Flair looked down at her coffee. My suspicions rose. Bastard. With a wife like Flair and he didn’t even have the decency to want to spend quality time with her? Why wouldn’t you? She was gorgeous, funny, had a great sense of humor, and was a joy to be around. I didn’t understand her ex-husband at all. Generally, when people got married you spent every second you could with them. “Johnathon was always really busy,” she said quietly “and he preferred to go to the office than waste time at home. He always said time was money” she added a little bitterly “so if I wanted quality time, it was generally made by me doing things for him at the firm.”
What a shame, I thought. Money was nice, but it didn’t create fond memories for you. It didn’t wrap its arms around you at night and hold you close. It couldn’t love you. It didn’t comfort you when you were sick or be a friend to you so that you weren’t lonely.
“Well, I happen to think that my wife is interesting to be around and I have every need to spend time with her,” I said firmly, Flair’s eyes slightly wide as she looked at me.
“I appreciate it,” Flair told me shyly “I always found it quite lonely getting up in the morning and already finding that he was gone. Or having breakfast alone, even on the weekend.”
“Sometimes it might be unavoidable,” I told her sternly “but when I can, I will find time to have breakfast with you. I didn’t marry you for the sole purpose of making you feel like you would be living alone while I did everything.”
She sipped her coffee and put it carefully down on the table. “Thank you for cleaning up the dining room and kitchen,” she said looking around “I would have done it this morning” she added puzzled.
“I have two arms and a heartbeat. You cooked last night, it wasn’t going to kill me to clean up” I said shrugging.
She still looked stunned about it. I suspected Johnathon was the type of man to never clean up after himself, but this time I forced myself to bite my tongue.
“So what are your plans for today?” I asked her calmly.
“Hmmm,” she muttered “I don’t know. The engagement party is tomorrow” she reminded me “and I have somebody covering my classes so I don’t need to go to work. Maybe I should go and get my hair done?” she asked and I shuddered.
“Do not even think of having that beautiful hair colored or cut” I protested, eyeing the silken strands longingly “It’s perfect the way it is.”
She looked taken aback. “Well I guess I could spend the day cleaning,” she said, glancing around the house that was already tidy.
“That sounds boring” I advised her, “I know, why don’t you come with me to the firm? Timothy would look after you and you could see where I work. I don’t have to go into the courthouse today from memory and most of its paperwork today. I might have one client, I’m not sure. You don’t have to do anything” I reiterated, looking into those brilliant sparkling eyes of hers “But I would be grateful for the company and I can introduce you to my employees as my wife,” I said with satisfaction.
Besides which, I had it on good authority that she used to do a lot for Johnathon at his firm. I wouldn’t be asking that of her, but to be in her company, to see her beautiful smile and hear that musical laugh of hers, would make the work go that much faster. Flair looked undecided and then I saw her face brighten.
“I would love to see your firm,” she said sweetly, finishing off a muffin and placing the last crumb into my mouth “but are you sure I wouldn’t be a distraction?” she asked with an expression of worry on her face.
Oh, she would be a distraction alright, but a welcome one. I winked at her “Flair, trust me, you’re a distraction I could live with” I told her honestly, making her giggle and then blush, before she stood up and made for the stairs, no doubt intending to change as I finished off my coffee, patiently waiting.
Flair POV
I’m beaming widely as I change my clothes into something a little more professional, a pencil skirt with a white blouse and black suit jacket, stockings, and black heels, my hair kept loose and flowing down my back. As I walk back down the stairs, I see a look of appreciation on my husband’s face.
“You look stunning, but you always do,” he tells me sincerely, taking hold of my hand as I step down.
He grabs his briefcase and his wallet, his keys, while I have a handbag on my shoulder, patiently waiting. His hair is slightly disheveled, making him look even more rugged to me. He escorts me out the door and then locks the door carefully behind us. He puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me to the limousine, opening the door before the driver can and assisting me to sit inside, before joining me.
“How large is your firm?” I asked as Grayson sat back, looking out the window.
I was excited. Grayson didn’t know this but I had already studied his firm but it didn’t beat hearing the enthusiasm in his voice as he spoke about the company he had worked so hard to build up from the ground without the assistance or help of his family name.
“It’s a large two-story building, and we employ more than a dozen lawyers, two dozen paralegals, a receptionist, my personal assistant Timothy and we have several casual employees as well. I have lawyers who work full-time and some who work part-time between more than one firm. As long as there is no conflict of interest I don’t mind. I also encourage each lawyer to do their fair share of pro bono work” he explained, raising a brow “and we take cases that fit within our guidelines. We are strictly defense lawyers but we don’t take any case that comes along. If it’s against our morals, we refuse the case.”
I nodded impressed. “A lot of my clients are wealthy. Some jobs are easy, including the making of wills and naming of benefactors. Others are a little more difficult, such as wrongful termination suits. We’ve done several class action suits and been successful.”
Another nod. Grayson cleared his throat and began to look sheepish “Sorry, I get a bit carried away when I get asked about my firm” he said apologetically.
I shook my head “No, it’s fine” I protested “I like hearing how passionate you are about it. What is it called?”
“Oakes and Son,” Grayson said with a roll of his eyes “I don’t have a son, but one day” he paused and a wistful expression came over his face “one day I might and they might follow in my footsteps and if they don’t we can change the name. The firm just sounds like it’s been in the family with a name like that.”
I thought it was nice. The limousine pulled out in front of an impressive large building and Grayson gallantly got out first, grabbing my hand and assisting me, before the driver handed him his briefcase.
“Thank you, Myles,” Grayson said as the driver nodded “I will have Timothy call you when you’re needed again. Why don’t you go relax in the staffroom for now?” he suggested, “so you’re out of the heat.”
The driver brightened and tipped his hat. “Will do, thanks, Mr Grayson.”
Grayson grabbed my hand. I had remembered to put the ring he had given me back on and it sparkled in the sun. I saw him eyeing it with a small smile on his face. He walked me to the front doors and opened it, waiting for me to enter, before he let go and entered himself. The inside of the building was warm and welcoming. A stark contrast to his home, I thought with some amusement. There were paintings on the walls, plants, comfortable chairs to wait in, and a lovely woman on the reception desk smiling widely as she stood up to greet Grayson.
“Good morning Mr Grayson” she cooed before glancing curiously at me “Timothy is already in your office waiting for you.”
“Thank you, Sarah,” Grayson said smiling, and then put his arm around me, moving me closer “I’d like you to meet my wife Flair.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.