MrTemptation (17 page)

The pen was still in her hand. She made a decision, one she
hoped she wouldn’t regret.

She shoved it away from her. “I won’t sign anything I can’t
understand.”

“Cadence, please,” Preston said to her in a soothing tone as
if she were an uncooperative child. “Your mother left specific instructions.
The money is yours if you give Mr. McClain his privacy.”

She looked at both of them. Concern was etched in their
faces.

“What happens to the money if I go to Scotland and meet my
father?”

“The money goes to charity.”

Cadence exhaled. “I was living what I thought was a somewhat
normal life, only to find out that my entire existence has been a lie. All of
my relationships have been nothing but lies. Now you’re asking me to continue
the lie.”

“Cadence, I can imagine your frustration,” Maryanne said.
Her voice was soft but with an undercurrent of tension.

“Can you?”

“Please understand we are simply the messengers,” Maryanne
answered.

She looked at both of them. “I appreciate all you’ve done
but I don’t think I’m being unreasonable. I have to meet my father. I have to
know who I really am.”

“What if he doesn’t want to meet you?” Maryanne’s tone was
apologetic.

Cadence stood. The room had become very small and
suffocating. “The thought had crossed my mind.”

“It’s a possibility you have to face,” Maryanne said. Her
face puckered, making her look years older. She’d been the person Mother had
gone to for help, trusted with this terrible secret. Even her Auntie Anne
couldn’t stop her from finding out whom her father was.

Cadence lifted her head, straightened her spine. “I thank
you for being such a good friend to my mother and I appreciate your concern but
this is something I have to do.”

Auntie Anne shrank back. Her friendly demeanor changed
dramatically. Her expression showed no warmth. She became the consummate
professional.

“Think very carefully about what you’ll be giving up,” she
said.

“I know it sounds selfish but I have to meet this Bryce
McClain.”

“I’d hate to see you get hurt,” Preston said, leaning
forward. He’d let his mother do the telling of her family’s story. Now he
weighed in with the heart of the matter.

“I don’t know how I could be any more hurt than I am right
now,” she replied.

His gaze softened. “Okay, just don’t make up your mind yet.”

She glared at him. What was she to him?

“Why can’t you support me?” she asked Maryanne.

“I have to follow your mother’s expressed wishes,” Maryanne
said. “She’s my client.”

Cadence understood the core of their concern. She was being
irrational, throwing away all that money to find a father who may not want to
be found.

“Excuse me. I need to be alone.” She stood.

Anne and Preston rose to their feet, and she headed for the
door.

“I’ll have Frank take you to your hotel,” Preston said.

“Don’t bother Frank. I’ll take a cab.” She gathered up her
things and was surprised when Maryanne handed her one of the files. “What’s
this for?”

“Copies of all the information you need. Keep them in a safe
place. Everything is documented, signed and of course you need the account
numbers and the institutions where your accounts are kept to access your
inheritance. Preston will accompany you if you like when you go to the banks.
I’ve written down a very reputable list of accountants and estate planners for
you to call when you’re ready.”

Cadence clutched the file. Maryanne was trying to be
accommodating. Cadence had no doubt she clung to a thread of hope that Cadence
would change her mind and come to her senses.

“Cadence, I would be more than happy to keep your case
open,” Preston said. “I can meet with you and whoever you pick for an advisor.”

Cadence almost had to laugh at how transparent he was. Did
he think his powers of persuasion, which she had to agree were abundant, would
make her change her mind?

“I will think about meeting with the bankers and
accountants,” she said, relenting.

“You need some time,” Maryanne assured her, looking
relieved. “I understand completely.”

Unsure of what she needed, except a breath of fresh air,
Cadence smiled and headed for the door.

With one last look in their direction, she walked out of the
office, down the catwalk and out of the building.

She stood for a moment outside the factory entrance, just
breathing.

What a different world. She wasn’t a Burke. She wasn’t a
politician’s daughter. Wasn’t that just too damn funny?

She had a father and he was very much alive. Nobody could
know about how he had an American daughter, not even him.

