Page 89 of Miss Understanding

“It was made for you, honey. You certainly don’t need much in the way of jewelry. Maybe some small hoops, but no necklace. The dress takes center stage for sure.”

It certainly did. “How much is it?” I didn’t want to get my hopes set on it only to have it out of reach.

“It’s three hundred. But it’s been here a long time waiting for a home. How about I give it to you for half off?”

It was still out of my budget, but I couldn’t not have this dress. I mean what else would I do? Once again, I was tempted to back out. But the thought of Liam seeing me in this dress— Well, I couldn’t resist. “I appreciate it. I’ll take it.”

After forking over the money, I was back on the subway and back to the office with the dress in a garment bag.

Cinderella had her dress. Now I just wondered if my Prince Charming would be a dick at the ball.

* * *

At six o’clock, I dressed in the handicapped stall in the women’s bathroom at the office. Was I glamorous or what? It was too bad this party couldn’t have been on a Saturday where I could’ve taken more time at home to get ready. But at least I was getting a ride.

Luckily, there weren’t a lot of people still there at the office at this time. After dressing, I touched up my makeup, and put my hair up with a number of pins.

My red lipstick finished the look and then, because I couldn’t resist, I added a coat of strawberry lip gloss. Other than confirming the time for the car to pick us up, Liam had said little all day. I wasn’t sure where his thoughts were. But I was determined to find out tonight. I assumed I’d go back to his place? Or at this point, maybe not.

After I walked back to my desk, I logged out of my computer, locked my laptop in the drawer, and turned to see Tabitha coming down the hall toward me. Her steps were hurried, her voice shrill when she asked, “Why are you all dressed up?”

“I was invited to Stephen Walsh’s party tonight.”

Her eyes raked over my dress, then flicking toward Liam who was coming out of his office in his tux.

“So, your secretary is your plus-one now?” The way she said the word secretary let it be known how she felt about someone with my title going to a party she didn’t deem me worthy of attending.

I braced myself for Liam’s response. But he surprised me. “She is the very reason I’m invited tonight. The reason Stephen Walsh is probably signing with our firm. He invited her directly.”

I hadn’t expected him to stick up for me.

Tabitha only sneered. “Yeah, I bet he did.”

Liam bounced his gaze between me and his colleague. “A moment please, Tabitha.” He ushered her into his office but stopped in the doorway, turning toward me. “I’ll meet you downstairs in the car, Ms. Tate.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Liam

As soon as my office door was closed, Tabitha started with her tirade. “What the hell, Liam? A secretary is attending Stephen Walsh’s party? Seriously?”

“Seriously. And like I said, if it wasn’t for her impressing him on Tuesday, I doubt very much anyone would be going.”

“What did she do, promise him sexual favors?”

My temper hit a boiling point. “Enough,” I said in a low tone, serving notice that I wasn’t about to hear another disparaging word. “You need to stow your jealousy and figure out a way to deal with it. Not one more word to Kendall or to anyone about this.”

“It’s Kendall now, huh?”

For an attractive woman, pettiness made her uglier than ever. I’d had quite enough of her snotty attitude. “Yes. It’s her first name. Just like you call Helen, your assistant, by her first name. You’re still getting your fifteen percent origination, as discussed.”

Her expression remained hard. “Fine. But I still don’t like it. We have a pecking order here at the firm for a reason.”

I didn’t want to hear about her outdated views of how things should be at a law firm. This wasn’t a caste system. It was an organization, all the people of which needed to work well together in all aspects. “I don’t give a fuck if you like it or not.”

Her face when red before morphing into something else entirely as she adjusted my bow tie. “You’re right, of course. I was out of line. Call me after. Tell me how it goes?”

I had to physically keep myself from recoiling, but it would do no good to upset her further. “I’ll let you know in the office on Monday, Tabitha. Have a good night.”