The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (45 page)

“
I wanted to help his family find joy in living. Losing a father is never easy, regardless of the circumstances
.
”

She caught the spasm in his jaw
.“
And Susan is thrilled about the Gabriella Center. I
t’
s a wonderful idea. Sh
e’
ll love it there
.
”

He shrugged.

“
Yo
u’
re a softy
.
”

“
I
t’
s nothing. You remind me incessantly
I’
m a gazillionaire
.
”

“
You thought to do it. You made it happen. Yo
u’
re a softy
.
”

“
Yes, I suppose so. I have no desire to be macho and unaffected. That was my father, not me.
I’
ve no inclination to fight bulls, or be surrounded by a gaggle of women. And
I’
m not the only softy in this relationship
.
”

“
You are
n’
t
?
”

“
No, Alfred told me about the vase
.
”

“
He did, did he? No confidentialit
y—
what kind of a shop is he running
?
”

“
Susan loved it, I presume
.
”

“
Yeah
.
”

“
I
t’
s those moments that make this all worth it for you, is
n’
t it
?
”

“
Yeah, I guess so
.
”

“
Softy
.”
He gripped her hand before he continued
.“
Colin told me that Eric Longhorn transferred to Mardova today
.
”

“
His shuttle took off at three
.
”

“
Colin was surprised that you did
n’
t visit Longhorn before his transfer to give him a piece of your mind
.
”

“
I thought about i
t—
a lot. What
I’
d say. How
I’
d say it.
I’
d tell the bastard Tara was never his
.
”

“
Why did
n’
t you
?
”

“
My time was better spent elsewhere, on women who have bright futures. I had enough closure for one day
.
”

“
Is that what this is? A farewell dinner
?”
He pushed back his plate.

“
If you want it to be
.
”

“
And if I do
n’
t
?
”

“I’
m not due back in the office until Monday
.
”

“
The infamous Ruby Miller takes a vacation? Unprecedented
.
”

“
I figured since you own half the planet you might know of a few good vacation spots
.
”

“
What are you after
?
”

“
Secluded. No reception
.
”

“
We can find secluded. Satellites make unreachable impossible. Fortunately, your PSC has an off setting
.
”

“
Wow, this gadget does have everything
.
”

He pushed back from the table, and moved to his desk
.“
I have something for you, Rubina
.”
Pulling a velvet box from his desk drawer, he approached her, held it out, and opened it.

She sat motionless, hand at her throat, as she stared at the gleaming turquoise gems and black pearls.

“
When it catches the light, its colors transform. The
y’
re stunning in all their dimensions
.
”

“
Is, is this from Alfre
d’
s
?
”

“
No, i
t’
s from my personal collection
.
”

“
From Spain
?
”

“
Yes
.
”

“
Why did your mother leave Spain, Milo
?
”

“
E-skills are in my blood, but not making an honest living from them. You see, my father was
un fantasma
.
”

“
A phantom
?
”

“
No, trust me. He was flesh, bone, and deadly. I
t’
s a Spanish saying. Literally, yes, it means ghost. I
t’
s used to describe someone wh
o’
s not what they appear
.
”

“
Like Jerald Combes
.
”

“
Yes, similar to Combes. My father seemed to be a handsome bullfighter, a family man. He loved the attention. And on the side he was an e-man. Tha
t’
s where he made his real money. He was one of the best, until Interpol caught up with him. It came to light he dispensed with anyone who got in his way
.
”

“
Where is he
?
”

“
Mardova
.
”

“
Was it hard to see him go
?
”

“
Most of me was glad to be free of him. I did
n’
t get the chance to grow big enough to fight him off until he was already in prison. If I had, I might have killed him for what he did to my mother
.”
             

