Free Shamrocks and Secrets by Cayce Poponea

me through the rearview mirror, he nodded. "It's Angus, Angus McCoy, Ms. O ’ Rourke. ” He spoke with a thick Irish accent and his grey eyes never meeting mine. His face reminded me of Liam Neeson.
    "Very well, Angus, and in the future, it's Christi."
    "I'm sorry, Ms. O ’ Rourke, Boss says I ’ m to refer to you as Ms. O ’ Rourke."
    "Well, Angus, he isn't here now, is he?”
    “Sorry, Ms. O ’ Rourke, I have orders to follow."
    I couldn't argue with Angus, he was loyal to Patrick even if he wasn't around. I would remember that in the future. Little did I know it would come in very handy.
    Angus drove me the twenty minutes to Amore ́ , a restaurant that was just north of Michigan Avenue. The large green awning hung over the entrance and covered the valet area. Angus pulled in and a man in a red suit opened my door for me.
    "Good afternoon, Ms. O ’ Rourke lovely to see you," the man in the suit addressed me. Clearly he worked for Patrick since he knew my name.
    "Thank you."
    The door to the restaurant was being held by a man in a black suit and I had no doubt he, too was one of Patricks hired hands. I made my way through the door, thanking the man who held it open for me. He tipped his head, but didn't make eye contact.
    A busty blonde in a tight, black business suit was waiting for me once I entered the foyer. She looked familiar, but I didn't have time to ponder on it long before she turned on her heel, curtly snapping at me. "Ms. O ’ Rourke, if you'd please follow me. Mrs. Malloy is waiting in the garden room."
    The blonde gave me a quick look up and down over her shoulder with a tight lip and a furrowed brow; she was clearly sizing me up.
    "Oh, Christi, how lovely to see you again, Lass. ” Nora rose from her chair and greeted me with a kiss to the cheek. Paige was seated to her left and Allyson to her right. I saw only one empty chair and I waited for the blonde to finish pulling it back for me.
    "Thank you, I can manage. ” I told the blonde as I took my chair from her.
    "As you wish," she snapped and then quickly turned on her heels and left the room.
    "Oh, dear, sorry about Simone, I'm not sure why Patrick hasn't fired her yet. She usually isn't this rude, though," Nora stated as I took my seat.
    "That's because she knows Patrick has his sights set on our Christi, Ma," Paige stated. “ Caleb told me he kissed your forehead the other night at the bar. Word travels fast for such a big town. ” Paige added
    "Like that would change anything when it comes to Patrick, you know as well as I do he doesn't cross those lines." Allyson spoke her voice serious.
    "Wait...Patrick owns this place, too? ”
    All three ladies looked directly at me, and then began to giggle.
    "Yes, Christi, Patrick owns a lot of restaurants, bars, and hotels here in Chicago," Paige informed me.
    "Christi, please say you'll forgive my scheming from last night," Nora voiced, changing the subject completely.
    I smiled at her. I knew she only meant well and I highly doubted she had ever been told no a day in her life.
    "There's nothing to forgive, I assure you."
    "So, my son tells me you've given him some homework, so to speak."
    "I'm sorry?" I questioned, completely taken off guard.
    "Don't worry; I think its good for him to work for something. Your father was right in giving you the choice and not just handing your hand over to him. You're exactly what he needs, Christi. You have a good head on those pretty shoulders of yours, and good for you for not just falling down at his feet. He needs to work hard at something once in a while."
    I was astonished at Nora's words. She thought I was playing some game with Patrick, for what I wasn't certain.
    "Nora, I feel the need to clarify some things with you. I didn't agree to a relationship with your son not because I'm playing a game of sorts with him, but I honestly feel there's someone else more suited to his needs out there than me. I truly want nothing from him."
    "Told you," Allyson