AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Siege and I both pause the conversation and wait for her to answer. She’s easily irritated in general, but totally off the chain when it comes to members of the Savage Legion showing up without an appointment, I know it isn’t because she’s got a beef with bikers as I’m a patched in member, so I figure it’s her need for order rearing its head.
She drops down into her chair with a shrug of her shoulders. “My job is to keep your appointment book. If people keep coming in and out of the office without bothering to make appointments, what real use am I?”
A short silence spins out between the three of us before she adds, “Your club brothers are working really hard at making me redundant, and I don’t appreciate it. I have been working at this desk for years before you came along. I’m not going to allow your club brothers to cause you to devalue me to the point that I lose my job.”
Her behavior makes a little more sense after her explanation. Siege and I shoot each other a knowing look. Marge just wants to feel that she has some job security. It breaks my heart that she’s worried about losing her job. I have a large amount of empathy for this woman. No one likes to feel like they’re expendable.
I walk over, squat down beside her and look her in the eye. “You’re not just a receptionist, Marge. You’re an office administrator, an invaluable member of my team. Keeping my appointment book is only a very small percentage of your overall job responsibilities.”
“All I know is if I lose my job, no one in this town is going to hire me at my age.”
I reach out, put my hand on her shoulder and give it a little squeeze. “What are you talking about, woman? You don’t look a day over thirty.”
A smile spreads over her face. “You’ve always been good to me, Mr. Drake. You’ve treated me better than any employer I’ve ever had. I don’t want you to wake up one day and decide you don’t need me anymore.”
“Nonsense. I’m lucky to have you as my office administrator. Without you I’d be a hot mess and you know it.”
Suddenly, Siege speaks up and I don’t like the tone of his voice. I recognize it all too well because he’s using his sly tone, the one he reserves for buttering people up. “You know what would ensure good job security for you, Marge?”
Her head turns to look at my club president. I can tell she’s all ears. “What’s that Mr. Sommers?”
“What you really need is a second attorney in this office. Imagine if you had two schedules to keep? You would be a very busy lady.”
“You’re right,” she says gleefully. “With two attorneys I likely wouldn’t have a moment to spare during the day.”
I shoot Siege a dirty look for even suggesting such a thing. Truth be told, I am pretty much swamped in work and a lot of it involves Savage Legion related matters, but I really don’t want another attorney dealing with club business. If I were to hire anyone, it would be someone who understands our world. “I don’t think that’s necessary, Marge and I have a good working relationship. I don’t want to share her with another attorney. Besides this is a small office there’s no room for another person.”
“You can make room, Siege insists.
“We’ve only got one office,” I shoot back firmly, hoping he’ll stop trying to help.
Unfortunately, I might as well have been talking to the wall. Marge’s face lights up like the fourth of July as she gazes at Siege. Reaching over without looking at me she pats me on the arm. “Now, let’s not be too hasty. We have a spare room in the back, and also the records room. We could easily move our file cabinets into the spare room to free up office space for a new partner.”
Coming to her feet she rounds the desk to stand in front of Siege. “Any ideas on how we could recruit another attorney Mr. Sommers?”
Siege takes her arm, links it through his own and literally walks off with my employee. Suddenly, they’re best friends it seems. They stand in front of the glass door and look outside toward the street. “Funny you should ask. I brought you someone to interview. I think you’ll really like her. Don’t you think it’s about time this office had a female attorney?”
Marge perks up even more. “Absolutely. That’s a wonderful idea.”
I raise my voice slightly, “Now hold on, you two. I never agreed to take on a partner.”
Siege reaches out to push the front door open and I can hear a pair of high heels clicking against the sidewalk. I don’t think I’ve ever been more pissed in my entire life. I don’t know why my club president is trying to ruin my business.
And here I am, still squatting beside Marge’s desk like a damn fool. I come to my feet, intending to have it out with Siege for getting Marge all riled up and dragging her into this hairbrained scheme of his. Another attorney indeed.
I open my mouth to let him have it but stop dead in my tracks when the most beautiful sight I’ve seen in a very long time steps through my door. My visitor is wearing a well-tailored business suit, and her dark hair is pulled back at the nape of her neck in a tight swirl. Her gold earrings are bold and sophisticated. I recognize her immediately and almost trip over my own feet as I rush over to greet her.
“Miss Serena, it’s good to see you again. How long has it been?”
She smiles at me, and my heart explodes into a thousand pieces.
Chapter 4
Smoke
We stand there staring at each other. For a brief second my mind goes blank, and I can’t think of a single thing to say. Siege is suspiciously quiet.
Serena finally speaks, “I last saw you at my father’s funeral. That was four years ago.”