Auntie Anne had warned her she could lose the inheritance
her mother so carefully planned for her. Well, screw the money.

What if Bryce McClain didn’t want to meet her? What if the
existence of a daughter would be an embarrassment to him? He could be remarried
with children. Would he have told his family he’d been married before?

No doubt his happy life would be thrown into turmoil if she
were to suddenly show up and announce she was his child. A child from his
secret first marriage would hardly be welcome news.

Why had Mother insisted on Cadence never contacting him? Why
would she make such a request?

What the hell difference did it make now that she was gone?

Cadence had a family and she very much wanted to meet them.

Chapter Nine

Preston sat heavily on the sofa and exhaled. “She’s angry.”

His mother picked up the contract and returned it to the
file. “I don’t blame her.”

“Neither do I,” he replied in case Mother had misunderstood.

She tossed the file into her briefcase and sat in the chair
behind the big desk. It was the place she’d occupied for almost a decade as
chairman of the board at Sparkle Industries and Preston had been surprised when
she’d relinquished the spot to Cadence.

“What do we do now?” she asked. “I have fulfilled my duties.
Cadence has signed the documents giving her control of this company, with the
one exception. She has to promise not to contact Bryce McClain in any way.”

Preston rubbed his neck. “Do you know why Audra Burke
required such a condition?”

Mother fastened the clasps on her briefcase. “I can’t
discuss privileged information.”

“Privileged?” Preston didn’t even try to keep the
aggravation out of his voice. He’d grown up without a father but he’d always
known who the son of a bitch was. Cadence deserved the same consideration.

His mother didn’t answer. She rested her chin on her fist,
regarded him with narrowed eyes. “You’re interested in her,” she said. “More
than usual.”

“I am,” Preston said. “I want her in my life.”

“Do you think that’s wise?” she asked.

“I think it’s something we both want.”

Mother huffed. “If you care about her, you’ll talk her out
of looking for Bryce McClain.”

“She wants to know who she is,” he answered. “How could you
possibly object?’

“Because I promised Audra,” she said.

“And she’ll lose a considerable chunk of change.”

“Precisely.”

“Well, I didn’t promise Audra Burke anything,” he shot back.

He saw the telltale signs of his mother’s stubbornness. Her
eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared. It was her stubbornness that had moved
mountains for them both. It was her stubbornness that had started him on a
successful career.

His strong-willed mother had made up her mind. It was
another trait he’d inherited from her.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Cadence’s situation bothers me more
than I’d realized.”

“Forgiven,” she said briskly.

“I’ll go talk to Cadence, convince her that she’d be better
off giving up her search for Bryce McClain.”

“Yes, I think that’s a good idea.” She smiled. “I’m sure you
will succeed.”

He headed for the door, trying to think of the right words
to change Cadence’s mind.

“Wait,” Mother said.

He spun around.

“I know this firm means the world to you and you’ve worked
hard to build up an exclusive clientele…”

“We’ve both worked hard,” he interrupted.

Mother smiled. “Yes, I’ve done okay. I’m not the attorney
that you are.”

“You’re the better half of Night and Night.”

She sighed. “I appreciate the flattery. You can be so
charming sometimes.”

Preston hid a smile. Soothing the ruffled feathers of his
well-heeled clients was one of his specialties. His mother saw through him.

“I’ve decided to retire and buy a condo in Costa Rica. I
can’t take these cold winters anymore.”

He stood up straight. “Why now?”

“The Burke situation is finally coming to a conclusion. I
can rest assured Cadence will be well taken care of.”

“I’m taking Night and Night overseas. Who’s going to run our
New York office if you retire?”

“I’m sure you’ll find a qualified candidate. Someone eager
and ambitious just like you.” She rose from the chair and straightened her
skirt. “I need warm weather and sunny beaches. I may even find some romance.”

Preston didn’t try to argue any further. He kept his
disappointment to himself.

