Love Without Influence: Book Two in the Bouvier Family Saga by Jade Dollston

Author:Jade Dollston [Dollston, Jade]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-03-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 32

Andrea popped her head into my office, her eyebrows sitting high on her forehead. “Mister Owens is on line one for you.”

My face scrunched in confusion. “I thought he was out of the country.” Edward Owens was my boss at Owens, Kavanaugh, & Underwood law firm, and he was supposed to be in Paris.

She shrugged. “He said it’s urgent.”

Taking a deep breath, I picked up the phone and pushed the button. “Edward, hello. I hope your trip is going well.” He’d taken his daughter to France for her sixteenth birthday.

“Very well. Melinda is having a blast. I was calling with a request.” Straight to business. That was Edward Owens.

“Of course. Anything.”

“I’ve just been informed that Chloe Bouvier was killed in a motor vehicle accident a couple days ago. She’s Auburn’s mother.”

Yes, I’m quite aware.

Attempting to infuse a sympathetic tone—that I didn’t feel—into my voice, I said, “Oh, what a shame.”

He made a little humming noise. “I’m going to keep my mouth shut on that.” I pressed my lips together to contain my snort. Apparently Edward wasn’t a fan of Chloe’s either; I didn’t know anyone who was. “Anyway, someone from the firm needs to be at the funeral, and seeing as though I’m in France, I need you to go.”

“M-me?” I stuttered as my heart hammered in my chest.

Andrea, sensing something going on, made herself at home in the chair across from me and pressed the speaker button so her nosy ass could hear what was going on. I was too stunned to do more than shoot her a look.

“Of course. Auburn is very impressed with the way you handle things in my absence. I’ve told him you’re our best and brightest criminal lawyer and not a corporate attorney, but he trusts your opinions. What Auburn Bouvier wants, he gets, so you’re officially part of his team.”

Andrea lifted both thumbs and grinned. That was quite a compliment coming from Edward Owens, but my mind was still stuck on the funeral.

“Right, yes. Thank you for saying that. And the entire family will be at the funeral?” My voice sounded higher than usual, and Andrea’s mouth dropped open.

“Who died?” She mouthed, and I waved a hand at her.

“Well, yes. I’m assuming so, Kassie. I’ve talked with Auburn and explained I was with my daughter, and he assured me he wasn’t upset that I can't attend.” His voice turned stern, and I knew I didn’t have much choice in the matter. “Bouvier is one of our most important accounts. It’s vital that the family feels we are there for them at this time.”

“I’d be happy to go,” I said, hoping I didn’t sound as miserable as I felt.

As soon as we hung up, Andrea pounced. “What was that? Who died?”

“Chloe Bouvier, Paul’s wife.”

“Wow, okay. Weren’t they in the middle of a divorce?”

“That’s the rumor,” I said as knots of worry filled my stomach.

“Oh. Wait!” She snapped twice and then pointed at me. “You dated the brother, whatshisname.”

“Monty,” I supplied.

“That’s why you were asking about the family being there.

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