Page 34 of No Way Forward

“I hate school.”

“Okay, I’m sure Richard would overlook your lack of experience and education. I’ve talked to him about you, and he said he can create a position just for you. Isn’t that kind of him?”

“Amazing.”

“You can’t lay around forever, Azalie.”

“Why not? It’s working so far.”

Her mom stopped typing to face her. “You have always wrapped every man you meet around your little finger. It started with your dad and then Richard, and a parade of lovers. When will it end? Your looks won’t last forever, and honestly I won’t hold this position forever either. I’m not getting any younger.”

“Mom, you sound like him.”

“That’s not a bad thing. Don’t you have a plan? Aren’t you worried about the future? What about your dreams?”

Azalie pretended to gag. Her mom raised a hand like she would smack Azalie. Azalie jumped to her feet to get out of the line of fire. “I have a dream. It’s to be rich. Eventually, I’m going to marry someone with money—or maybe I’ll get a super big inheritance.”

“Good luck with that second one. My 401K is for retirement, which I’m thinking about more and more lately. I’m starting to think if I remove you from this environment, you’ll learn we aren’t like the Kagens. We have to work for a living, and that’s alright.”

“Remove me? I’m twenty-six years old, Mom. You have no control over my life. Don’t get any ideas from your boss.”

“Oh, I have no such ideas as Richard has.” Her mom printed off the document she had been working on, saved the file, and locked her screen. “If I’m not working here, you won’t have access to the building. And if I sell my house, you’ll have to get a place of your own.”

“You wouldn’t! What about Beau?”

“She’s with me more than you, Azalie.”

“Sheila,” came a deep bellow from Richard’s office.

“I have to go.” Sheila kissed Azalie’s cheek. “You know I love you, Azalie. Think about what we’ve talked about. I only want what’s best for you.”

“Sure, Mom.”

Sheila rushed into Richard’s office and shut the door. Azalie figured there wasn’t much more she could do here. Richard and her mom weren’t going to buy her lunch, and her bank account was near empty at the moment. If she found out that by some miracle Novette was involved with a man, and she told Richard, he might be generous to Azalie in return.

Not with a job though. Not if I can help it.

She left the office thinking about her oldest friend. The last man Novette was interested in was Zaid, and Azalie had done everything in her power to seduce him because of it. Like Richard, Zaid didn’t succumb.

He couldn’t be the target of Novette’s affections, could he? That ship surely had sailed by now. She would have to find out for sure. As to money—hang on a second. What about that investigator guy? Did she dare try again to give him information? That could pay off, and this time, she would demand a lot more.

Chapter 16

Novette pushed her foot into the black high heel boot and smoothed her hands over the leather that stretched up over her knee. She stood before the mirror and examined her outfit. The mid-rise denim shorts with the frayed cutoff hem showed off her legs to advantage. Those paired with the oversized black blouse, tucked in the shorts waistband only at the front had a casual yet stylish appearance at the same time.

“Why in the world am I even trying? I should dress in a potato sack and flip-flops for this stupid brunch.”

The maid gasped in alarm. “Ms. Novette, you can’t do that.”

“I was kidding.” Novette laughed.

“I don’t know if your dad will like the shorts.”

“Hmm. You’re probably right. He won’t recognize that this is the latest style. He’ll be okay.”

The maid tried to hide her amusement.

“It might be a good idea to look a mess, but I can’t. I left some great clothes in this closet, and I love most of them.”

---