* * * * *

Cadence returned to her hotel and asked the concierge to
take messages for her calls in case Preston tried to reach her. She was going
for a run. What’d she’d learned this morning weighed heavily on her. She needed
physical exercise now to get rid of the unbearable tension in her shoulders and
neck and to think.

She ran all the way down Third Avenue, took a dogleg over to
Fifty-Second Street and Grand Central Station. She stopped and bought a bottle
of water from a vendor. As she was taking the top off the bottle, who should
appear but Cyrus. He was dressed in a suit and tie as if he’d somewhere
important to go. His hair was combed back off his forehead, revealing a
sprinkling of freckles.

“Why are you stalking me?” she asked.

He grinned. “Not very friendly, sis.”

“I told you not to call me that.”

“Why not?”

She couldn’t arouse his suspicions. He couldn’t find out
about the hidden trust or her mother’s secret marriage.

“I just prefer people using my name. ‘Sis’ sound childish.”

Cyrus shoved his hands in his pocket but continued grinning.
“Whatever you say.”

“What do you want?”

“You stood me up last night.”

“I had other plans.”

He snorted. Funny how he didn’t look a thing like the mayor.
Maybe Maryanne had gotten it wrong.

“Anything else?” she asked.

“The family wondered why you were hanging around the city,”
he answered.

She downed her water. What could she tell him that didn’t
sound as if she was hiding something? She wiped her mouth with her shirttail
and put the cap on the water. Cyrus watched her like she was something good to
eat. She knew how to wipe that grin off his face.

“I’ve consulted a lawyer. One of the best.”

“You’re contesting Dad’s will,” he scoffed. “You don’t stand
a chance.”

“Maybe, but a court battle will chew up a lot of attorney’s
fees.”

“Where will you get the money for that kind of legal
representation?” he asked.

She’d love to tell him about her fortune just to see his
reaction. She held back. “My lawyer will take the case on contingency.”

“That’d be a stupid thing to do.”

“Think about the publicity. The newspapers will love
reporting on a catfight in the mayor’s family. When the public finds out the
mayor left his daughter without a cent, what do you think the sentiment will
be?”

Cyrus started jingling the change in his pocket.

She started walking.

“You’ll be sorry,” he said behind her.

“No, I won’t.” She sped up. “If you’ll excuse me.”

By the time she reached her hotel, she felt strong. The
workout had helped clear her head but the confrontation with Cyrus had done
wonders. Talking with him hadn’t been easy but now he knew the score. She
wasn’t a pushover.

As she showered, she realized how angry she was, and not at
Preston or his mother but with her mother. She doubted her mother had loved
her. Edward Burke had included her as his child to further his own ambition but
he hadn’t loved her either.

The mayor and his wife had made mistakes, hurt each other,
used each other. Cadence had only been a prop to both of them.

Edward Burke and her mother were gone. Cadence had only one
person left whom she wanted to belong to.

She got out of the shower and dried off. She decided to take
the train to New Haven and pack up her condo, put her things in storage. After
that, she would go to Scotland. She had to meet Bryce McClain. She wouldn’t be
intrusive, wouldn’t ask anything of him except an introduction, but she had to
meet him, even if under the pretense of a nobody. She didn’t have to tell him
who she was—then she wouldn’t lose her inheritance. She’d knock on the door,
pretend to need to use the phone or something.

She dressed in the same outfit she’d worn earlier in the
day. She was almost finished brushing her hair when the phone rang.

“Mr. Night is here.”

Cadence checked her watch, nearly one o’clock. Had he come
by to take her to lunch? She was ravenous after her run. Maybe he wanted to
make good on his promise of bed play.

“Send him up, Melody.”

Where did Preston fit into her future?

She couldn’t say. She’d like to be in a relationship with
him. Maybe that would be asking too much.

She fussed with her hair, realizing the curls at the nape of
her neck were still damp and she’d no time to dry them. Her pulse quickened at
the first knock at the door.

When she opened the door, she gave him what she hoped was a
happy, eager smile. A rejuvenated smile.

“Hi,” she said a little breathlessly.