Heart's Reward. Donna Hill

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СКАЧАТЬ you. Well, there’s a private party and reception at the American embassy…”

      All eyebrows rose on cue.

      “Black tie, invitation only.”

      “Get to the good part, Uncle Alan.”

      Alan chuckled. “That’s where your new client will be tonight. I thought it would be a great time to meet him, so I finagled invitations for all of you.” His voice lowered. His tone turned mockingly serious. “I presume you have something suitable to wear?”

      Whoops of laughter echoed around the room.

      Alan tossed his head back and laughed. Man, it was good to be home.

      Vincent checked his Rolex. “What time do we need to be ready, and uh, can I bring Cherise?”

      “I got you covered, son. Call that pretty wife of yours and tell her that the Hartes are partying tonight. A car will be here to pick us up at seven.”

      All three women’s hands immediately reached for their hair at the same time.

      “I’ll give Leona a call and let her know we’ll be at the shop in a half hour,” Melanie said quickly. After all, a woman’s crowning glory was her hair. She turned to her brother. “With all of the excitement you never told me who our potential client is.”

      Four sets of eyes landed on Alan. “His name is Claude Montgomery. He’s the chief of staff for Senator Lawson.”

      The doors to the conference room opened and the corridor filled with conversation. Some voices were raised in laughter, and others were low in muted discussions.

      Claude loosened his tie. He veered off from the throng of suits that filled the hallway. He checked his watch. A three-hour meeting. Inwardly he groaned. Most of the time had been spent arguing points that had been debated for the past month. Typical Washington politics. He fully understood the frustration of the President and the American people. He was just as frustrated. No one else seemed to mind. It was business as usual on Capitol Hill. He strode down the hall, putting on his game face to deter even the most relentless lobbyist.

      “Mr. Montgomery, these papers need your signature,” his secretary said, waylaying him. She carried a folder under her arm that bulged. Her smile was sympathetic.

      He’d hoped to be able to sneak away under the radar, tie up some loose ends in his office and catch a plane to New York.

      She quickened her step to keep up with him. “I know you have a flight to catch. I’ve tabbed the pages that you need to sign.”

      They turned left and walked down another corridor lined with doors. Name plates identified the offices. His office was around the next turn. He opened the door and let her go in first. She crossed the room and stood in front of his desk.

      Joyce had worked for him since he was named chief of staff for Senator Lawson. Six years. She knew him well, and that meant catching him when she could. She was a master at timing his entrances and exits. She was smart, discreet and damned good at her job, Claude thought. What he appreciated most was that she never wielded her sexuality. Joyce Holden was stunning. She was an exotic mix of East Indian and African American with a luminous honey-brown complexion, wide dark eyes and silky black hair that hung like a veil to the middle of her back. Her body rivaled a Victoria’s Secret model. He’d been hesitant about hiring her for all of those reasons. He didn’t need or want the distraction. But her professional demeanor dwarfed her allure. He gave her a chance and there wasn’t a day that he’d regretted his decision. They were co-workers, equals and friends. He wouldn’t be able to manage without her.

      He took off his jacket. His stark white shirt appeared to gleam against his rich chocolate complexion. There was a line of women in D.C. who vied for Claude’s attention, Joyce thought. She placed the folder on his desk and opened it. What she admired about him was that he never mixed business with pleasure. In all the years she’d worked for him, there was never even a whisper of impropriety. He was often the topic of discussion among the female staffers. They all wanted her take on his availability and their chances with him. Her answer was always the same: “Set your sights elsewhere.” She was one of the few people that knew anything about his personal life and what had scarred him. Her loyalty and admiration of him would never allow her to share that knowledge.

      “These are the staff reviews that you approved for this quarter.” She lifted them out of the folder and handed them to him one at a time.

      As chief of staff he was responsible for more than one hundred employees who were part of Senator Lawson’s team, from file clerks to committee members. It was his job to know each and every one of them by name, their responsibilities and their ability to do what they were hired to do. He also took time to get to know them personally, their families, their long-term ambitions, their shortcomings and strengths. If the team looked good, Senator Lawson looked good. He had the senator’s ear and his complete confidence, and every member of the team knew that if they wanted to get ahead they needed to stay on the right side of Claude Montgomery.

      “Long weekend coming up,” he said, glancing at the document in front of him. “Any special plans?” He scrawled his signature at the bottom. Joyce handed him the next file.

      “Me and Luke and the kids are going to Seattle to spend some time with his parents.”

      “How is his mother?”

      She handed him another document. “Better. But she hasn’t been the same since the stroke.”

      He glanced up and caught the unhappy look in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something else I could do. I know it must be a real strain on Luke.”

      “You’ve done more than anyone could ask. The therapist and home attendant that you got for her has made a world of difference and took a lot of weight off of Luke’s and his father’s shoulders. We can’t thank you enough.”

      He waved off the sentiment. “If you need more time, just let me know. We’ll work it out.”

      They pushed through the paperwork and finally closed the folder.

      “Your flight leaves in an hour. I have the car waiting for you outside.”

      He stood and grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair. She walked to the corner and handed him his briefcase on his way out of the door.

      They walked out together.

      “Try to enjoy yourself. I know how much you hate those gatherings.”

      He groaned. “I’ll try.”

      “Have a safe trip,” she said.

      He walked out of the building and into the late afternoon breeze. “Thanks.” He waved goodbye and jogged down the stairs to the waiting Lincoln Town Car.

      Within moments he was reclining against the lush interior upholstery of the car and speeding through the streets of D.C. Before long the iconic images of the White House, the Washington Monument and the Capitol building became smaller until they disappeared in the distance.

      He leaned back against the soft leather and closed his eyes. Getting out of town and back to his home in Westchester was always something that he looked forward to. It was an opportunity for him to unwind and shed the rigors and stress that confronted СКАЧАТЬ