Protecting the Heiress. Martha Kennerson
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Grayson owns the Grayson & Grayson Oil consortium with his sister. We’re just a blip on their radar.”
“Well, they inherited their seats from their dads. It’s not like it was something they sought out to do. What’s the deal with that, anyway?” Francine asked with a deep frown.
Farrah sat up straighter in her chair. “We’re a privately owned company and we can set up the board any way we want. As long as we stick to our established bylaws, we can—”
“That’s not what I mean, legal eagle,” Francine said, rolling her eyes. “I never really understood why Dad gave two seats on the board to the kids of two men that died before he even started the company.”
“According to Mom, Dad felt like he owed them. It’s a ranger thing. So, any ideas?” Farrah asked.
“Actually, Mom might be able to convince Mr. Mercado,” she said shyly.
Farrah’s eyes widened, and she nodded slowly.
Francine’s mother had told her girls that once upon a time, Eddie Mercado had had a crush on her. They’d even gone on a few dates before she’d met their father. Francine felt like it would be disloyal to her father to even ask her mother to approach the man themselves, even though her mother had assured them that their father had gotten past it years ago. They and Eddie had been friends and even business partners for years.
“Do you think Mom would do that?” Farrah asked, frowning. “I mean, voting against Dad with us is one thing. Going to an old boyfriend for help to do it is something different entirely.”
“What other choice do we have?”
“Anything but that. You know, if you’d just take Meeks to bed, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” Farrah said, laughing and making her eyebrows dance.
Francine sighed. “If only it were that easy. Besides, Meeks has made it perfectly clear that the only interest he has in me is professional.”
Farrah threw her candy wrapper into the silver trash bin that sat at the corner of her sister’s desk. “You couldn’t tell that by his behavior, especially lately. In fact, ever since you were shot, he hasn’t been able to take his eyes off you. Good thing he didn’t know you were ready to walk away from fieldwork before Dad had to retire. He’d never let you forget that and he’d find a way to use that knowledge to his advantage.”
“I know. Enough of this already,” Francine said as she stood and picked up her electronic tablet. “You did look over the case file, right?”
“Yep. I wonder what made Tiffany switch agencies anyway.” Farrah raised herself up off the sofa.
“Who cares?” Francine said.
“I do. It could be a factor in what we have to do for them.” Farrah placed her right hand on her hip.
“No...you’re just nosey,” Francine said.
“All right...that, too,” she agreed reluctantly. “By the way, have you started working on Felicia’s storage chest yet?”
“No, why?”
“I loved the sketch of it and I was hoping I could convince you to make me one, too,” Farrah said, giving her that cheeky smile she often used when she wanted something.
Francine laughed and shook her head. “Time to get back to business. I see you took your hair down,” Francine said, pointing at her sister’s head.
“Yeah, Meeks thought we shouldn’t confuse the client too much. Does Mr. Morgan know you’re part of a set of triplets?” Farrah asked sarcastically.
Francine laughed, picked up her phone and headed for the conference room attached to her office. “No, but what man you know wouldn’t want a couple of butt-kicking sisters in his life?”
As expected, Bill Morgan’s and Tiffany Tanner’s eyes grew wide as the sisters entered the room. Francine smiled and extended her hand to their guests, who had risen from their seats. “Mr. Morgan. Tiffany. Nice to see you again. This is my sister and business partner, Farrah Blake. Farrah’s our chief legal officer, and she ensures that your, as well as our, legal rights and responsibilities are well protected. And from time to time, as in this instance, we work together and act as case leads.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Farrah said as Mr. Morgan took the hand she offered and gave it a small shake.
“That’s great news,” Mr. Morgan said on a sigh.
“Oh, my,” Tiffany said, flashing looks between the two women. “You’re twins... Identical.”
“Not quite identical, and we’re actually two-thirds of a set of triplets. When we were born, our eyes were all the same shade of green. As we grew, the color changed. Now we all have different eye colors. Mine are blue,” Farrah explained, fluttering her lashes. “Francine’s stayed green, and our baby sister Felicia has hazel eyes.”
“Wow. Does your other sister work here, too?” Tiffany asked as she took a seat at the end of the table closest to both the window and the door.
“No, she works in another industry. She’s a doctor, actually,” Francine said proudly. “I really don’t think our clients could take all of us working here.”
“Or our staff, for that matter,” Farrah added.
“It must be nice to have two other people in the world that you can depend on no matter what,” Tiffany said, sliding down farther into the chair, her wistful tone speaking more to the loneliness she felt at being an only child than any actual jealousy she had toward the sisters’ relationship. The twenty-one-year-old beauty pulled out her cell phone and began tapping her index finger on the screen as though she was suddenly disinterested in what was happening around her.
Francine and Farrah gave each other a knowing glance.
“Please sit,” Francine said to Mr. Morgan, who focused his blue-eyed gaze on his client. “This shouldn’t take very long. I just have a few follow-up questions for you.”
“No problem...whatever you need,” Mr. Morgan replied, taking a seat next to Tiffany. “We’re just happy you’ll be handling this case yourself.”
Bill Morgan had been a family friend and attorney to the Tanner family for years. He’d played a significant role in helping the Tanners nurture Tiffany’s career. In fact, he’d become Tiffany’s legal guardian and business manager after her parents were killed in a tragic boating accident when she was twelve. By all accounts, at the time, the recently divorced thirty-two-year-old had been an excellent father figure for the shell-shocked child and a stern guiding hand during those highly publicized and turbulent adolescent years. When Tiffany turned twenty-one, she took control of her career and gained access to a multimillion-dollar fortune that her parents had left her. By the looks of things, Tiffany and Mr. Morgan were still adjusting to their new relationship.
“I see Kelly has taken care of you already,” Francine said, gesturing to the water and coffee that had been provided. “Would you like anything else? A refill?”
“No, thanks. We’re fine,” Mr. Morgan replied after checking with Tiffany, who signaled her disinterest with a wave of her hand.
Francine cracked open her tablet. “All right then, let’s get started. We checked out—”
“I have to know,” Farrah said with a quick glance that silenced Francine. “Why us? What made you decide to pick Blake & Montgomery to replace your old security firm?”
Mr. Morgan’s jaw was clenched but relaxed before he answered. “According to our reports, you’re the best firm in the country. Especially when it comes to dealing with personal security,” he explained.
“As you know,