The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda (speld decodable readers txt) 📕

office or I’ll call the police to escort you out. Do you want that? Stop pushing me or I’ll—” Kate looks a little menacing, I’ll admit. It’s hard to look menacing in dusty rose, but she’s achieved it.

And why is she talking about police? She’d never call the cops. “Or what, Kate? I always win when it’s the two of us. Don’t you know that by now?”

“Young lady, that’s enough.” Bob points his old crooked finger at me and looks like he’s the one who is about to have a heart attack. “I’m calling the police.”

“Bob!” Sandra yells.

I thought we weren’t allowed to yell at EventCo? “Sandra. Inside voices. You know that.”

Sandra says, “I am here to collect your keys and escort you out of the EventCo offices. I assume you don’t have anything to pack up? Perhaps out there, at your real desk? But I believe you took everything with you when you resigned.”

She should not be messing with me. None of them should be. “I’m not packing up anything. As for this office, my new office, I’m leaving it as is, to honor John. If you keep pushing me, I’ll also take his title, CEO of EventCo, although as a nod to Kate, I was offering to be co-president. Maybe I just need to start over with a new human resources executive. There must be a million who are more qualified.”

“Stop the nonsense!” Kate is glassy eyed, with a creepy-looking smile. “You will leave immediately. Do you understand?”

Poor Kate. “You seem to think this is your decision.” I’m surprised she doesn’t accept that John, my husband, gave me half of the company. Too bad.

“Young lady.” Bob looks like he’s having a stroke. Good. “Leave this moment.”

“Old guy,” I quip back. Tish, take a breath. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Kate says, “Upon John’s death, the company transferred to me and Ashlyn. It’s all well documented in John’s will. You’re simply wrong.”

Where is my lawyer? We have this all planned. He’d better show up. I take a deep breath. “You are mistaken. There is a new will.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Kate turns her back to me and motions for Sandra and Bob, but she’s still talking loud enough for me to hear her. “John would never do that. I have the copy of his will in the safe in my office. Bob, can you finish escorting her out? I’m done here.”

Bob points a trembling finger at me. “You’ve caused enough trouble, young lady. There is no new will. I drafted John’s will myself. You have no stake in this company. None at all.”

That’s funny. “Oh, Bob, you’re so behind the times. That happens with age.”

Kate holds her phone in her hand. “I’m calling the police chief. He’s a personal friend. One word from me and he’ll be right over.”

“That would be a big embarrassing mistake for you, Kate. And such a bad news story for EventCo, am I right?”

A knock on the office door startles my guests, but I’ve been expecting him. “Come in, George. Meet my lawyer, everybody.”

My trusty lawyer trundles into the room like he owns the place, or at least like he’s been here before. Which he hasn’t. He did slip into the memorial service and give me a quick hug, but I didn’t introduce him around. I thought I’d save the surprise of him until I needed it. And now is the perfect time. He’s not one to be thrown off by tense situations. He thrives in them.

“Hello, all. Sorry to be late to our meeting, but the traffic coming up the interstate was just horrible. I’m George Price, Mrs. Nelson’s attorney.” George takes off his fedora and sticks a beefy hand out toward Kate, who shakes it quickly.

I know she wants to wipe her hand on her pants leg. She thinks George is slimy. And she’s right. But she also thinks I am stupid. She’ll pay for underestimating me. They all will.

“Ma’am,” George says, “You must be the one of the founders of the company. Nice to meet you.” He turns and shakes Sandra’s hand. “And you’re HR, as they call it. And you’re corporate counsel? Nice to see you, Bob.”

George is laying it on thick, full-on country bumpkin. Sandra is speechless. Bob is sweaty. Kate is stunned. I love it.

George turns to me with a wink. “And how’s my favorite president doing?”

“Better now that you’re here. There seems to be a misunderstanding.” I’m acting like an executive now. Measured, serious, confident. “Why don’t we all sit down, over there where it’s more comfortable.”

“Great idea. I’d love a cup of coffee. Double sugar,” George says. “Do you have someone who can fetch that for me, doll?”

I almost don’t stop myself. But I do. “Unfortunately, I haven’t hired an executive assistant yet. That’s one of the many things Sandra will handle for me.”

“Until she does, maybe she could fetch me a coffee?” George says, looking at Sandra, who simply shakes her head and walks out the door.

“You aren’t going to get away with this.” Kate stands arms crossed, refusing to join Bob, George, and me on the couch.

“Listen, ma’am, I don’t like your tone.” George sits, the black leather sighs under his weight. “We’re being nice. Why don’t you try it?”

“Here’s nice. I won’t press charges against you, or your client here, if you leave immediately. John’s last will leaves this company to our daughter and me. He would never leave our business to her.” Kate’s words are measured, superior. She thinks she’s better than me. Better than George. She thinks she’s better than everyone. Her superiority complex is so annoying. I know George agrees. I hope he’s as good at his job as I think he is.

I put my hand on George’s shoulder. “The only way to work through this little issue here is to show them the will. Go ahead, George.”

“All righty, let me get that out.” We all watch in silence as George fumbles around in his beat-up briefcase. It’s probably pleather, I