MrTemptation

by Annabelle Weston

  Cadence closed her eyes. She’d better get a grip on herself. Victoria was counting on a complete collapse. Her stepmother knew exactly what she was doing. She knew how Cadence was suffering, expected it, was probably enjoying it.

  She opened her eyes and focused on the documents in her hands.

  The first paper was the marriage certificate of one Edward C. Burke and Victoria F. Hahn. The second document declared that her father had legally adopted both of Victoria’s children. She gulped. Seeing the legal documents brought back some of the worst memories of her life.

  She glanced up to see their smug smiles, and bile immediately tainted her throat. They hated her. The feeling was mutual. She’d been only too glad for her years away at school but she realized now what her contentment had cost.

  She swallowed hard and forced herself to keep looking through the documents that revealed how her father had been manipulated. Why hadn’t he told her about the change to his will? Why had he left Cadence out of the loop on an important legal decision?

  The papers appeared to be legit but why had her father made the change? Could Victoria be telling the truth? Had he meant to exclude his only daughter?

  Cadence shook her head. It simply couldn’t be true. She brushed aside the dark thoughts threatening to paralyze her and she moved on to the next document.

  The will, dated January 4 of this year, only months before Edward Burke’s death, stated Victoria was indeed the trustee of his estate. Cadence sucked in her breath and clenched the piece of paper in her shaking hands.

  “I assure you it was your father’s decision to make the changes to his will,” Victoria said.

  “That’s for the court to decide,” Cadence said between gritted teeth.

  She continued reading. Farther down it claimed that “their” children, Cadence, Sybil and Cyrus, were to each receive a stipend to live off, the amount open to Victoria’s discretion, and all school fees and living expenses for Cadence were to be paid for by Victoria until she graduated.

  Victoria had performed her duties. She’d paid Cadence’s tuition and given her an allowance that had been barely enough to pay her bills.

  “Of course the stipend ends today,” Victoria said after Cadence finished reading and looked up. She made a helpless gesture. “You understand there’s little money to spare in these difficult times.”

  “My father was worth millions,” Cadence replied.

  “Unfortunately, the cost of living in the city takes millions.”

  “Spit it out, Victoria. You’ve kept me in suspense long enough.”

  Cyrus chuckled. Victoria stopped him with one of her looks.

  Victoria turned back to Cadence and smiled. “’Obviously, my obligation to you is done. I’m afraid you’re on your own.”

  Cadence feigned indifference. She could make it on her own if need be. She was a smart woman, well-educated and had enough contacts to gain successful employment. Heck, she’d work at the local grocery store if she had to. She didn’t want to be indebted to Victoria one cent.

  How could her father have done such a thing? How could he give these children, who weren’t his, the rights to the money that had come largely from her mother’s estate?

  Anger boiled within her. She suppressed the urge to crumple up the papers and toss them on her mother’s Aubusson carpet. She would speak to a lawyer tomorrow. She wasn’t leaving the city until she had some answers.

  She held out hope there was something left of her mother’s estate. Father must have made other arraignments for her share. He’d promised her she would be taken care of. Would he have really been so cruel as to cut her completely out of his will? There was only one explanation that made sense. This terrible woman had let a sick old man believe his daughter didn’t need any help from them.

  Cadence stuffed the papers back into the envelope and stood.

  “You forgot to read the last one, my dear,” Victoria said, smooth as silk, a sneer spread over her controlled features in a grotesque way.

  “I’ll read it later.”

  “Read it now.”

  Cadence narrowed her eyes. She’d always hated how the woman caught her lip in her teeth before she snickered. She did so now.

  Cadence pulled the papers back out of the envelope and flipped to the last one. Her mouth dropped open and her knees weakened. She quickly managed to get control of her legs before she fell to the ground but she couldn’t control the roaring in her head.

  The document stated that Cadence’s condo belonged to her stepmother.

