Page 60 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

“I heard it was Mira’s first day at the new school.” He closes the door behind him, and I notice the cup of coffee in his hand. “Thought you might need this to get you through the day. Extra special blend.”

He winks at me, and I chuckle. “Thanks. She’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.”

“Oh, I have no doubt about that.” He settles in the visitor chair, unfolding his long legs. “After all, she is your daughter.”

I laugh lightly, but I’ve learned how to rebuff advances and compliments designed to show interest. I lift my left hand and run my fingers through my hair, showing off the gold band on my ring finger. In the human world, Alice Lane is a widow. Initially, I had planned to tell people I was married, but at some point I would have had to introduce a husband to them. The widow card was easier to play.

The few friends I have made often ask if I’m lonely. Katherine has tried to set me up on several blind dates, most of them ambushes. I’ve told her plenty of times that I cannot move on from my husband and that I want to focus on Mira, but my friend refuses to give up. She doesn’t seem to understand that while I have an abundant amount of love for Mira, there is no space for anybody else in my heart.

I tasted love once, and the scars are still etched into my soul. Even though Harry gets along with my daughter, and he is a good, kind man, I still cannot open my heart to him. Katherinehas encouraged me plenty of times to give him a chance, but she doesn’t understand that my heart is nothing more than a dead piece of meat when it comes to romantic love. As handsome and caring as Harry is, I simply cannot look at him in that way.

Luckily, Harry seems to understand my lack of interest because he has never once verbally expressed his feelings to me.

“Katherine has called me for a meeting,” I inform him, sitting at my desk and sipping the coffee that he brought me. “Any idea what that’s about?”

Harry smirks. “I believe there’s a project she’s trying to recruit you for, but you are not the only lawyer from this firm that Pinnacle Group is considering. They’re looking to create a team to handle a major contract coming their way.”

My eyes widen. “If it’s a major contract, shouldn’t one of the partners be leading the team?”

Harry drums his fingers on my desk. “You do know that both you and Levi are on the partnership track, don’t you? This is your opportunity to prove yourself. The partners will be observing this entire deal very closely, so you should do your best.”

I hesitate. “Does Levi know about this?”

Harry gets to his feet and puts a finger to his lips. “We never had this conversation.”

I watch him leave, my heart pounding in excitement. Levi Thorne is one of the older lawyers, and he has a strong track record. The only difference between us is that while his reputation is stable, mine is growing. This is why the two of us are been considered for partnership at the same time, eventhough our status in the firm is different. He’s not my biggest fan, but I’ve worked with him a couple of times before, and he’s a good lawyer. Being pitted against him is nothing short of an honor.

I smile to myself. Making partner before turning thirty is an achievement I never dreamed of. I’m going to do everything in my power to get that position.

*****

I lean back in my seat, watching the Bernardi couple’s son-in-law gesture with his hands. He’s talking about family bonds and how he plans to make them all rich. The way his lawyer is smirking as if he’s got the deal in the bag makes my smile broaden even more.

I have the contract in my hand and a sheaf of papers that I worked on last night in front of me. The older couple sitting by my side look tense, holding each other’s hands for support.

They’ve closed their restaurant for lunch today. It’s not a huge place, but it’s quite popular. The two of them came here from Italy after Mr. Bernardi’s parents were murdered by the local mafia. They don’t want to hand the restaurant over to the son-in-law, but he and their daughter have made things quite difficult for them, so much so that Mr. Bernardi is being forced to consider retirement, which he cannot afford.

I can see Mrs. Bernardi trembling, her eyes wet. I put my hand on her knee, giving her a cool look and a discreet shake of the head. She swallows and lowers her gaze.

The problem isn’t as simple as the older couple being forced to sign a contract. It’s more than that. I usually only take corporatecases, staying away from the emotionally charged ones, but this case is personal. When I first moved here, the Bernardis were kind to me. They would often give me a free meal when I was a college student and my pockets were empty. Mrs. Bernardi has babysat Mira a few times, as well.

I wait till their son-in-law, Charlie, runs out of steam. His lawyer, Mason Robert, adjusts the lapels of his suit jacket.

“As you can see, my client has been nothing but fair. I fail to see why Mr. Bernardi feels the need to hire a lawyer. After all, their daughter is their only child. She will rightfully inherit this restaurant at some point. So why not—”

“She could inherit the place once they die,” I cut him off pleasantly, gesturing toward the older couple. “And unless your client is planning to hire somebody to take them out, with the two of them in peak health, there will be no inheritance in the foreseeable future. Trying to force Mr. Bernardi to retire makes no sense to me.”

“It’s in their best interest,” Mason argues. “They’re in their fifties. They can retire, live off the money they have made, and let the young blood carry on the business.”

I make a show of putting on my reading glasses before picking up the pile of papers before me and flipping through them. “I’m sure you’re not referring to the retirement fund that your client and his wife stole from Mr. and Mrs. Bernardi.”

Charlie bristles. “We didn’t steal it. They willingly signed it over. Nobody forced them.”

I look over the top of my glasses at the man, smiling faintly. “I see. So, when you said, and I quote, ‘you will never see yourgrandchildren again if you don’t sign that paper,’ is that not a threat?”

His lawyer opens his mouth, but I lift a finger, silencing him.

“Maybe stealing is the wrong term, but you illegally coerced them to sign over the money that you then used in your failing restaurant chain.”

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