Page 77 of Love In Hiding

He wouldn’t answer either. It served no purpose. “I told you what I expect going forward. Are we understood?”

“Yes.”

“We’re done,” he said.

Noelle stood up to leave and he crossed his ankles in front of him, stretching his legs.

Too bad he didn’t know what was going forward with London.

22

HANDING HIM AN ADVANTAGE

“What sharp, pointy rock did you sit on?” Paris asked as London stormed back into her office. “Not that I’d even know if you were bleeding in those pants.”

“Bitch,” London muttered, but she forced a smile. “You love these pants.”

“I do. I call them the bitch pants. Very fitting today.”

“Iambeing one.” She dropped into her chair, rubbing her temples. “I didn’t want to be. I just couldn’t stop myself.”

“Want to explain?” Paris crossed her arms. “Because the last thing we need is Molly thinking you’re a tyrant and quitting. I like her. She watered my plants for me.”

She groaned. “You and those damn plants.”

“I’ve had them for years! I just forget to water them.” Paris shrugged. “But Molly did it when she brought in the files. She said they looked dry and gave me a whole care routine. I told her she could have them if she wanted.”

“Oh, she justlovesyou,” she said, her tone coated in annoyance she didn’t bother hiding.

“I’m glad somebody does, if you’re going to keep actinglike this.” Paris eyed her. “I thought seeing Spencer again would put you in a better mood. Or…not? You came home Saturday all floaty and weird. Happy. Tired but happy.”

She stiffened. She hadn’t told Paris what had actually happened in Spencer’s condo, and she still couldn’t bring herself to.

It had been intimate in a way that eclipsed stripping down and having sex. Too intimate.

It had taken her forever to come down from it and get her head back on straight.

There was no way in hell she was telling her sister that.

But one thing she was sure of. She wasn’t about to let Spencer have the upper hand. She would haveneverleft him without finishing what she started.

That would’ve been like handing him an advantage.

And London Westerly didn’t hand those to anyone.

“Spencer’s eager staff attorney tore my summary to shreds, acted like they were final policies, and not only put her own spin on them, but insulted how they were written to begin with.”

“Bitch,” Paris said again, mirroring her crossed arms. “How dare she?”

Her sister wasn’t mocking, but joining the ranks. They’d both had this done to them before.

“That’s right. She sent me everything right before the meeting. I opened the file to glance at it and saw more red than my pants. It was as if a stubborn English teacher lined up her pens to grab another when the ink ran out.”

Paris was shaking her head. “Why would she do that on a summary draft?”

“Because she’s kissing ass. I saw the way her eyes were on Spencer, but the minute he corrected her, she got defensive.”

“Who wouldn’t?”