  Unbelievable! What a way to kick her when she was down. Victoria certainly was the epitome of an evil stepmother. But even still, how could her father have done this to her?

  “You must admit I’ve been generous, allowing you to live rent free all these years,” Victoria said.

  Cadence returned the papers to the envelope with a vengeance and shoved it into her purse. Deep breaths. She needed to keep taking deep breaths. Calm herself. Find her center.

  “Why didn’t he tell me about the condo?”

  “He was a very busy man, then I suppose later on it just slipped his mind.” Victoria smiled cruelly. “So now you know, you may thank me.”

  White light flashed before her eyes and Cadence squeezed them tightly shut.

  One, two, three… She opened her eyes and focused on the oak credenza just behind Victoria’s shoulder. If she looked at the woman, she would lose her self-control and wring her liposuctioned neck.

  “I have no intention of thanking you for anything.”

  “Suit yourself.” Victoria shrugged. The look on her face showed she didn’t really care whether Cadence was grateful or not.

  Victoria Burke was a formidable enemy. She had won.

  Or so she thought.

  Cadence remembered the business card her father’s law partner had given her. He’d told her to call the number on the card if she needed help. Had he known about the new will or had he guessed Victoria would pull something like this?

  The condo, her condo, had been in her mother’s family for years. This conniving woman had stolen it from her. How could her father have done this? The properties, the business, they were her mother’s, not his to give away. Despite what the documents said, Cadence just couldn’t believe they were legal.

  How could Father have let this woman manipulate him?

  “Come along, children, our business is finished. Your sister is leaving.” She stood, head held high. “Show yourself out, will you, my dear?”

  The twins shuffled after their mother, although both kept their toothy grins turned in Cadence’s direction. It looked almost as if they were drooling in anticipation of a breakdown. Sybil followed her mother but Cyrus leered at her from behind rimless glasses.

  She’d like to sock him right in his smirking face.

  His gaze crept slowly up and down her body, sending a chill through her.

  Prick.

  She rolled her eyes and frowned at him, making sure to show her disgust. He only laughed at her and ran his tongue along his bottom lip. She shuddered.

  “Oh, Cadence, there is one more thing.”

  One, two, three…

  Cadence stopped and Victoria turned around.

  “What else before I vomit?”

  “Don’t be crude, dear. It’s not ladylike.”

  Cyrus giggled.

  “I expect you to be out of the condo by the end of the week. I’ve scheduled decorators to come and remodel. I intend to put the place on the market as soon as possible.”

  Cadence’s composure broke. She’d reached her limit. “Where will I go?”

  Victoria smiled. “Wherever you like. You are not my concern anymore.”

  She left in a rush, breathless and exhausted, like a runner finishing a race. Except this marathon had just begun. When she reached the street, she dug her phone and the card Father’s business partner had given her out of her bag and called the number.

  Victoria thought Cadence was powerle
ss, that the law was on her side.

  Two could play that game.

  * * * * *

  Preston Night’s first appointment of the day was a name he recognized from his past. Cadence Burke, the only daughter of Mayor Edward Burke, was his nine o’clock, according to Muriel at the front desk, who had said the client insisted it was an emergency.

  He wondered what Cadence wanted. As he looked out his office window at the million-dollar view of the Chrysler Building and the bustle of Midtown below him, he remembered the last time he’d seen her was at her mother’s funeral, which had been a public spectacle.

  Cadence’d been sixteen—he was a sophomore at Princeton. He’d watched at a distance as the bereaved Burke family left the church, followed by a cadre of reporters. The world had mourned her loss. She became the media’s darling that day.

  She was his first crush, his first heartbreak. Her father had run for mayor, carried into office on public sympathy. Cadence the untouchable, he’d thought of her then.

  The mayor’s daughter had always been surrounded by admirers. He’d seen her on television after that, her growing up at Gracie Mansion, her beaux, her every move covered by eager reporters for the gossip rags.

