Page 84 of A Legal Affair
Daniela paused, remembering Caleb’s reaction to the news, and the speculation that his father would represent the corrupt labor union boss who’d been charged with embezzling funds from his union. Realizing that Olivares might already be a client of the man who now sat across from her, Daniela still opted for honesty.
“I think Olivares’s actions are deplorable,” she said with unflinching conviction. “However, I realize, and appreciate, that the burden of proof rests with the state. If I were Olivares’s attorney, it would be my duty to ensure that he receives the best legal representation possible.”
Crandall arched a dubious brow. “You think it’s that cut-and-dried?”
“Probably not. Few things in life are. But if I had to represent Olivares, my main prioritywouldbe to give him fair legal counsel.”
“Ah, but how would you manage that, when your conscience is telling you that your client’s actions are, as you put it, deplorable? How would you set aside your personal bias in order to best serve him?”
Daniela gave him her most charming smile. “I guess I’ll have to cross that bridge when I’m an attorney working for Crandall Thorne and Associates,” she said affably.
Unable to resist the audacity of her remark, Crandall threw back his head and roared with laughter. Caleb glanced over his shoulder and met Daniela’s eyes, his own expression vaguely amused.
The door opened, and Rita stepped into the room. “Gloria sent me to tell you all that dinner…” Trailing off at the sight of Crandall’s broadly grinning face, she looked at Caleb, who merely shrugged.
“Dinner is ready,” Rita informed them. “And Gloria says you all had better come now, before the food gets cold.”
They dined outdoors on a terrace that boasted stunning views of the endless stretch of valley below.
Everything was perfect—from the pressed white linen that covered the table, to the fresh-cut flowers in crystal vases that perfumed the air with their sweet fragrance. Soon after the foursome was seated, they were joined by Crandall Thorne’s private nurse, Ruth Gaylord, a beautiful woman in her late fifties whose gentle brown eyes and warm, engaging smile immediately put Daniela at ease.
Dinner, courtesy of Crandall’s longtime personal chef, was a sumptuous culinary affair that opened with steaming crab bisque, and was followed by roast duck in a rich wine sauce and succulent Alaskan salmon that melted in Daniela’s mouth from the first bite.
“So, Daniela, are you originally from San Antonio?” Ruth Gaylord inquired when the meal was under way.
Daniela nodded, taking a slow, appreciative sip of vintage Bordeaux. “I was born and raised here.”
“You went to school here as well?”
Again Daniela nodded. “I attended Trinity University.”
“Trinity’s a good private school,” Crandall pronounced from his position at the head of the table, “but you probably would have fared better at UT, which is where Caleb went as an undergrad and for law school. Can’t beat a UT education.”
Seated directly across the table from her, Caleb sent Daniela a rueful smile that apologized for his father’s high-handedness. She smiled back to let him know it was okay.
“Seems to me that Daniela fared just fine at Trinity,” Rita spoke up on her behalf. She reached over and gave Daniela a gentle, comforting pat on the hand. “By the way, you have the most beautiful name. I thought so the moment I heard it.”
“Thank you,” Daniela said. “I was named after my grandmother.”
“Oh, how sweet.” Rita smiled. “Does your family still live in San Antonio?”
“Yes, they do.”
“That’s good. I think it’s important for young women to stay near their kinfolk—helps keep you grounded. Nowadays, you see so many girls graduating college and running off to big, noisy cities to pursue these stressful, high-powered careers. Nobody thinks about raising families anymore—until it’s too late. And then they have to spend thousands of dollars on expensive fertility treatments because their biological clocks have stopped ticking.” She clucked her tongue in patent disapproval. “It’s a crying shame, I tell you.”
“With all due respect, Rita,” Ruth chimed in gently, “I think it’s a bit unfair to place all the blame on the young women.I know there are plenty of women—my youngest daughter included—whoarefamily-oriented and would love nothing more than to settle down and start having children. But the men they’re dating aren’t remotely interested in making such a commitment.”
“Humph,” Rita snorted. “That’s because they’re dating the wrong men.”
Mildly exasperated, Ruth looked to Daniela for help. “Daniela, I’m sure you can attest to what I’m talking about.”
Heat suffused Daniela’s cheeks. “Um…well…”
“You two never know when to quit,” Crandall objected from the end of the table. “Now you’ve gone and embarrassed the poor girl.”
“It’s all right,” Daniela said quickly, all too aware of Caleb’s quiet, watchful gaze. “I’m afraid Ms. Ruth is right, to a large extent. Itdoesseem that many men go out of their way to avoid committing to relationships.”
Rita scoffed at this. “You’re a smart, beautiful girl,” she admonished, as if Daniela were speaking nonsense. “There’s no reason you should have any problems finding Mr. Right.”
