piece of real estate in Paris, France, with views the length of the Champs-Ãlysées to the Arc de Triomphe.
Farrah pushed up her sun visor and caught a glimpse of her image in its mirror. The sight of her lips summoned the memory of the kiss sheâd shared with Robert. âWhat the hellâs wrong with you? This is exactly why you have to either learn to control yourself or stay the hell away from him,â she said to her reflection.
She noted that Robertâs car was missing from its space. They drove the same kind of Porsche, but his was a startling black. He, too, had a thing for enjoying life and a few expensive toys. Something that should make them gravitate toward one another, but his capacity to make her feel inadequate about her work was the very thing that drove her away. She couldnât understand why he didnât just trust her ability to handle their court case to its end.
Farrah exited the car, entered their building and made her way to the floor where the administrative offices of Blake & Montgomery were located. In addition to their company, their building housed her and her sisterâs personal residences as well as several additional apartments. Farrah walked past the midlevel cubicles as she headed to her office after being stopped only once.
Farrahâs office was designed exactly like her sisterâs, only her furnishings were less traditional and more contemporary. A large oval-shaped curly-redwood desk with a turquoise inlay was the focal point of the room. There was also a six-seat, round curly-redwood conference table with red leather high-back chairs, and bookshelves that held a mixture of books and antique art pieces. In a corner stood a small, fully stocked bar and an antique hidden safe.
She had just powered up her computer when her office door flew open and only partly closed, allowing Paul White, the Blake sistersâ part-time stylist, to make a dramatic entrance.
âWhere have you been? Iâve been dying here. How did Francineâs ultrasound go?â Paul asked, excitement written all over his clean-shaven face as he placed an electronic tablet and coffee cup on Farrahâs desk. He used his hand to brush his curly black hair from his face.
Paul also happened to hold the title of Francine and Farrahâs assistant, best friend and unofficial brother. Theyâd been friends throughout grade school and when Paulâs family abandoned him after he came out his sophomore year of college, the Blake family had welcomed him with open arms, making his college years less lonelyâhis words exactly.
âYou need a haircut,â Farrah said.
âI know. What happened?â
âYou mean she hasnât called you yet?â Farrah said, frowning as she leaned back in the Herman Miller chair.
âYeah, she called while I was on the phone taking care of everything for your New York trip, so she had to leave me a message.â Paul slipped his tall, lean frame into the chair across from Farrahâs deskâhis favorite spot. âAll she said was that she had âbig newsâ and that sheâd call me later because she was taking the rest of the day off to celebrate with Meeks. So...â Paulâs hazel eyes had widened and he was rotating his index finger. âSpill. What are they celebrating?â
Paul leaned in, eyebrows rising in comedic fashion.
âThe ultrasound revealed that...â She paused for dramatic effect.
âWoman, donât make me kill you up in this fancy office of yours!â
âTheyâre having twinsâa boy and girl.â
Paul flew out of his chair and started dancing around the room. âYes! Yes! Yes!â
At that moment, Robertâs face flashed through her mind again, and she felt a pain in her chest that she didnât dare give a name. Would she have been happy if sheâd gotten news that she was carrying Robertâs child? Would they share doctorâs