  He’d watched and often wondered if she was happy in the spotlight, or was her constant smile pretense? Did she have close friends who loved her, or did people get close to her for their own gain, for bragging rights?

  That had been a long time ago.

  He left his office and knocked on his mother’s door. She bade him enter. Mom was dressed in a dark-blue silk suit, her hair done neatly in a twist at the nape of her neck, her jewelry modest pearls. In the bright light, he could see the dark patches underneath her eyes. She wasn’t sleeping again, a worry, but he wasn’t foolish enough to mention it.

  “Court today?” he asked.

  She closed up her laptop and tucked it inside a leather case. “A society divorce.”

  “A big fee?”

  “Enormous,” his mother replied.

  Preston didn’t mind sorting out the messes rich people got into. The billable hours made it worth his while.

  “Do you remember Cadence Burke?” he asked.

  Mom smiled. “Of course I do. Sadly, I lost touch with her after her mother died. Why do you ask?”

  “She’s coming in this morning.”

  “She’s asking for representation?”

  “That’d be my guess.”

  Mother looked thoughtful. “At last.”

  Preston was surprised. “You expected her?”

  “For some time.”

  “Care to fill me in?” Preston sat on the edge of her desk.

  “I can’t right now. You’ll have to look at her file. It’s in the locked cabinet.”

  “It’s a matter of some delicacy?” Preston asked.

  “And secrecy,” she replied. She took a small key out of her purse and handed it to him.

  “Now I’m intrigued,” he said. Even if this was an unusual case with complications, he could handle rich women, and more often than not he enjoyed doing so.

  “How old would she be?” Mother asked. “Twenty-four, twenty-five?”

  “Twenty-six on June 10,” Preston answered.

  His mother searched his face. Preston didn’t bother to pretend Cadence meant nothing to him. His mother knew him too well.

  Mother shouldered her bag. “I suppose she has questions about her mother’s estate.”

  “Why wouldn’t she go to her father’s attorney? Wasn’t all the money put in his trust after her mother died?”

  His mother looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes. “Not all.”

  Preston stood. “Then that’s why she’s here. She wants her money.”

  He opened the door and she exited.

  “Walk with me to the elevator,” she said.

  Preston fell in beside her.

  “Make sure you take a look at all of the Burke file before Cadence gets here. There’s important information you need to know.”

  He checked his watch. “Hopefully I’ve got enough time.”

  “I’d love to see Audra’s girl again,” his mother confessed.

  “Are you sure you want me to take this meeting? You knew her mother better than I did.”

  “I suspect this appointment is too important to postpone. Besides, I have complete confidence in your abilities to break good news to a client.”

  “Good news, is it?” he asked.

  “I’d say so, although I haven’t added up the accounts in a while.”

  Preston was relieved that Cadence would leave his office with a hefty sum at her disposal. She might even be grateful.

  Who was he kidding? She hadn’t given him a second glance growing up. Gratitude wasn’t in a rich girl’s vocabulary. The mayor’s daughter had a league of men at her disposal and Preston wasn’t the type to take a ticket and wait his turn.

  Of course, she was no longer a girl. He was no longer a lovesick adolescent watching from the sidelines.

  “I’ll get up to speed and take the appointment,” Preston assured her.

  “Good.” His mother pushed the down button for the elevator. “Handle this case with care. We both owe Audra Burke a great deal.”

  Chapter Two

  “Can I help you?” a smartly dressed receptionist asked. Her dark hair was spiky with a red streak on the left side. She wore a tiny blue-green jewel in her nose.

  “My name is Cadence Burke. I have a nine o’clock appointment with Mrs. Night.”

  “If you’d like to take a seat,” the woman said with a perfunctory smile.

  Cadence nodded. She felt dull in her jeans skirt and white linen blouse but the outfit was all she’d packed extra for her weekend in the city. She sat in a comfortable upholstered chair in a leather and chrome waiting room, thrumming her fingers on the cold metal.

