, you have to be the boss in the relationship.”

“Wife?” Physically recoiling, he shook his head at the absurd concept. “No chance, Dad. I won’t be tumbling down that bleak, black hole.”

Chapter One

Moira Craig

THE PILE OF PAPERWORK on Moira’s desk was growing. As she glanced up at the phone ringing on her desk, she realized she could no longer see over the mountain of work.

Her gaze flitted to find Glen Jeffries’ name on the phone, her heart sinking in anticipation of her boss calling to add yet more work to her plate. So much for getting away early for the weekend.

“Yes, Mr. Jeffries?” Balancing the receiver between her ear and shoulder, she collected up the casework in front of her and pushed it to one side.

“Moira.” Old Jeffries sounded irritated. It wasn’t a good start. “I’ve had Mr. Monroe on the phone again. Apparently, his son is rather impatient for their new contract. He wants to pop in today for it.”

Monroe? The name swirled around her head as she surveyed the heaps of papers awaiting her attention. Her gaze landed on the second-largest peak, confirming her worst fears. Oh yes...Monroe. He was the slimy, aged idiot who’d drooled over her when she’d had the misfortune to visit his office. Her toes curled at the uncomfortable memory. That was not what she’d gotten into law for.

“I’m sure you know that Mr. Monroe is one of our longest-serving clients.” Jeffries was still blabbering on, although all Moira could think about was how long it was going to take to go through the document again. “I don’t want him to be disappointed.”

“Okay.” Anxiety clawed at her insides as her gaze fell upon the relevant stack of paper. She’d already drawn up the contract but Jeffries had decided to review her work, as though she was a student in need of monitoring. It was bad enough that a woman with her qualifications should be second-guessed by her employer. The last thing she needed was the irritating recipient of the contract showing up to throw his weight around. “No problem.”

What she’d meant to say was, ‘not a chance’, but the reply was out of her mouth before she’d had time to process the words.

“Good. That’s what I told him.” Jeffries smug tone echoed down the line, reinforcing her foolishness. Moira hadn’t chosen law to take orders from jumped-up little men like Jeffries. She’d wanted to make a difference, to help people, but she’d never imagined the nightmare of corporate legal practice when she’d held those lofty ideals. These days the ink drying on contracts like the Monroe’s was what paid her mortgage. “I’m not sure what time the son will call. So, you’d better make sure you have everything ready by two o’clock.”

The line went dead before she could respond, leaving her staring at the receiver in her hand.

Damn it. Anger flared, colliding with the trepidation curling inside. She should have told him it wasn’t possible. Should have demanded she actually take a lunch break for the first time since Tuesday. Yet somehow, Jeffries had managed to pulverize the idea with a few short sentences. More fool me.

Clenching her fist, she banged her hand against the wooden desk. Pain ricocheted to her shoulder, inspiring a new round of profanity in her head.

I know better than this. Squeezing her eyes closed, she fought to control her breathing. I deserve better than this. I didn’t study all those years and accrue thousands in debt for this!

I need a better job.

Acknowledging the need soothed her somehow. There was a peculiar comfort in accepting the truth, if only to herself. She’d have to slog it out for the time being, would have to play Jeffries’ game and skip lunch, but come the weekend, she’d start searching for something more stimulating. Hell, she’d even contemplate a pay cut if the role was more engaging.

Could it be any less engaging?

She blew out a breath, replacing the receiver before she tugged the Monroe papers toward her. Engrossing or not, she only had a few hours to review the entire lot.

MOIRA WAS NEARING THE end of the laborious task when her phone rang again, splintering what little concentration she’d mustered. The same old tension gripped her as she picked up the receiver, this time seeing it was Suzy, the firm’s receptionist, who was on the line.

“Hey, Moira.” Suzy sounded apologetic.

“Hi.” Moira’s attention returned to the document, frantically scanning the remaining lines. As it transpired, Jeffries had made few changes to her draft, but with no accompanying notes, nor any verbal feedback, she hadn’t realized that until she trailed line by line through the whole bloody thing.

“I have a gentleman in reception who says he’s waiting on a contract from you?” Suzy’s reticent tone suggested the so-called gentleman was standing there with her.

“Monroe’s son?” Fleetingly, Moira hoped Suzy hadn’t flicked her call onto speaker, but she dismissed the thought. Suzy seemed like a decent person and a good receptionist. She wouldn’t do that.

“That’s right.”

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