Grandmother Eileen truly had her spies everywhere. Not that it was a bad thing in this case. But she really needed a new financial adviser. One who could keep his mouth shut. “Yes, Grandmother. That’s correct.”

“Are you playing hotel for your party friends now?”

“No, Grandmother.”

“You’re a shame for the Fielding name and I will—”

“Grandmother, my partner and her son have just moved in. And I have a housekeeper now who has her own room here and takes care of things.”

Silence.

Then a thump and a clack, probably caused by her glass being put down on one of her oak tables. “P…partner?”

“Yeah. I’m in love.”

“The girl from the morning when I—”

Why the heck did everybody think it was this stewardess? “No. Sherry, my partner, has a son.”

“A son?”

Madison had to grin. Who would have thought this would be so much fun? “Yes. Jake. He’s six.” Hopefully.

“You’re making fun of me.”

“No. I’m really in love. As much as I tried to ignore my feelings for her, I just couldn’t. You were right that I was a disgrace to the Fielding name. Sherry convinced me that it would lead me nowhere if I kept having parties all the time. That’s why I decided to join Danielle, and by the way, it’s not a bar but a coffee bar.”

Grandmother Eileen made a strange noise, something between a moan and a squeak before calling for Jonathan.

A few seconds later, the sound of glass on glass followed by the splash of fluid filtered through the line. Without a doubt, her butler had refilled the scotch. “Let’s start this again. You have a girlfriend now? Since when?”

This was the weak point in her story. “It’s all still fresh. I’ve been interested in her for a while now, but instead of confessing my feelings to her I escaped into the arms of strangers who didn’t mean anything to me.”

“Just like your grandfather. God bless his soul.”

The witch believed her? Who would have thought this would go so smoothly?

“So you told her about your feelings a few days ago, and she moved in with you on a whim? With her child?”

“Um, yeah. It turned out she’s just as much in love with me as I’m with her. But—”

“Madison, she’s just after your money. Trust me. Which family is she from? Do I know her?”

“No. She’s a waitress and—”

Grandmother Eileen sucked in a breath. “A waitress? You really are just like your grandfather.” After a few seconds of dramatically breathing into the receiver, she continued, “I want to meet her. I expect you tomorrow for dinner.”

So soon? She would have to instruct Sherry as to every detail. Her whole plan depended on Sherry’s performance. The thought made her dizzy. “As you wish.”