Chapter 19
NINETEEN
B ored, he twirled an ink pen between his fingers, wanting to get the fucking hell out of the meeting.
The weekly meetings were the biggest pains in his fucking life, and that said a lot.
It was everything he could do to pay attention instead of fantasizing about fucking Sage on top of his desk, on her desk, on his couch, in his bed.
Replaying her cleaning Matthias’ kitchen while wearing a thong under the tiny skirt was more enjoyable than listening to the briefings of various cases the firm was representing.
“Kent, you’re up.”
Jerking his thoughts back to the meeting, Kent began discussing his active cases.
“Leon Andros versus Midnight Production starts on the twenty-fourth. It’s ready to go.
There’s nothing new to report.” Kent slid that folder aside, exposing a different file.
“All the dispositions on Samuel Foster’s witnesses are completed.
Court is scheduled for the twenty-third, unless I’m able to get another postponement. ”
“If you can accomplish that, you’ll be a miracle worker,” Jeffrey Hill put his two cents in, which was his worth as a lawyer, Kent thought disparagingly.
Jeffrey had the mistaken arrogant belief he was much better than he was; Kent wouldn’t use his services to fight a traffic ticket.
If a case became more complicated and too difficult, he tended to hand it off to another member on the team.
Three other lawyers in the firm had been working on Thad Wilson’s case, and all three had found a reason to palm it off to someone else.
“Thad Wilson refuses to come back to the States until we assure him he won’t be convicted of a felony hit and run and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
” Reaching for a bagel, which Garrett’s assistant had set up for them, he gave Kent a commiserating look.
“The DA has been trying to get him in court for three years. You’re braver than me.
Judge Carter threatened to report me to the bar if I asked for another continuance.
” He dunked his used plastic knife into another flavor of cream cheese, despite there being other clean knives available.
Jeffrey paused. “What reason are you going to give?”
“Unforeseen circumstances,” Kent answered.
“Which are …?” Garrett prompted.
“Wilson needs surgery. He needs to get his tonsils removed.”
Twelve sets of eyes stared at him with various expressions, from disbelief to laughter.
“You’re really going to walk into court and ask for a continuance for Wilson to get a tonsillectomy?”
Jeffrey’s skepticism didn’t concern Kent, nor the others; it was obvious they shared the same opinion.
“Yes, the UK has universal healthcare. He’s having problems getting it scheduled.” Kent looked down at his neatly trimmed nails. “Of course, they want him to quit smoking before the surgery can be scheduled.”
“Judge Carter will reprimanded you if you go into court with that lame excuse.” Chewing on his bagel, Jeffrey was a disgusting sight. Kent almost asked him not to speak with his mouth full.
“I’ll get the continuance.” He shrugged. “Besides, it won’t be the first time I’ve been reprimanded. What’s the worst thing that can happen? I get suspended? I need a vacation, anyway. Disbarred? I’ll just find another jurisdiction. After I enjoy a long vacation.”
“I’d find another reason,” Jeffrey muttered, despite not offering any useful way to get Wilson to return to the United States and accept his punishment.
Nauseated at Jeffrey licking his fingers before reaching for his third bagel, Kent focused on the details of the case instead of leaning across the table to him punch in the mouth. Days like this was why he resented Wraith for forcing him out of the Phantoms.
“I’m limited with options that haven’t already been taken.
Let’s be honest, we all know Thad is guilty.
He hit Samuel Foster at two in the afternoon as he walked back from taking his foster kids to church.
Wilson’s blood level was over three times the legal limit, testing positive for weed, which is why he hauled ass without stopping.
If Thad’s father was anyone but Theodore Wilson, who has more money than Midas and has dual citizenship, we all know he would currently be serving a fifteen-to-twenty-five-year sentence.
” Using his ink pen, he tapped the file in front of him.
“Theodore Wilson can use his money and connections to keep Thad from being extradited back to Kanas City. The problem is, Thad loves the good ole United States and wants to come back for more good times. What Thad wants, Daddy gets. Hollingworth’s getting paid to accomplish the impossible, and I’m going to make that happen. ”
“Exactly how are you going to accomplish that when none of us have been able to? You’re going to ask for a continuance—you’re using the same playbook as we all did.”
Unperturbed, Kent gave Liam Nestor an unyielding stare when he put in his ten cents into the conversation. “How many continuances have each of you asked for in this case?”
No one answered. Embarrassed silence filled the room.
“I’m only going to need one.”
“How?” Garrett asked skeptically.
“I’m going for a dismissal.”
Everyone in the conference room burst into laughter except for Garrett, although even he seemed unconvinced.
“You’ll never get a dismissal,” Jeffrey said, reaching for the box of bagels again.
