Merina readied herself before the mirror. It had been years since she dressed like this as herself. She never dared to express her true self, even while working. Merina didn’t want to call attention to her past. Also, most of the events she went to dress like this were an undercover assignment and she didn’t use her name or image. She didn’t know why she felt so vulnerable. Now an adult, she was no longer fifteen. Meri expected the women in this group to act with ruthless intent in response to her honesty. She just didn’t know where they’d attack from. That’s what worried her. She couldn’t be able to keep aloof to it. “You look beautiful. Now don’t forget your ring. I want everyone to see it on your hand, and they won’t if it stays on your dressing table.”She had removed it to apply cream to her hands and had not yet replaced it. Which she fixed as Conner watched. Merina chuckled when she wore it again and noticed how she’d forgotten about it. Another th
Joyce ushered them in and left Jonathon greeting the other guests. “Don’t worry about anything. Lily, I must handle something outside, and it will consume most of the night. Could you handle the caterer in the kitchens? The fool overreacts once more. Joyce said to another staff member before she scurried off. She turned to Merina. “He excelled in his profession, yet he possessed the artistic temperament to match.” “Now, Conner pulled the overbearing laird thing on you too? What excuse did he sucker you into marriage with? Jonathon used the excuse. You’re pregnant with my heir and no one in my family is born on the wrong side of the blanket.” This admission left Merina blinking in surprise. This was unexpected. “So, you have a child?” “Our daughter was born four months after we married.” “Ah, well, if I didn’t marry him. My father would stay in jail, and I’d join him.” “That sounds like one of ‘the guys.’ I swear i
“Con, what is going on? You’re married out of the blue, and you didn’t even call to give us a heads up. What’s going on?” “Never mind that. Are you sure that’s Merina? I mean wow. I know your families once had you engaged to her. You got lucky.” “Yes, it’s Merina and I have not gotten lucky. No time to call or arrange anything. Merina’s … Well, Merina’s got some problems with the facts and before any of you say it’s because she’s crazy. It’s not. That stepmother of hers and the dweeb Galen have spread lies about her. I discovered family members who hindered her from reaching out. I just don’t know who yet. She claims that she tried to call me and email, but nothing got through. They locked her up in a boarding school for troubled teens. She spent years there. Her father skipped her graduation and remained clueless about her specialization afterwards. He didn’t care enough to try to talk to her.” “Wait. Are you saying they abandoned her a
Merina found her phone by the bedside with a note. (We’ll talk about your work at 10 am. Be ready. Your clothes are in the right closet. Con) She charged her phone. When the screen lit, the notifications flooded the tiny screen. Most were from Ana. Others surprised her. They came from Andre. He never left messages. Because Merina didn’t respond. She hoped he’d forget her number. What did she do now? She skipped his messages, but Merina listened to one by accident. (Merina, please call me when you receive this. Be careful speaking in public. I’ve tried to shut down the rumors. Everyone believes they’re facts. They’re claiming you need a psychiatrist. You blackmailed Conner into marriage. I suspect it’s Lillian, Gabriella, or both who started them. Gabriella’s name appears in a rumor, claiming you forced Conner to break off their engagement. I’ll have my lawyer deal with them. If Lillian thinks this will work, she’s
Merina hesitated at calling her father. He’d left so many messages and warnings by the time she’d finished with Ana. Did she want to offer him an opportunity? Did she act petty and not return his calls? Merina didn’t expect any inheritance from him. She never recovered from being sent away to school, which became her home for a significant portion of her life. Her family, after the first year, claimed they couldn’t look after her at home during the second and third year. They hired someone for holidays to mind her. The nanny kept her in the city near the school, making her feel like a prisoner instead of a child on summer vacation. No one wanted her during Christmas vacations. The fourth year Merina refused to return home when her father called for her and as she’d turned eighteen, she went on a holiday trip by herself instead. She learned of her father’s distress upon realizing she didn’t follow the summons. Her rebellion began during that vacation and has con
Merina sat and waited for the call to connect. The wait went for a full minute; she used her time better and dressed for the meeting. With the call on speaker and took her cellphone with her into her walk-in closet. There she searched through her clothes, surprised to find clothing from the MacGregor mansion and her apartment.She discovered a note pinned to the fourth suit in her collection, written in Conner’s handwriting. [They are old, unattractive, and small — I don’t like them. After our meeting, you’ll get something that fits and suits you. You deserve better and my wife won’t wear anything less than perfect. Con.] “Wow, he knows how to tell me what to do while flattering me. Geez.” Distracted with the note, Merina missed the call connected again. “Lillian bought those clothes, and they never fit me. It was her way of telling me I needed to lose weight. It all fit her.” “Oh? She told me you couldn’t stay away from food and ungrate
Merina had the manners to appear on time for their meeting. He’d arranged this meeting not to discuss her career and business plan. Conner aimed to solidify the narrative of their collaboration since the beginning. That way, he could prevent anyone else from trying to charge her for espionage later or questioning that. “Ah, here she is now, gentlemen. The lady we’ve been speaking about, my wife, Merina O’Keefe. Merina, this is Chief Inspector Billings. He’s leading the investigation into the Mandela’s, and this is my head accountant, Gregory Van Clief. The Inspector blinked and raised a finger. “Ms. MacGregor? I’m sorry my connections didn’t pass on that you’d married. I’m happy to see you again. Somehow, I should have connected you to the MacGregor family.” “Hello, Chief Inspector. I wasn’t aware you were connected to the investigation, or I would have called you myself. Conner and I married in haste days ago. No, I tried to keep my fam
Ana sat down to dinner with Jeff almost an hour ago. She’d struggled with what to tell him. She had been silent during the meal, contemplating how to start the conversation. They were on dessert. Something she would enjoy. She couldn’t do it tonight. Jeff leaned back in his chair and watched Ana push her peach cobbler about in the melting ice cream. Ana knew he was considering her or something. “Is there a problem Jeff?” She wanted to distract him. Allow her a few extra minutes to plan her next steps and approach this situation. “I got a call from Conner O’Keefe a few hours ago.” Ana sank feeling as soon as he said this. “Oh, did he want to talk about business or something personal?” His topic blurred the lines between the two. Ana shifted in her seat and set her spoon down. Her attention focused of him even though her eyes stayed on the candle display in the center of the table. “Oh, umm. Should I be