Page 47 of A Legal Affair
“Why?”
“Why not? Thisisa family business, isn’t it? Besides, you said it yourself. You’ve had the worst luck with the people you’ve hired so far. What’ve you got to lose by taking a chance on me?”
Daniela rolled her eyes. “I’m not worried about yourcompetence, Janie. You have an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, for God’s sake.”
“And while I earned my stripes,” Janie interjected, “I made coffee, answered phones, typed memos, created spreadsheets, filed papers and did anything else the senior managers demanded. And let me tell you, they wereverydemanding.”
“They’ve got nothing on Kenny,” Daniela said. “Speaking of your husband, do you really think he’s going to agree to having you as our secretary? He’s the one who insisted that you stay home with the twins in the first place. How’s he going to feel about you returning to the workforce?”
Janie made a face. “Now that the twins are in school and involved in so many extracurricular activities, we both know they don’t need me around nearly as much as they used to. Besides, I could arrange my schedule so that I come into the office early, then leave early enough to pick them up from school. We can make it work.”
Daniela chuckled dryly. “I’mnot the one you need to convince. Your husband is, and something tells me he’ll never go for it.”
Janie sat forward in the armchair. “He will if you ask him.”
“What do I have to do with this?”
“You’re the only one he’ll listen to.”
“What!” Daniela exclaimed. “Okay, this time I’mdefinitelyhearing things. Since when does Kenneth Roarke listen to anyone but himself?”
Janie smiled cryptically. “I know you may find it hard to believe, El, but Kennydoesvalue your opinion. Whenever something happens in the family, he’s always worried about what you’ll say or think or do. Oh, he tries to pretend otherwise, tries to put up a macho front. But I know better. He cares what you think of him.”
Daniela scowled. “If he spent less time worrying about my opinion and more time concentrating on your feelings, maybe he wouldn’t—” Seeing Janie flinch, she snapped her mouth shut, but it was too late. Shame engulfed her at once.
Wishing she could take back the harsh words, she said quietly, “I’m sorry, Janie?—”
Janie held up a hand, looking grim. “It’s all right. I know there’s no love lost between you and your brother, and I know you blame him for the problems in our marriage. But just remember there are two sides to every story, and you shouldn’t allow your personal issues with Kenny to cloud your objectivity where he and I are concerned. You’re bigger than that.”
“I know,” Daniela murmured, suitably chastened.
“Want to talk about it?” Janie gently prodded.
An awkward silence ensued, the silence of two people who wanted to move forward but were afraid to take the next step. This was uncharted territory for them. In all the years they’d been friends, they had never discussed Janie’s marriage, or Daniela’s strained relationship with her brother.
At length, Daniela drew a deep breath and prayed she was doing the right thing by speaking her mind. “As you well know, Kenny can be an incredibly selfish person. For as long as I can remember, he’s always put his own needs above everyone else’s. Whenever we needed him, he was nowhere to be found. He caused my mother a great deal of stress and heartache, and I grew up resenting him for that.” She stared into the golden contents of her teacup. “I guess I’ve never really forgiven him.Sadly enough, whenever he acts like an asshole, it reinforces my opinion of him and justifies the way I feel. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong. It’s just the way it is.”
Janie gazed at her with an expression of gentle understanding. “I think you and your brother have a lot to talk about and work through. Knowing him the way I do, I can tell you that he probably doesn’t have a clue where to begin to make things right between you two. I think he feels a lot of guilt over the way he let you guys down in the past, but instead of facing that guilt, he pretends it doesn’t exist.”
Daniela nodded slowly. “That’s probably true.” She gave Janie a long, measured look. “So you hope that by working in the same office, you and Kenny will see more of each other, giving you a greater opportunity to work through some of your own issues.”
Janie nodded, her eyes dark and earnest. “I love your brother, and I know he loves me. We both have our shortcomings, and God knows we’ve each played a hand in the situation we now find ourselves in. But I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure we don’t lose each other, once and for all. If working at the agency helps me save my marriage, then so be it. Will you help me, Daniela?”
Daniela felt a constriction in her throat that had nothing to do with her sickness. “Of course I’ll help you,” she said, gruff and tender.
“Thanks, El,” Janie murmured gratefully.
“Don’t thank me. I only agreed because I was afraid you’d turn into Nurse Ratched if I didn’t.”
The two women laughed until a violent coughing spasm overtook Daniela. With a tortured groan, she set aside her unfinished tea, then dragged her aching body from the sofa and down the hall to her room.
She climbed into bed, and as she willed herself to sleep, an image of Caleb Thorne permeated her thoughts. The memory of their encounter—the searing brand of his mouth, the furious grind of his hips, the iron-hard press of his massive cock—made her temperature spike several degrees, which was thelastthing she needed in her current condition.
She had to get better quickly. It was now a matter of personal safety, because if she didn’t have Caleb soon, she was going to burst into flames.
16
Rita Owens had spent the better part of thirty years working for Crandall Thorne.
