Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Wayfair’s assistant showed them into his office. “Lana, Trevor, what a pleasant surprise.” The man stood up from his desk, holding out his hand like they were all great friends.
Lana stared at his offered hand but didn’t return the gesture. Wayfair’s smile didn’t falter.
“Won’t you sit down?” He was all smugness with the knowledge that he’d won. But Lana wasn’t just going to take it. She knew what Wayfair had done.
And she needed to look this man in the face and show him that he couldn’t intimidate her.
She’d been so terrified by the stalker when she’d believed he could be an actual threat.
Now she knew the truth. But the fear she’d experienced had been real, and she would make sure Paxton suffered real consequences for it.
“We had quite a battle, didn’t we?” the man said. “It’s too bad only one of us could come out the victor. But you know what they say, the fun is all in the journey.”
Lana crossed her legs. “I like your battle analogy. It acknowledges this war isn’t over. So, did you take those pictures on the beach yourself? Or did you send your little helper, the one who tried to get me into a car accident?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lana.
I didn’t take those pictures. And I certainly didn’t force you to pose for them with your witness.
You’re the one who falsified evidence and tried to frame my client.
” He shrugged, his sleeve inching up over his Rolex.
“I guess this time the justice system worked.”
“Cut the crap, Paxton. I didn’t falsify one damn thing, and neither did Max. Your client is guilty. You got that mistrial through manipulation. You knew the only way you could win was by playing dirty.”
His cool exterior was slipping. “How exactly did I play dirty? I didn’t do anything that was out of bounds. I’m a zealous advocate, but I always stay on the correct side of the rules. It’s not my fault you had your witness lie about your relationship, and then paraded around with him in public.”
“So, you won’t admit what you did? Setting up those phone calls? The threats?”
Wayfair looked at Trevor. “Do you have an idea what this woman is babbling about? Because she’s not making any sense.”
Lana gripped the arms of her chair. She’d sworn to herself that she wouldn’t get angry, but Wayfair was testing her. This must’ve been how Max had felt on the stand.
“I know you were behind it. You made me believe I had a stalker.”
“A stalker?”
“You told him to threaten to hurt me. And that day, when he chased me in his car, he nearly did. Did you write the scripts for him? Or did you just give him creative license.”
“Lana told me all about it,” Trevor chimed in. “You might as well admit it now.”
She smiled. “I know how you love deals, Paxton. I’ve got all the evidence I need that you were stalking me. That you set up that farce in Vaughn’s courtroom. So, make me an offer. Give me a reason not to tell the police and the appeals court and attorney regulation everything you did.”
Wayfair was sputtering, loosening the knot of his tie from his throat. “I got the pictures from an anonymous source. It came in a courier envelope and just had a note saying, ‘You’ll know how to use this.’ Which I did. But this stalker stuff? I haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about.”
Lana couldn’t believe he was holding out this long. “Then how did you know that Max and I had a history in the first place? You were having me followed.”
“Where you go in public is fair game. It was obvious you were spending a lot of time with that guy. My instincts told me there was more to it, and I was dead-on. But the rest of this nonsense, these supposed phone calls, this car chase or whatever it was. None of it has anything to do with me.”
Wayfair stood up, bracing his hands against his desk.
“So why don’t you go for it. Do your worst. Tell the appellate court whatever make-believe you want.
If it’s a war you’re after, Lana, then you can have one.
I was willing to keep this all professional, and just forget about your ample ethical violations and promiscuous tendencies. But if you insist—”
Lana shot up to standing. “I’m not going to sit here and listen to this. I came here as a professional courtesy, but courtesy is lost on you, Paxton. The next time I see you, it’ll be in court.”
On the way back to West Oaks, they got stuck in traffic, just as Lana had expected. But she still bounced her knees impatiently, wanting to be home. She was going to call Max as soon as she got there.
She didn’t know what to make of Wayfair’s denials. He could still be playing his little games. Yet he’d been so adamant, so shocked and confused by her accusations.
Could he seriously have no idea about the stalker?
No. She just didn’t believe it.
“I’m sorry I didn’t stand up for you more in there,” Trevor said.
“Don’t worry about it.” Lana squeezed her car into the next lane over, hoping it might somehow move faster. The 101 was a freaking parking lot.
Maybe she should’ve called Wayfair by phone, instead. But she’d wanted to face him in person, and it had felt good to show him she wasn’t afraid.
“No, I should have defended you,” Trevor insisted. “Calling you names? It’s just not right.”
“I can’t disagree with you there.”
“Are you going to the police about him stalking you?”
“I already have. They have an open file on the issue. But I’m not sure exactly how I want to pursue it.
I’ve got people at Bennett Security working on tracing the stalking incidents to Wayfair, so I can prove his involvement without a doubt.
” She’d exaggerated the solidity of her evidence in Wayfair’s office.
But they’d get there. “And I’m going to nail whoever was working with him, because he had help. ”
“Oh.” Trevor screwed up his lips, thinking. “I wish I’d known before about the stalker thing. I could’ve done something.”
“I don’t think so,” Lana said gently. “Though I really appreciate the sentiment. Max is one of the only people I told, because he deals with stuff like this for a living. But I didn’t want a lot of people to know. I really thought it wouldn’t affect the trial, and that I could handle it.”
Trevor looked out the passenger side window, but she caught his frown. “So, you’re really seeing Max Bennett.”
“It was very recent. He didn’t lie at the hearing.”
“Oh, I know. You would never have told him to lie. But that day at the beach, when you and Max were there together—”
“What do you know about that day?”
“I just saw the pictures that Wayfair had, that’s all I mean. And I think that Max should never have taken you there. He should’ve protected you better than that.”
She squeezed her hands around the steering wheel. “Trevor, this isn’t any of your business.”
“I just don’t think he deserves you. He’s the reason we lost the trial.”
She tried to keep her annoyance in check. Trevor probably felt grief over losing the Hearst case, too. He’d been the second chair. It would be a stain on Trevor’s career, though to a lesser degree than hers. And she’d only been focused on her own pain.
“I do understand that you feel upset about what happened. Max apologized, and it was Wayfair who orchestrated the whole situation. Beyond that, I’m not going to discuss my personal life with you. So please don’t bring it up again.”
They drove the rest of the way in awkward silence. It was night when they pulled up to the DA building, where Trevor had left his car.
He hesitated before getting out. “I’m sorry that I offended you. I felt like I should speak my mind, but you’re right, it’s not my concern.”
Lana sighed. “The meeting with Wayfair was stressful. Let’s just forget about the ride home and what was said. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.”
Trevor nodded. He opened the door and slid out, his skin sallow under the harsh security lights.