“He did? Oh, wow,” I say weakly.
“I should’ve told you sooner, but the bonehead swore me to secrecy. Portland’s just a place to crash for him.” She rolls her eyes. “Leave it to Ethan to treat a job most guys would kill for like a death sentence.”
“Yeah, that’s him. Spoiled rotten.” I force a smile as more sugar hits my system.
“But since we’re on the subject”—she stops and smiles—“actually, he’s the reason I had to see you today.”
“Why, does he want you on the team? You hate real estate.” I frown.
“No, not that. Thank God.” Margot’s phone buzzes and she glances at the screen, nodding. “Oh, good, she’s on time.”
She?
I am so confused.
“…is someone else coming?”
“Kinda. I honestly didn’t think you’d believe me if I told you, so I brought in backup.” She smiles shakily and turns, just as the bell trills and a woman walks in.
I watch her through a break in the bookshelves.
She looks like she was born in a business meeting, or maybe a catwalk. Maybe a business meetingona modeling runway.
Everything about her is neat, from the small gold necklace around her neck to the perfectly starched collar of her blouse that contrasts with her light-brown skin.
Formal, but elegant. Her cream blouse is tucked into the kind of waist you usually only see on Instagram, so effortlessly trim and perfect I start wishing I’d thought to dress up a little.
“Miss Sage.” She gives me a brusque nod and an impassive smile once she reaches our table. Then she takes the seat Margot pulls out for her. “I’m Jackie Wilkes, Leonidas Earl Blackthorn’s estate lawyer.”
Did I hear that right? Estate lawyer?
“Um,” I say.Insightful. “Nice to meet you.” I shake her hand, which is pitched to be the right level of firm without gripping too hard.
Obviously.
I bet that’s something they teach you in law school, along with impeccable fashion sense and how to scare the average person in under five words.
“This is Harriet,” Margot says, making the introduction with a slightly wide-eyed grin.
“Just call me Hattie,” I say. “Everyone does.”
“Hattie,” Jackie repeats with another walled-off smile. “Very well. You can call me Jackie.”
I don’t know if I’m supposed to be honored or if it’s common courtesy. What else are you supposed to say when you’re suddenly meeting a strange lawyer, though?
“So, I know this is weird,” Margot adds. “But trust me, when you hear what this is about, you’ll get why I went for the whole lawyer thing.”
I glance between them quickly, officially freaked.
“Okay… What’s this about?”
“Gramps, of course.” Margot gestures at Jackie. “Go ahead.”
The lawyer never breaks her smile, cool and efficient. “As you may know, Hattie, Mr. Blackthorn was a highly successful man, but he had a few peculiarities.”
I nod slowly.
“Yes, I’m familiar.” I trade a glance with Margot, but she’s not smiling. Instead, she’s chewing her lip, lookingworried.
