Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“She told me the West Coast.”
Macy sighed. “Did she even give you a resume?”
“No,” Opal said, clearly getting agitated. “She saw the sign and was a walk-in. She gave me a few references, and I called them. Each person gave her wonderful recommendations. One was a bakery in Portland, Oregon, and the other was in Chicago, her last job.”
“You talked to someone?”
“Yes! What is wrong with you, Macy?”
“I don’t trust someone so secretive about their life.”
I frowned. I’d have to be careful around Macy. She would surely try and get me to slip up. Hopefully, I wouldn’t see her often, especially since it sounded like she wasn’t in town frequently.
“Darling, listen, I know that investigative lawyer in you is out in full force, but will you trust me on this? Cadie Waterford is a wonderful young lady. She is quiet and keeps to herself, but she is a wonderful baker. I don’t see anything wrong with someone who wants to keep to themselves.”
“They’re usually the kind who is hiding something.”
I chewed nervously on my thumbnail.
Opal let out another frustrated sigh. “Macy, I want you to let this go. How would you like it if Cadie started to ask you all kinds of personal questions two minutes after meeting you?”
“I wouldn’t like it, but this is you, Aunt Opal. I don’t want anyone taking advantage of you.”
“That young lady is far from taking advantage of me. Now put your spyglass away, and tell me about your brother.”
Deciding I had eavesdropped enough, I slowly unlocked the bathroom door and returned to the kitchen. I stirred the jelly and removed it from the oven to let it cool. About ten minutes later, I heard Macy and Opal exiting her office. I was piping whipped cream onto a cheesecake for the front case.
“Cadie?”
Turning to look at Macy, I smiled. “Yes?”
“It was a pleasure to meet you.”
I looked at my hands and then at hers, outstretched. “It was a pleasure to meet you as well.”
“No, don’t put it down; I just wanted to say I hope to see you around.”
Smiling as big and bright as possible, I replied, “I hope so. Next time you come in, you’ll have to try my grandmother’s famous banana nut bread.”
Macy’s eyes twinkled. “That sounds yummy. I will.”
Opal hugged Macy, then pushed her back to give her a once-over as if it were the first time she had seen her. “Now, don’t be a stranger. You’re only an hour away, so visit more often.”
Macy laughed. “I will. I miss you, Aunt Opal.”
Turning to me, Macy gave me a head nod. “See you around, Cadie.”
“Bye, Macy. It was nice to meet you.”
“Same to you.”
Once she left, I felt the pressure ease from my chest. Macy had been the first person I had encountered who had been rather pushy about my past—and I hoped she would be the last.
Kian
I waited the entire day before I spoke with my parents. There were things I needed to do to clean up my cases and make notes about which partners or associates I thought would be best to take over.
When I exited the elevator and saw my mother’s assistant still sitting at her desk at nearly eight in the evening, I asked what she was doing there so late.
“Good evening, Mr. Carter. Mrs. Carter asked me to take care of some items on her to-do list.”
I slowly shook my head. “Annie, leave.”
Her smile slowly faded. “I’m sorry?”
“It’s nearly eight, go home, have a life, eat dinner. You’re not expected to be here until midnight doing her pissy ass work that she deems she doesn’t have time for.”
Her brows shot up.
“I’ll tell her I dismissed you.”
“Oh, she isn’t making me stay; I am so I can get caught up.”
I smiled. “Then I’ll suggest she hire another assistant so the one she has can leave at a normal time and eat with her family.”
A blush appeared on Annie’s face. “I’m single.”
I laughed. “And you’ll stay that way if you keep working like this. Go, enjoy your evening.”
Annie nodded, shut her laptop, then stood. “Have a good evening, Mr. Carter.”
“You as well.”
Turning, I knocked once and walked into my mother’s office. My father and she were at the large conference table looking at a file.
“You don’t see a problem with your assistant still working at almost eight at night?” I asked as I tossed my coat over the back of one of the chairs.
My father leaned back in his chair and grinned. Mom, on the other hand, folded her arms over her chest. “If the girl can’t get her work done on time, that is on her, not me.”
“Not if she is doing your work as well…Mother.”
A vein in her forehead jumped.
“Maybe you should think of hiring two assistants if you can’t seem to handle your own workload.”
“Where in the hell is this coming from?” my mother asked, standing and pointing to me. “I did not raise you to be disrespectful.”