“Miss Winters, I cannot stress the importance of you understanding the agreement before signing it, you have to be happy that in the event of your marriage endin—” started Nadine.
Tasha interrupted. “I would never be happy in the event of my marriage ending, but I’m confident that this agreement will never be invoked and I actually trust the man I am marrying so if he is happy with the agreement then I am. I understand you probably think that I am as mad as a box of frogs, call it English eccentricity if you like, but as strange as this may seem I am marrying for love, not money or property, and I would have signed this if it had given me sweet F.A. regardless of why my marriage ended, so…” She looking at Jim for an indication of what she should do next, but before he could do that Nadine spoke.
“That’s all well and good, but don’t you want to know that any children will be adequately provided for?”
“Miss Law,” Tasha turned back to face her attorney. “I appreciate your concern for my future, and that of my yet to be conceived children, but I have no doubt that any children I have will be more than adequately provided for, just like Jim’s other children.” Tasha smiled across the table, nothing but conviction in her voice.
“We are done then.” Jim got to his feet as Nadine slumped back in her seat, resigned to the fact that this matter was done.
“Don’t look so disappointed, Miss Law. You have done your job admirably, but I would never try and short-change Tasha or my children and Bryce will confirm that this is my most generous pre-nup. In fact, I was willing to do without one completely, so just send your bill to my fiancée and it will be settled immediately,” he told Nadine.
Bryce nodded, confirming what Jim was saying. Tasha took Jim’s hand, getting up to stand next to him.
“I just want my client to know what it is she’s happy with. I have scruples as well as an expensive lifestyle,” retorted Nadine making Jim laugh.
“Look, if it makes you feel better, Miss Law, we will take the pre-nups home before I sign them. We’ll discuss them between ourselves and return them to Bryce by the end of the week if that makes you and your scruples happy,” offered Jim.
“Thank you.” Apparently it did make her happy. “I will be in touch, Miss Winters, to confirm the pre-nup is in place.”
“So you trust me, do you, Miss Winters?” teased Jim as they headed back towards the lift past a corridor of offices.
“Always, Mr Maybury.”
“That could be dangerous.” His tone turned darker but the wink he gave her lightened it.
“I do hope so.” She stopped to look up at him, making him laugh as he shook his head.
“You probably should read through this.”
He held the pre-nups aloft and waved them. Tasha’s response was to shake her head. “I really don’t need to, unless there’s some room for manoeuvre,” she joked.
“No, honey. No room at all.” His voice was serious but flat.
Tasha knew he wasn’t suspicious of her words about there being room for manoeuvre, that it was a joke, her nonchalant shrug confirmed that.
“Jim? Jim Maybury? Oh my God!” a woman called, startling them both.
They both turned to see a blonde woman of a similar height to Tasha, but older and slightly broader, her deep blue eyes devouring Jim.
“Oh my God, it is you. Jimmy,” she said and propelled herself towards a very uncomfortable looking Jim.
“Jimmy?” queried Tasha with a wry smile until the woman seemed reluctant to let her fiancé go.
She kissed him on the cheek and cried, “My mom is in reception, you have to come and say hi.”
Suddenly her eyes settled on Tasha who she viewed suspiciously.
“Darling, you can leave your boss’ client with me and I’ll take real good care of him,” she told Tasha dismissively. She laughed and viewed Jim with a hungry glint in her eyes making Tasha frown.
“My boss’ client?” The penny dropped for Tasha about who this woman was at that very second.
“Yes. Mr Maybury.” She waved along the length of Jim as she uttered his name, patronisingly so thought Tasha.
“I know who he is and I don’t work here,” Tasha pointed out. “I’m here with my fiancé, Mr Maybury,” she said equally as patronisingly.
Someone tried to pass them in the corridor making them all realise they were causing an obstruction.
Together they all shuffled into main reception where Jim did the introductions. “Tasha, this is an old school friend of mine, Sally Carter, and Sally this is my fiancée, Natasha.”