“
Why did
n’
t your mother stay in Spain after he was in prison? Did
n’
t she have family there
?
”

“
H
e’
d isolated her from them. When I told you I understood the dynamics of domestic violence, I meant firsthand. But you already put that together at the Castle
.
”

“
Yes, we do
n’
t have to talk about it tonight
.
”

“
You need only look at my mother to know sh
e’
s in a happy chapter of her life. And Susan will be, too. Thanks to you
.
”

“
It was a team effort. It always is
.”
She toyed with a gem
.“I’
m not comfortable accepting this. I
t’
s beautiful, truly
.
”

“I’
m not comfortable I wanted so much to give it to you. It would seem we are even
.
”

“
And Gabi is okay with this? With me wearing it
?
”

“
With you having it. I
t’
s your
s—
no strings, no expectations. Sh
e’
s thrilled. She cried when I told her. Tha
t’
s yet another aspect
I’
m uncomfortable with
.
”

“
Gazillionaire thrown off his game by a lady lawyer. I am making headlines. And yes, I accept
.”
Her eyes met his as he clasped the bracelet on her wrist
.“
I still have
n’
t decided what to do about you
.
”

“
Bringing me Thai food was a wonderful idea. May I suggest dessert
?”
He grinned at Ruby.

“
I, I do
n’
t thin
k
—”

“
The new face of criminal defense blushes
?”
He teased
.“
My FastFare is slightly better stocked than yours. What would you like
?
”

“
Surprise me
.
”

He typed a command into his PSC, and said
,“
I know why Arianna does her work. Yo
u’
ve guessed at why my mother does hers. Why do you, Rubina
?
”

“
You already know I did
n’
t get to be sweet sixteen. Sixteen was the hardest year of my life. My mother was mortified what her friends would think. The scandal. My father was happy to sweep it under the rug. Nobody stood for me. Nobody told my story. And I was too hurt, too afraid, to speak for myself. I was drowning in my own shame when I met Amy. She tugged me to shore. She helped me find my voice
.
”

“
And tha
t’
s why you stand for your clients
.”
He brought her a piece of cake.

She stabbed at it without picking it up
.“
Seems like an awful lot of fruit. What is it
?
”

“
Pineapple-mango upside-down cake, smothered in caramel. I
t’
s made Thai-style with coconut milk as an appropriate end to your themed meal. The tropical fruit will give you a taste of vacation
.
”

She put down her fork
.“
You put that much thought into picking out my dessert
?
”

“
Why would
n’
t I
?
”

“
Milo . .
.
”

“
Yes, Rubina
?
”

“
It was you. It was this
.”
She gestured
.“
This is what I was waiting for at sixteen.
I’
d stuffed it down, I guess. You made it happen for me. I do
n’
t want to mess this up.
I’
m not any goo
d
—”

“
Oh no, you do
n’
t. Not after a speech like that. Yo
u’
re not getting off that easy. I
t’
s my turn to reciprocate
.
”

She took a deep breath.

“
I love you, Rubina
.
”

“
Well, then. I
t’
s a good thing I love you back
.”
She sighe
d—
relieved at how easily the words had flowed and the sense of rightness they triggered. Forking up cake, she asked
,“
Ho
w’
s Chiang Mai for secluded
?
”

ABOUT Rita JohaNsen

Rita Johansen delights in creatively revisiting her legal roots as a law-firm owner practicing criminal defense. Now a writer and wellness coach, Rita serves as a Power Partner for professionals committed to shifting from a high-sugar, intense-stress lifestyle to a Sugar-Striver, Life-Enthusiast Lifestyle.

Visit Rit
a’
s website:

www.AblazeZingLife.com

The Sugar-Striver, Life-Enthusiast Lifestyl
e
™

HEARTFELT MESSAGE

Thank you, dear Reader! The best part for me, as an author, is to hear from yo
u—
your feedback, ideas, insights, and hopes for these colorful characters I created. Your input might impact a future book as Rub
y’
s adventures continue. I invite you to:

•
  
Email me at [email protected];

•
  
Take my
emotional-declutter online course
at
https://www.udemy.com/free-yourself-to-go-bold/
;

•
  
Find insights, recipes, and practical pointers at my Sugar-Striver, Life-Enthusiast Lifestyl
e™
blog,
Ablaze Zing Life
,
www.AblazeZingLife.com
;

•
  
Leave a
book review
on Amazon, Goodreads, or another reader-community website;

•
  
Like my Ablaze Zing Life Facebook page and post your own insights;

•
  
Tweet @AblazeZingLife, #TheVeiledCage;

•
  
Send me a handwritten card or letter. (I adore good, old-fashioned mail!) Address mail to Rita Johansen, 2168 7th Ave. #14, Anoka, MN 55303.

To your ablaze-zing life,

Rita Johansen