The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (6 page)

“
I do
n’
t believe in convenient coincidences
.”
Ruby moved in front of Cassandr
a’
s door
.“
This plaque is sure wonky
,”
she called out.

“
It does
n’
t bother me in the least
.
”

“I’
m glad. Maybe the main event wo
n’
t faze you
.
”

“
Not in the least
.
”

Chapter 3

Ruby amused herself by tossing and catching her PSC on the way to the conference room.

Cassandra dashed into the hallway and righted her plaque
.“
Perfect
.
”

Ruby stopped at Coli
n’
s desk
.“
Observations
?
”

“
Sh
e’
s well put together. Unlike Jerome, she did
n’
t dismiss me. She asked what it was like to work with you
.
”

“
Conclusion
?
”

“
She wants the gig, but cares about fit. Sh
e’
s sizing you up, Ruby
.
”

“
Good for her. Not enough people realize an interview goes both ways. You tell her what a demanding boss I am
?
”

“
The worst. I discovered there are
n’
t enough nasty epithets to capture the horrors of being under your employ. I coined new ones
.
”

“
I like your style, Colin. She get your stamp
?
”

“
I approve. Have you seen her resume? She never sleeps. You could hold meetings at midnight
.
”

“
Now tha
t’
s a bright idea.
I’
ll provide the treats. You in
?
”

“
Sure. I might be a tad lat
e—
six hours or so
.
”

“
Slacker
.
”

“
Sadist
.
”

They grinned at each other.

“
Is lunch at Chestnut okay
?
”

“
Le
t’
s see, fine dining instead of a buffet. I suppose I can stomach it
.
”

“
Maybe Cass will buy Thai food next time.
I’
m going to weaken her with chocolate and argue for the new rule
.
”

“
Good luck
.
”

“
I
t’
s nice to see yo
u’
re on my side
.
”

“I’
ll wish her the same
.
”

“
Flip flopper
.
”

“I’
ve learned neutrality is paramount with two bosses. Remember the paper-shredding incident? It would
n’
t have been humanly possible to resist laughing at that vid, and yet you vowed to include me in your payback prank.
I’
m certain the passage of time has
n’
t affected your recall
.
”

Ruby tapped her temple
.“
Steel trap, my fair-weather friend. Vengeance is most satisfying when served to the unsuspecting.
I’
ve already put my plan in motion. You want in
?
”

“
Two bosses, remember
?
”

“
I
t’
s too late to play the neutral card. You caused imbalance with your snickering. I
t’
s still ringing in my ears. You can play Switzerland after you help me
.
”

“I’
m in
.
”

“I’
ll send you my diagram
.
”

“
Seriously
?
”

“
Yes, every successful operation requires at least one diagram. Besides, it gave me a chance to tinker with that new app Flick programmed before turning rascal
.
”

“
I wonder what happened to Flick
,”
Colin said
.“
Have you heard from him
?
”

“
No. I sure appreciate the tech he left behind though. Think these portable supercomputers will hit the market before or after Flick gets himself in federal hot water
?
”

“
My money is on after
.
”

“
Thank God we cut him loose in time to keep our house clean. We need to find a new e-guru. Peruse listings, would you? Keep an eye out for talent that cares about a cause
.
”

“
Will do. It wo
n’
t be hard to find someone with better people skills than Flick
.
”

“
No, it wo
n’
t. His e-skills on the other hand will be hard to match. Nearly impossible to surpass
.
”

“
Nobody knew how good he was better than Flick
.”
Colin gave a wry smile.

“
Yes, not a humble bone in his body
.
”

“
You miss him
?
”

“
Like I miss the politics at the prosecuto
r’
s office. Our amped up tech is a nice souvenir from his time here
.
”

“
Agreed. Are you going to meet with Jasmine
?
”

“
Just giving her time to settle in and review her notes. Interviewing is nerve-wrecking business, especially when yo
u’
re a striver like Jasmine. W
e’
ll have to work on a nickname for her if we take her on
.
”

“
There was a Jasmine at my high school. All the guys wanted to date her
.
”

“
Except for you
.
”

“
Naturally
.
”

“
They called her Mine
.
”

“
Tha
t’
s not very clever
.
”

“
You know high-school antics. The
y’
d surround her and take turns calling it out
.‘
Mine, Mine, Mine
.
’ Thoroughly annoyed, I said
,‘
Sh
e’
s mine, damn it
.’
I put my arm around her and swept her away. We became great friends after that
.
”

“
What happened
?
”

“
We pretended to break up when the new cute guy transferred in. Sh
e’
s married now to a doctor in Phoenix. New guy turned into a summer fling
.”
He gave her a serious look
.“
We can do better than Mine
.
”

“
I
t’
s not even on the list, Colin
.
”

“
Good, keep it that way
.
”

“
If I hire her,
I’
ll want her to start right away. Give her a hand with any legal research, coach her on arguments. Tell her Maso
n’
s preferences. If she asks for nickname suggestions, defer to someone else. Dear God, anyone else
.
”

“
I
t’
s a charming story
.”
He sat in a huff.

“
Yes, delightful. Amy would love it
.
”

He turned with a wicked glint in his eye
.“
Ah, yes, sh
e’
s coming for the interventio
n—
sappy emotion central. Are
n’
t you in for a treat
?
”

“I’
m glad to see yo
u’
ve stopped sulking
.
”

“
I feel much better, thanks. Maybe Amy can work her magic with you. She is a delightful matchmaker. Introduced me to Charles, you know
.
”

“
Yes, I know.
I’
m happy that yo
u’
re happy
.
”

“
On second thought, I suppose sh
e’
s not a miracle worker
.
”

“
Thanks, Colin.
I’
d be offended if I had any interest in settling down in the suburbs
.
”

“
I
t’
d be better than your cramped kaleidoscope of an apartment.
I’
d keep quiet about an espresso machine if it meant yo
u’
d do something about your hideous living quarters
.
”

“
We ca
n’
t all have a designe
r’
s eye
.
”

“
Yes, but i
t’
s as if yo
u’
re blind. I
t’
s abrupt and jarring. I
t’
s no wonder you ca
n’
t sleep in that nightmarish place
.
”

“
I
t’
s bright and energizing
.
”

“
My eyes bleed
.
”

“I’
ll stop inviting you over
.
”

“
Please remember that if you hold midnight meetings with Mine
.
”

“
Speaking of Jasmine, hold anything unrelated to Epstein while I meet with her
.
”

“
Done
.
”

Ruby entered the conference room.

A sturdy woman set aside her phone and moved to rise.

Motioning for Jasmine to stay seated, Ruby strode over and shook hands, noting in approval that Jasmine was not one to limp-fish a handshake, and took her usual seat at the head of the expansive table
.“
I hope you did
n’
t mind the wait. Colin and I had important matters to discuss
.
”

Jasmine straightened her lapels. Her sleek brown hair ended in a straight edge at her chin
.“
Yes, I heard
,”
she began
.“
Pranks and chocolate take precedence
.”
She gave Ruby a cautious smile
.“
I appreciated the time to settle in, and to review my notes
.
”

Ruby returned her smile, and said
,“
You have excellent hearing
.
”

“
Uh, I wanted to first let you know that I, excuse me
.”
Jasmine sipped from the water glass in front of her and wiped her hands on her slacks
.“
I thought about what you told me at the hearing, when you asked why I did
n’
t stand up and say something to those guys
.
”

“
That you have as much right as anyone to speak
?
”

“
Yeah. I
t’
s just that . . .
I’
m a law student. I was afraid they would
n’
t listen to me
.
”