I knew better than to underestimate Alistair’s wrath. He was the kind of man no one survived crossing. But I wasn’t afraid of him. I trusted him. For the first time in too long, I wasn’t alone. With him beside me, we were a team again. And that gave me back what I needed most: confidence and courage. Whoever the bitch was who’d tried to hurt me, she might’ve won a round, but I would win the war.
Alistair laced his fingers through mine and led me toward the center of the ballroom. A blonde woman with a sleek bob stood beside a tall man with a crown of gray curls, both engrossed in the gesturing theatrics of a politician I recognized from the evening news.
“Excuse me, Paul,” Alistair interrupted smoothly, resting a hand on the senator’s shoulder. “I’d like to introduce a friend of mine to my parents.”
I smiled to myself, already picturing poor Saph drowning in the madness of Senator McGrath’s office. God help her.
“Scotty, I was just telling your parents about?—”
“Spare the details.” Alistair stared hard enough to shut the senator up mid-sentence.
“I’m Paul McGrath,” the senator said, wiping his trousers before shaking my hand. “I bet you’ve got a warm heart. I can tell by your eyes.”
I laughed lightly, keeping it polite. “Vera Richland. I work at Hunting & McCormick. The firm supported your last campaign.”
“Ah, a lawyer,” Paul said, his smile broadening. “Good firm. They must keep you busy.” He glanced toward Alistair, then nodded to the couple beside him. “Pleasure to meet you, Vera. Elizabeth, John, have a good evening. I’ll call you, Scotty.”
With a quick salute, he drifted off toward a cluster of party loyalists, their matching lapel pins catching the chandelier light.
“Hello.” The blonde woman stepped forward, her voice warm. Her green eyes mirrored Alistair’s as she smiled. “I’m Elizabeth Scott. And this is my husband, John.” She gestured with an open palm to the tall, gray-haired man at her side.
“Nice to meet you,” I replied, giving firm handshakes to Elizabeth and John.
“You’ve got a good grip,” John complimented my handshake. “Strong and solid.”
“Vera is strong,” Alistair boasted. “I’ll have her working with me one day. Clemonte Oil Engineering could use a sharp legal mind on tenders and contracts.”
Elizabeth tilted her head, speaking softly. “Clemonte is a good company, but perhaps Orion is expanding. They’ll be looking for strong women to lead within the year.”
“Thank you,” I said, warmed by her kindness.
“And what do you do besides practice law?” John asked, curiosity glinting in his eye.
“I play the piano, mostly to relax,” I admitted. “And I love theater, both the ballet and plays. I used to be active in a Toastmasters club, but work won out.”
“Public speaking,” John murmured, scratching his chin.
“Vera led her school’s debating team,” Alistair chimed in, clearly enjoying himself.
John leaned closer, his tone dropping into fatherly advice. “Let me tell you this, Miss Richland. Work to live, don’t live to work. Life is worth more than being chained to an office. My son could take you to the opera, to a ballet, maybe even Shakespeare. Do you like Shakespeare?”
“Yes, sir,” I said with a small smile.
“Which play? Comedy or tragedy?”
“Both. I’m fascinated by the psychology ofHamlet, and I also enjoy the magic ofA Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
“I preferOthello. It examines love, jealousy, prejudice, and betrayal. Quite a dramatic mix, don’t you think?” John asked, eyeing Alistair.
“Oh, absolutely,” I hummed, feeling Alistair’s hand boldly clasp mine.
“I hope to see you around more, Vera,” Elizabeth stepped in, sensing the discomfort between Alistair and his father. She glanced at her son’s hand, and her lips quivered into a soft smile.
“I’m retiring early tonight,” Alistair announced, tickling my palm to hint it was time to leave.
“Enjoy the evening, Vera. You should visit our home one day,” Elizabeth insisted, touching my arm gently.
Fifteen minutes and a dozen polite interruptions later, I exhaled as we slipped out of the ballroom. “We made it out alive,” I muttered, patting Alistair’s arm as we cut a path toward the elevators.
