Champagne Brunch: The Stiletto Sisters Series Ainsley Claire (primary phonics books .TXT) 📖

I shrug and look over at Nate, who thankfully looks impressed rather than upset with me. “I’m sorry, Nate.”

He holds up his hands. “I love it. And she has been working for Viv for a long time.”

Marci shares a few other reactions and notes that the biggest takeaway is that they have Viviana’s journal, which is likely really her briefs to her handlers.

“Did anything she say surprise you?” Nate asks.

Marci shakes her head.

“Yes,” I answer, and heads swing to me. “For one thing, we now know she’s not afraid to lie. She accused me of selling the information Diamond Analytics collects to the highest bidder. But even crazier, she said Viv missed me and wanted to talk.”

Nate shakes his head. “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing. Viviana Prentis is not my friend. She lied to me from the very beginning. She’s lonely sitting in Colorado. I’m not giving her the time of day. She can rot, as far as I’m concerned.”

Walker looks at me, his eyebrows raised. “Mia, don’t reject it yet. We may need to get information out of her.”

I take a deep breath. I don’t think I can face Viviana right now. She hurt me.

“If it can benefit the case, you’re open to having a conversation, right?” Walker presses.

“If you and the US Attorney in Oregon think it’s a good idea, I’ll do it. But know I won’t be meeting her happily. Nothing positive for me personally comes out of that conversation.”

We chat a bit more after our food arrives, and I know Marci won’t toot her own horn, so I want to be sure everyone is aware of how essential she is. “Walker, the Assistant US Attorney for the District of Oregon, Geoffrey Lindsey, is too young and too inexperienced to handle this case. Tatyana walked all over him. Because of Marci’s advice and preparation, I was able to do well, but had she not been sitting by my side, I would have struggled. He was no help.”

Walker looks at Marci.

“I was going to say it when we got home,” she murmurs.

He shakes his head. “Abram Frieman knows this is a big case. I can’t believe he wasn’t there himself. I’ll look into that.”

Once lunch is over, I breathe a sigh of relief. I want to be done thinking about this for a while.

Nate walks me out to wait for my car. “Thank you for doing this,” he says. “I know it’s not easy having your life filleted in front of the world. Viv is going to make this hard, but I appreciate all you’re doing to help my girls get their closure.”

My heart breaks for Katrina and Bex. They lost their mother too early. “You’re too kind.” I flash him my watch, and he grins. “This was my talisman today. Every time I wanted to tell her to fuck off or storm out of the room, I touched the watch.”

He smiles. “I think I’ll do the same when it’s my turn. I don’t know if I can keep my cool with her fucking around, though.”

I shrug. “Find something or someone to think about, and focus on that while you’re sitting there. If you think about work, you’ll only be pissed that you’re being forced to sit there and not be productive. And whatever you chose, make sure it isn’t something that will upset you.”

“That’s good advice.” He nods and then clears his throat. “How are things progressing with Axel Remington?”

I look down at the sidewalk. I’m embarrassed that he’s playing matchmaker, but I do really like Axel. “I think I’m going to bring him to Jackson’s wedding. Do you think that will be a problem?”

He puts his arm around me. “Not at all. I would expect you were invited with a plus one.”

“That’s what I was thinking. But do you think Axel will feel out of place?”

“I don’t think so. He’s a good guy. Everyone will like him. Has he figured out who you are yet?”

I roll my eyes. “He has to have the general picture by now, but we haven’t compared bank statements, if that’s what you’re asking. He knows about my role with Diamond and Flirt. As a sports agent, he’s a confident man—and not that poor.”

Nate laughs. “He’s got some great players on his roster. I would think he’s doing quite well.” Both of our cars roll up. “When will you see him next?”

“He had to fly in his sister and her four boys at the last minute, and they arrived this morning. I’m going to meet them for dinner tonight—after I put on something a little more casual.”

“Have a great time.” Nate waves, and we both get into our cars. As Peter drives away, I see Walker and Marci in deep discussion. She’d never have thrown AUSA Lindsey under the bus in front of our friends and her clients, but I wanted everyone to know my concerns. Tatyana Turgeneva is going to eat him for lunch.

Chapter 19

Axel

Alana sits next to me on the park bench, and we watch the boys run around the playground like they haven’t had access to open space in weeks. She looks exhausted. Her black eye has become a lovely shade of purple, and she has a swollen, split lip. I asked her earlier if Marco did it, and she said we’d talk when the boys weren’t around. That’s her way of telling me I’ll never know, but I suspect it’s why the police were so willing to send her home to me.

“I have a friend coming over for dinner tonight,” I tell her.

“Male or female?”

“Female. And she invited me to go away with her to a wedding next weekend in Maui.”

Alana nods. “Good for you. I’ll be able to manage. Do you want us to move out by then?”

I shake