Harvey finished speaking, and Orlena pouted. Her skepticism was clear as day. "What's in it for me?"
With a playful smack to her head, Harvey smirked.
The perks?
“The perks are you get to date Brett, tie the knot, and then there's little Daniel.” he thought.
Orlena let out a dramatic sigh. "Don't think I'm clueless, Harvey. You're just using me to lure this girl here, then you’ll send me packing once she arrives, right?"
Spot on.
Harvey didn't bother denying it. His slender, graceful hands adjusted his tie. He was the picture of refinement.
With a mischievous grin, Orlena dialed the number, muttering under her breath, "So, Harvey has met his match, huh?"
She'd heard all about it. Harvey was smitten with a girl named Eloise, aprodigy at the Peterborough Music College, a piano virtuoso.
Orlena had sneakily looked at her picture – quite a looker, definitely Harvey's type.
The phone connected, and Eloise's voice came through, rejecting the offer flatly, "Attorney Horigan, as I've said before, I'm not interested in accepting the invitation."
Orlena glanced at her brother. Harvey gently patted her head.
Orlena immediately shifted gears, putting on her sweetest voice. "I'm Orlena... uh-huh, Attorney Horigan's sister. Just call me Orlena. It was actually me who invited you. I adore the piano, just like you. Please, come over. If you don’t mind, I can drive over and pick you up.”
Eloise was taken aback. Orlena? Wasn’t she being a bit too forward?
But Orlena’s charm worked its magic, and after a few more sweet nothings, Eloise gave in, even revealing when her classes ended.
...
After hanging up, Orlena hugged her phone triumphantly. “How are you gonna thank me, Harvey?”
Harvey pulled out his checkbook and scribbled a number.
Ten million.
He tore it off and handed it to her, then printed out a picture and slipped it to her. “This guy, Brett, is also for you. Stick his photo by your bed and aim high.”
Orlena pouted. “I want to meet Eloise.”
Harvey really didn’t want to bring his sister along, but after a moment’s thought, he relented. It turned out Eloise had a soft spot for Orlena's antics.
Peterborough Music College.
At four in the afternoon, Eloise's classes were done, and she was ready to head home, books in hand.
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