  The name on the card her father’s former partner had given her was Night and Night, International. Cadence remembered the name. Maryanne Night had been her grandfather’s attorney and one of her mother’s dearest friends. She’d been capable, confident and Mother’s treasure.

  When Mother died, Mrs. Night was no longer retained by the family. For some reason, she never knew why, Father hired a new attorney to handle his business. Her father’s former partner had enough confidence in Mrs. Night’s skills to recommend Cadence contact her. Cadence was confident Maryanne Night would help her.

  “Care for a cup of cappuccino?” the receptionist asked, peering around the door.

  Cadence declined. Her stomach cramped every time she thought about her conversation yesterday with Victoria and the twins. Coffee wouldn’t help.

  After a short wait, the receptionist reappeared. “Mr. Night will see you now.”

  “Mr. Night? I thought my appointment was with Mrs. Night?”

  “I’m afraid Mrs. Night is in court this morning.”

  “But I specifically asked for Mrs. Night.”

  “Would you like to reschedule?”

  “No, my business can’t wait,” she said as she fidgeted with the top button on her blouse.

  “I assure you, Mr. Night is a full partner.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he’s good at his profession, only Mrs. Night was a friend of my mother.”

  “I see. You’d be more comfortable with her.”

  “I guess.” She exhaled.

  “Come on, I’ll show you to his office.”

  Constance stood. “I hadn’t realized Anne Night was married.”

  The woman laughed. “Preston Night is her son.”

  She couldn’t remember Anne having a son either. “I’m sure he’ll be okay,” she said, sounding doubtful without meaning to.

  The receptionist ushered Cadence into a tasteful but sparsely furnished office. More black and chrome, a picture by David Hopper on the wall above a file cabinet disguised as a credenza. A Persian carpet on the floor.

  Mr. Preston Night wasn’t there.

  “Take a seat. He�
��ll be right along.” The receptionist turned and left.

  Cadence looked around. The obviously masculine room didn’t suit her. She much preferred the excesses of the Renaissance, the opulent style and colors of the Mediterranean palette. She liked the vitality of Italian shapes, their largesse, their flaunting of the conventional. Such joy for life appealed to her like an embrace.

  She sat on a leather chair and flipped through the arts section of The Times but couldn’t concentrate on any of the articles. She picked up the business section. The page fell open to a picture of her father. He’d been a handsome man. Her parents had made a stunningly beautiful couple. Everyone had said so.

  The article talked about the mayor’s legacy. Victoria and her children were prominently featured. With outrage, Cadence slapped the magazine shut and slung it onto the table. The publicity machine was grinding out the perfect family crap that the public loved.

  Cadence crossed her arms and brooded. How dare Victoria claim the limelight.

  The thud of shoes on hardwood pulled her from her mental slamming of the trio of evil and what she could do to spoil Cyrus’ chances of entering public life.

  Cadence happened to look up at just the right moment. Wow. Striding into the room was a young version of James Bond and he looked as if he had just stepped out of a photo shoot for GQ magazine.

  Seriously.

  She sucked in her breath as she stared into a pair of heavily lidded, mossy-green eyes. Eyes that were rimmed with dark lashes any woman would be jealous of. Eyes that seemed to strip her bare. Cadence shivered with the sudden thought of standing there naked for him to peruse. Her nipples peaked and between her thighs she grew slick. What the hell was wrong with her? She’d never reacted to a man like this before…

  And yet, part of her liked it. Part of her wished she were nude for his perusal. She chewed her lower lip, imagining he was the one nibbling on the sensitive flesh.

  As if he too imagined such a thing, he ran his tongue over his lower lip and swept his gaze from her eyes down to the tip of her toes and back. As if she weren’t already overly aware of him, a sudden pull clenched in her womb.

  She wanted him to want her. She wanted to go home with him and do things with him. Dirty things.