Page 12 of At His Beck & Call

Pippa’s eyebrows rise. To my surprise, she holds out a hand, and without knowing what else to do, I place mine into her warm fingers.

“You are absolutely beautiful,” Pippa says, meeting my gaze with an intensity I hadn’t expected. “And there’s nothing wrong with being small or pale; a lot of men adore that.”

She gives me a reassuring smile and gently squeezes my hand.

“Listen, all I’m saying is that we need to be careful,” she murmurs.

“It feels like you have someone in mind, but Bethany’s told you not to suggest him.”

Pippa’s eyes widen comically, and then she leans back in her chair and laughs. “My God, she said you were perceptive.”

Sighing, she leans toward her desk, picking up a file sticking out of a black in-tray.

“I was thinking of this particular client of ours because I know you’re what he’s looking for. Almost to a tee, but Bethany didn’t think…” She shrugs and hands the file to me.

I look down at it, my stomach in knots as I open it.

The face looking back at me is undeniably handsome; the guy could be a model or an actor. There is very little information in the file itself, simply that he’s a successful lawyer at one of the best law firms in the city.

I look up at Pippa, who is watching me with interest.

“I don’t take orders from other people,” she says shortly. “I love Bethany, too, but she doesn’t get to dictate what you or I do. I know what Heath is expecting from us, and you’re it. Through and through. But he’s a handful. His tastes aren’t for everyone.”

“Have you sent him someone before?” I ask nervously.

“Yes. She didn’t even last a week,” Pippa says with a little ironic smile. “Too opinionated for him, I think. You, on the other hand, would be just the ticket. Quiet, sweet, beautiful.”

I look back down at the dark eyes staring out from the page in my lap.

“Someone at school said I was going to die of cancer…”

Henry’s words reverberate through my skull like a gunshot.

“I’ll do it,” I say, closing the file with a snap.

Chapter 5

Lissa

Archer Grant & Stanton, or AGS, as it’s known, is the biggest law firm in New York. I stand on the sidewalk outside the enormous, glass doors, looking at the escalators inside and the gigantic reception desk that winds around two-thirds of the ground floor. There aresevenreceptionists.

I have never felt so intimidated in my life.

What the hell was I thinking?

My position at the dental practice is relatively small compared to this. During a typical day, I speak to around a half a dozen doctors and dental assistants, and maybe fifty patients when it’s busy. Over fifty people have gone in and out of these doors in the ten minutes I have been standing in front of them.

And now it’s started to rain. Fantastic.

Dodging out of the way of a man with a massive umbrella who tries to open it in my face, I step inside before the downpour begins. The deluge hammers on the sidewalk and spits shimmering drops back up at the revolving doors as I walk through them.

I stand in the lobby, staring around in awe. It is palatial inside; the ceilings fifty feet above me. Huge escalators take upthe entire left side of the building, giving the feel of a stock exchange rather than a law firm.

There are several stressed-out looking men running around in suits and ties, and every singlereceptionist is either on the phone or talking to a client.

Anxiety rises in my chest by the minute as I look at the polished, professional appearance of the place. The décor is minimalist, except for a giant light fixture above my head that shimmers, moving mechanically, twisting and spiraling in mesmerizing patterns.

I turn to leave, palpitations fluttering in my chest. My palms are sweating, breath coming fast. I need to get out of here.