Just One Night: Part 5 by Elle Casey Read Free Book Online Page B

cosy.”
    “Should we hide? Leave?” Jennifer asks.
    “Definitely not,” I say, taking her by the hand and leading her directly over to their table. “No better time than the present to clear the air, wouldn’t you say?”
    “Not necessarily,” she mumbles behind me.
    I ignore the other diners and focus on my brother. He has not yet realized his doom draws near, the tosser.
    “Oh, hey!” Mia says as we arrive at the table. I can detect no regret or hidden agenda in her tone. “I didn’t know you guys were going to be here.” She looks at her lunch partners. “Did you guys invite them?”
    Both Edward and Rachel shake their heads no. They look decidedly uncomfortable.
    “What are you doing here?” Jennifer asks, apparently no longer suffering the fear of confrontation.
    “Having lunch,” Mia says. “Talking business.” She points at my brother. “Edward is in the market for some wine.” She winks at Jennifer and smiles at me.
    I raise an eyebrow. “And Miss Meechum? Is she also in the market for some wine?”
    Miss Meechum shakes her head, her hair moving right along with it in a manner that reminds me of a motorcycle helmet. “No, I don’t like wine very much. I’m more of a beer person.”
    “You’re looking dashing,” Edward says, finally looking at me.
    “Is that a surprise, then?” I ask, annoyed that he’s mocking me while pretending he’s not.
    He shrugs. “Dunno. Could be I expected you to be wallowing in self-pity and not out and about the town looking so swish.”
    Unfortunately my brother knows me all too well, but I play it off as though he doesn’t. “Not likely. I’ve just been to a business meeting with my new partner.” I put my hand on the small of Jennifer’s back.
    “Oh my god, you guys are working together?” Miss Meechum smiles and claps her hands together like a mad circus monkey. “That’s so cute! I’m totally going to take credit for that!”
    “So you’re the one who fired me from my position as CEO at Stratford Investments,” I say, my tone dry. “And all this time I thought it was my father.”
    Miss Meechum’s smile and clap-fest die together, a very quick death, thank goodness.
    “Och, come off it, man,” Edward scolds. “You did that all on your own.”
    I’m using all my super-human powers not to give him the clack on the nose that he deserves. “You know nothing about which you speak, so I shall forgive your ignorance as a matter of course.”
    “I know a hell of a lot more than you do, that’s for sure.” He rolls his eyes and carelessly pops a chip in his mouth.
    “How are you enjoying the chair, Edward?” I ask, hoping they cannot see the steam coming from my ears.
    Edward looks down at his seat. “Fine.”
    “I mean the chair in my former office. It’s imported Italian leather, you know.”
    He shrugs. “Didn’t notice. Seems all right. Might be a little hot on the trinkets, though, all that leather, now that I think of it. I’ll have to see about changing it for something with more breathe to it.”
    He’s deliberately baiting me. I will not fall into his trap. “Good. Glad to hear it. Just chuck the other in the bin, then. And your assistant? You finding her services adequate?”
    “Is he talking about me now?” Miss Meechum asks Mia.
    Mia nods.
    “She’s the dog’s bollocks,” Edward says, smiling at her. “Smart as a whip.”
    Miss Meechum smiles. “Thank you, Edward. But Mr. Stratford knows that. He and I did a lot of good work together.” She looks up at me and nods several times, flashing me a knowing expression.
    “Mr. Stratford?” Edward laughs. “Who’s that, then? My da?”
    “No, I’m talking about the other Mr. Stratford.” Miss Meechum points at me. “Him.”
    Edward looks up, his eyebrows in his hairline. “She calls you Mr. Stratford?”
    “First name basis is not really how he rolls,” she says, smiling way too much. I can see her silly molars from across the table.
    Edward laughs.