Kent leaned forward, sliding the box away from Jeffrey’s reach unapologetically. “Watch me.”
Garrett cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention to him.
“I’ll give you a bonus if you can manage that miracle. Unless anyone has anything else to bring up, you can all return to your offices. Kent, if you don’t mind, I’d like a private word with you.”
Stonily, Jeffrey rose from the table.
“If you need any help with the Watson case, I’m more than willing to lend a hand,” Garrett offered once they were alone in the conference room.
“I have everything under control.” Dismissing the offer, Kent restacked his files.
“You really think you’ll be able to get a dismissal?” Garrett asked.
“I wouldn’t have said so if I weren’t positive.”
“Okay.” Kent angled his head forward. “You’re a cagey son of a bitch. I don’t know whether to believe you or not. So far, all I hear from you is promises and no action.”
“The only thing I promised you that I haven’t been able to fulfill was getting you Desmond Beck. Which you can’t blame on me. He wants Livvy fired. You’re prioritizing your dick over good business.”
“I’m not going to fire Livvy!”
“Then I don’t know what you want me to do. I told you he saw Livvy dining and dashing on a lunch ticket, leaving her trainee to pay. Desmond is old-school; he believes the owner of a business is only as good as those he employees.”
“Did you tell him I made it right? I hired the trainee! She no longer has to work under Livvy. What else can I do except fire her?”
“That was definitely a step in the right direction.” Kent nodded. “I do have a suggestion.”
“Which is?” Garrett looked like he would rather gargle rocks than take any suggestions from him.
“You could organize a small dinner party next week. Invite Desmond and his wife, and maybe four other couples. I’ll bring a date to sidetrack Desmond’s wife while you get better acquainted with him.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Garrett said approvingly. “Do you think he’ll accept the invitation?”
“Address the invitation to his wife after giving a donation to her charity. They’ll accept.”
“You’re a slick son of a bitch.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Gathering his files, Kent looked at him questioningly. “Any other promises I have failed to deliver on?”
“What’s going on with the Ross case? You told me—”
“You should have read your emails this morning before the meeting. Morgan accepted the latest offer.”
“How much?”
“What we asked for.”
“Twelve million?”
“Yes.”
“You just made my day.”
“Glad to help.” Kent didn’t let Garrett bask in his happiness for long. “Buy the townhouse, but I wouldn’t install Livvy until Desmond signs on the dotted line.”
Garrett nodded. “Good call.”
He regretted his decision not to become a divorce lawyer, because he saw a huge settlement in Garrett’s wife’s future.
“Anything else? I have calls to make.”
“There’s just one more thing we need to discuss. I didn’t see a Valerie Monroe on the new clients we’ve taken on.”
“I’m representing her on my own.”
Garrett frowned. “Our contract states the cases you take on in Kansas City—”
“Lucca Caruso,” Kent cut him off again, “is paying for me to represent Ms. Monroe. I didn’t think you would want to publicly have the firm associated with a known mobster or be the one to experience the fallout if she is convicted.
Lucca doesn’t accept failure. If I thought wrong, I’m more than willing—”
“No.” Garrett’s voice rose in fear. He looked like he was going to vomit up the bagel he had eaten. “You were right. I’ll just tell the others you were contracted with Caruso before you started at the firm. I’m willing to make an exception for the good of the firm.”
As money hungry as Garrett was, he wasn’t ready to put his skills to the test, especially if there was a chance of endangering his cushy life.
Standing up, Kent gathered his files into his hands, preparing to leave. “Wise choice. By the way, how did you find out I was representing Ms. Monroe?”
“Jeffrey saw you leaving the jail while he was visiting one of his clients. He asked one of the guards who you were there to see.”
“I was waiting for some information to come back before I told you I had been asked to represent her. I hadn’t decided yet.”
“You haven’t got the information back yet?” Garrett rose, walking across the carpet to stand next to him.
“No.”
“Then why did you tell me you were representing her?”
“I only made up my mind up now,” he lied easily, wanting to make his point. “I don’t like anyone ”—Kent coldly stared into Garrett’s eyes—“digging into my business.”
Holding his gaze until Kent was sure Garrett understand the implied threat, he reached out and opened the door. “You first.” Giving him a benign smile, Kent motioned him forward.
He walked in the opposite direction of Garrett, deciding to drop the files off and use the opportunity to see Sage.
When he entered the elevator, his mind was on Jeffrey more than Sage. He didn’t like the other lawyer and was curious about his actions. Jeffrey could be an unforeseen liability if he wasn’t careful.
Taking Valerie’s case might not have been his brightest move, especially while he needed to keep a low profile at Hollingsworth until he could accomplish the reason he had come here to begin with.
To make Sage fall in love with him.