Beloved Enemy. Terri Reed
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Bianca shook her head. “You concentrate on your new job. Let us do the investigating.”
Not telling them what to do with their patronizing and overbearing protectiveness took every ounce of self-control Juliet possessed. They were her sisters and they loved her, this she knew, but sometimes…being the baby stank.
“Whoa. Wait a sec.” Juliet stood. “You all just agreed that we’re in this together. And I’ll do my part. Looking in the factory for some answers makes sense.”
Bianca rose, as well. “Honey, please. None of us want to see you do anything to jeopardize your new career.”
A career Juliet didn’t want. She bit her tongue. This job was an opportunity to prove herself to them. But that didn’t mean she would become a pliable puppet. “I’ll do what I’m going to do.”
“We all just worry about you, Juliet. You’re our baby sister. We want you to make something of your life,” Rissa explained.
Juliet’s teeth clenched at the reminder of exactly how they all saw her—as some wayward child without any prospects. Granted, she hadn’t applied herself in high school and barely managed to squeak by. Her first few quarters of college weren’t much better.
But she’d decided it was time to make evident her capabilities. She’d applied herself to school after a few romps around Europe. Now she’d graduated with a degree and a job prospect that they and their father approved of. She’d show them.
Aunt Winnie stood. “Enough of this for now, girls. Let’s have a nice dinner and enjoy the rest of our time together before the twins and Bianca have to leave.”
Miranda rose and adjusted the skirt of the matronly dress she wore. “You’re right, Aunt Winnie. We’re being boorish with all this bickering. I want to hear about Rissa’s new play.”
Taking the cue, the girls filed out of the parlor. Juliet and Bianca were the last to leave the room.
“Juliet, promise me you won’t do anything that would get you in trouble with Father,” Bianca said.
“I’ll only get in trouble if I get caught,” Juliet quipped, reciting her childhood motto.
Growing up under the oppressive decorum of the Blanchard name, Juliet had tried to conform, but there were times when she had to let her true impulsive nature loose. Which only distressed her siblings. All but Delia, who was even more reckless in some ways.
At Bianca’s pained grimace, Juliet hugged her. “Don’t worry, sis. I’ll make you proud. Believe me, I don’t want to do anything that would give Father a reason to fire me. I know this opportunity will be good for me.”
“I think it says a lot that he’s giving you the marketing director position. Father was very pleased with your grades last term.”
For the first time in Juliet’s life, her father seemed proud of her. She’d worked hard to earn those As. And it was gratifying to know he’d noticed. “It stinks that he won’t be there to greet me on my first day at the company.”
Bianca sighed. “I know. I’m sorry for that.”
Juliet made a dismissing noise. “Not your fault.”
“But still…”
Juliet wished she could ease her sister’s grim expression. Dear Bianca took it upon herself to make sure Juliet was okay. Just as she had Juliet’s whole life.
Juliet gave her older sister another quick hug. “I love you, sis. And I thank God for you every day.”
“And I, you,” Bianca responded with a smile.
As they crossed the hall toward the dining room, Juliet linked her arm through Bianca’s. “So, tell me how you and Leo are doing.”
Bianca blushed. “Well. Very well.”
Happy for her sister, Juliet let her mind wander to a certain man whom she’d had a hard time forgetting. She wondered where Brandon De Witte was. And with whom.
She chided herself for such thoughts. Brandon didn’t matter. Couldn’t matter. He was a pleasant memory that would eventually fade.
Juliet had more important concerns, such as her first day at the company looming ahead and finding some way to help in the search for their mother.
THREE
Monday morning arrived, with an overcast sky left behind by the weekend’s storm. A chill hung in the manor house as Juliet made her way downstairs for some coffee before heading to Blanchard Fabrics. She wished Bianca and the twins hadn’t had to leave yesterday not long after church. Miranda had spent most of the afternoon in her rooms, which left Juliet rambling around with nothing to do. So she’d spent most of the day rummaging through their father’s home office. Unfortunately, she didn’t find anything of interest.
To help keep her nervousness about her new job from overwhelming her, she contemplated how she’d grab a moment when she could sneak into her father’s office and see what she could learn that might help her sisters in their quest to locate their mother.
“Miss Juliet,” Marco said as Juliet entered the kitchen. As always, his white uniform was pressed and clean. His dark Latin eyes twinkled with good humor. “Fresh coffee and some pecan sticky buns.”
“Yum,” Juliet replied with a grin and accepted the travel mug of hot liquid and a wrapped pastry. “Thank you. What a wonderful way to start the day.”
“I’ll be making apple crisp for tonight.” Marco hurried forward to help her slip on the heavy parka over her pink chenille sweater and long, flowered, ruffled skirt.
“I’m going to gain weight living here,” Juliet complained with a smile and wave goodbye.
The drive to Blanchard Fabrics took all of ten minutes. In good weather, Juliet vowed she’d walk, if only to work off the sweets that she couldn’t resist. She parked in her father’s parking space since he wouldn’t be in. The big, imposing redbrick building with its many smokestacks loomed against the gray clouds.
Juliet entered the building through the glass double doors and shivered at the blast of warm air from the overhead heaters. She slipped off her parka and approached the reception desk.
The unfamiliar woman sitting behind the counter smiled politely at her. “Can I help you?”
Leaning on the counter, Juliet smiled back. “Juliet Blanchard. I’m supposed to report to Barbara Sanchez.”
“Ah, yes.” She nodded. “Ms. Sanchez is expecting you. Her office is on the fourth floor, just down the hall from your father’s.”
“Great, thanks,” Juliet replied and hurried to catch the elevator.
The fourth floor looked nothing like what Juliet remembered from her childhood. Her sister Miranda had mentioned that their father had remodeled the offices a few years ago. The linoleum and old-fashioned cubicle dividers that once made up the office spaces had been replaced with lush, sage-green carpet and real wood office walls.
As Juliet proceeded down the hall, she passed a conference room with a long table surrounded by over a dozen padded leather chairs.
She paused at her father’s office. The door was closed. She tried the handle. Locked.
“Juliet?”
Her heart jumping in her chest, Juliet spun around to face the woman who’d come up behind her. Her father’s longtime executive assistant, Barbara Sanchez, regarded her with interest. Barbara was tall and slightly overweight, but she dressed in very upscale corporate attire that accentuated her olive skin and shiny black hair. “Barbara, hi. I assume Father gave you the lowdown on what I’m to be doing here.”
“Yes, of course,” Barbara replied, giving her a quizzical look. “Did you need something in your father’s