Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
I open the document and curse. Inside, I find the detailed account of a case I was dragged into years ago as co-council to my father. He broke laws to protect a client and cover up crimes. I was told they would kill us if we crossed them. My father also assured me that if I opened my mouth, I’d be disinherited. Now, it’s come back to haunt me. There is a sticky note—a damn sticky note—attached to the documents, with another note written in my father’s script. “Son, don’t be stupid. The minute you take my will to court, this goes public. I don’t give two bleeps what it does to Hawk Legal. I’m dead.”
And I’m buried, I think.
He was ruthless.
He’s ensured I have two options.
I either marry or walk away from my birthright.
My cellphone rings again and I glance at the caller ID. It’s Bella. I answer the line. “Yes, Bella?”
“The studio head wants to see me tomorrow afternoon. I hate to put you in this position, but I think I need my bad cop along for the ride.”
Bella wants me to travel to LA with her, which in my present state of mind is not a safe proposition for her but right now, I don’t give two shits. “I’ll pick you up at your place at three. We’ll fly out tonight.”
“Okay,” she says. “I, uh—Tyler, we—”
“Have business to attend, Bella. I’ll pick you up at five.” I disconnect and sit there a moment, processing what just happened. And I think of Bella. I think about Bella way too much for the good of either of us. I glance down at the folder and open it again, giving the document another read-through and finding no escape clause. “That bastard,” I bite out, accepting the inevitable,
I dial the third person in my armory of trusted allies, Gavin McCloud, my attorney. “I need a contract drawn up.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Bella
The minute I hang up with Tyler, I shut my door, lean against the hard surface for stability, and draw in a deep, calming breath that doesn’t calm me at all. The problem is that my door reminds me of his door, and the naughty things he did to me against it. This trip, which, no doubt amounts to me and him together in an intimate setting at least a few times, is dangerous. Tyler knows this, too. I know he knows. Neither of us believes what happened between us was right, which I’m sure is why he so harshly dismissed me.
At least he waited until, after my orgasm, I think a bit bitterly, considering how horribly he treated me. It wasn’t necessary. But setting aside my personal feelings that have no more room in this situation than did our behavior, I focus on the reason for this trip. Obviously, Tyler found out something about the new studio head or he wouldn’t believe this trip a necessary evil. He must have found out something about the new studio head. At this point, I have to assume that Dash’s deal is really in danger. And I can’t in good faith hide these negotiations from my brother. I love him too much to end up shocking him with a crisis.
Decision made, I push off the door and straighten with determination. He’ll be at the coffee shop. It’s time to talk to him and confess my worries.
I load up my briefcase, grab my coat and purse, and head for the door. Once I’m in the Hawk Legal lobby and headed toward the elevator, Morgan, the new receptionist, a pretty twentysomething blonde, calls out to me, “Bella!”
Halting, I backstep with the realization I haven’t even told the team I’m leaving and won’t be back for a few days. I rotate and close the space between me and Morgan, already anticipating what might come next. “Please tell me I don’t have a problem to solve.”
“Oh, no. Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to apologize for letting Josh back in the cafe today. I had no idea he was a problem.”
It’s then that I realize I didn’t even ask Tyler what happened between the two men. Not that I think Tyler really gave me the chance, but he also didn’t confront me about Josh showing up to speak to me either. I make a mental note to ask Tyler exactly what was said between him and Josh, because I don’t seem to be fully abreast of the situation.
For now, I focus on Morgan. “He’s not a problem. He’s simply working through a few things, and he came to apologize for allowing that to overflow into his work. Also, I’m heading to LA for a few days. I’m leaving this afternoon, so please take messages and forward them to me. I will still be working for my clients when I’m gone.”