16
A iva pulled into the parking lot of her office. She’d gone to meet with a new client who could not make it to her. She’d gotten so many over the past few months that she was surprised she could keep count. It made sense since the divorce rate was at an all-time high. It was sad to see, but she would not complain. It was what paid her bills.
She grabbed her purse and satchel and stepped out of her car. When she walked through the front door, Aiva wanted to turn around and walk back out. Her day had been going so well; the last thing she’d expected to cause it to turn sour was coming face-to-face with Edison.
“Aiva,” he greeted.
“Hey, Edison.”
She didn’t miss the way her father’s jaw ticked. He was not a fan of her calling him by his name. Aiva didn’t care. If he acted like a father, she would call him as much. Since he didn’t, he would remain Edison.
“What are you doing here?” she questioned. There was no one else in the waiting area, and Finx was familiar with her relationship with her father.
“I came to visit my daughters. Your sister isn’t in, but I was lucky enough for you to walk in. Can we go to your office?”
Aiva didn’t want to, but she figured the sooner they had the conversation she knew was coming, the sooner he would leave, and she could get back to her work. Nodding, she led him down the hall to her office. Opening the door, she turned the light on and went to her desk. She gestured for Edison to take a seat.
“I missed you at the birthday party,” Edison stated as Aiva took a seat. It seemed he wouldn’t be wasting any time getting down to the true reason for his visit. Aiva knew when she saw him in the reception area that was the reason he’d come.
“I’m sure my presence was barely missed with all of your other children in attendance.”
“Everyone noticed your absence. Your siblings missed seeing you.”
Aiva believed that. Even though there were significant gaps in the age difference and enough of them for a football starting line, they were close, which was why she’d already started setting up lunch and days out with them. She enjoyed seeing her siblings. She didn’t enjoy being in their sperm donor’s presence for extended periods of time. Even though she was an adult, she still held the hurt she felt as a child that he’d caused her to endure.
“And I plan on seeing them all soon.”
It was quiet between them for a beat until Edison sighed. “You know, regardless of your feelings, I am your father, and at some point, you have to let go of the past.”
“Yes, you are,” Aiva responded. “Unfortunately, children do not get to choose their parents.”
“Aiva—”
“And letting the past go is difficult when it continues to stare me in the face.”
She found it funny that he wanted her to let go of the way he’d played her and her sister like weapons in their parents’ divorce proceedings, how he’d seemed proud to flaunt his infidelity while going through the divorce. Aiva made a choice not to be upset at the women her father slept with because what they were willing to put up with was their business, and in the beginning they’d been just as oblivious to his bullshit as her mother. However, she’d decided to keep peace within herself and not be around her father when she could help it.
“I’d like for us to get past this. What if one of us died tomorrow? Would you be okay with where our relationship stood?”
Aiva tilted her head as she regarded him. She knew yes was not the answer he wanted to hear, but she honestly thought that she would. As bad as it sounded, she thought little about her father unless one of her siblings or grandmother brought him up or he called her.
Instead of answering his question, she decided it was time for him to go so she could get back to work.
“I need to prep for court.”
Aiva could tell that Edison didn’t believe her. Nonetheless, he stood. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
She watched him leave, and a minute later, Finx popped his head in, asking if she was okay. Aiva nodded, and he disappeared back down the hall. She appreciated his concern, but a conversation with her father hadn’t affected her since she was a little girl. She was simply tired of them.
A iva had an hour and a half of her workday left when Finx buzzed into her office and told her that Harvey was on the phone. She took a deep breath before she told him to send him through. She in no way wanted to deal with him and Mia trying to negotiate more.
She’d already told them what she planned on doing. She’d drawn up the paperwork and would file it first thing tomorrow morning. As a professional courtesy and because she felt sorry for Harvey having to deal with Mia, she’d given Harvey until Wednesday to see if he could talk some sense into his client.
“This is Aiva,” she answered.
“Aiva, it’s Harvey. I hope you’re having a good day.”
“I can’t complain about it. What can I do for you?”
“Mrs. Chandler has decided that she will take the prenup settlement and agrees to the other conditions.”
That made Aiva sit up straight. That was not where she thought this conversation would go, but she was not complaining.
“That was a smart decision. I’ll have the paperwork drawn up for both parties to sign by the end of the week. We can meet in my office on Friday morning for signatures, and I’ll file them that afternoon. Will nine o’clock work for you and your client?”
“Nine sounds good. I’ll let Mia know, and we’ll see you Friday morning.”
They hung up, and Aiva called Knox to give him the good news.
K nox stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel. He wrapped it around his waist as he exited his bathroom. He had no plans for the day since Yasmine was with Mia and decided he would work out to kill some time.
He grabbed his moisturizer off his dresser, sitting in the armchair in the corner, and rubbed it into his skin. Knox had just finished when his phone rang. He stood, grabbing it from the bed where he’d tossed it when he entered, and saw Aiva’s name flash across the screen.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Knox. It’s Aiva.”
It always made him slightly chuckle when she told him who she was whenever she called him. He knew it was probably a professional habit, but he would know that sultry voice anywhere, even if her number wasn’t saved in his phone.
“Hey, Aiva. How are you?”
“I’m good. How are you? How’s Yasmine?”
“We’re good. She’s with Mia for the week, and I’ll pick her up this weekend,” he responded.
“Do you have big plans for the two of you for the weekend?” Aiva asked.
“Nothing as of now, but with Yas, that’s always subject to change.”
Aiva laughed, and Knox wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to that sound. “My youngest sister is the same way.”
That surprised Knox; he was unaware she had a younger sibling. He knew that she and her sister worked together and assumed that was her only sibling. There was still so much he didn’t know about her, but he was going to remedy that.
“I called to give you some news. I received a call from Harvey, and Mia has taken the prenup settlement and agreed to give you full custody.”
“I’m sorry?” Knox questioned. He wasn’t sure that he’d heard her correctly.
“I think she realized it was unwise to go to court.”
After all the fuss she’d put on, he would be lying if he said her deciding to abandon her greedy pursuit of riches didn’t come as a shock. Knox wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but he also knew her well enough to know that there had to be some sort of catch.
“You’re probably right. Mia won’t jeopardize coming out on the losing end.”
“I’m going to draw up the paperwork, and I’ve scheduled with Harvey for us all to meet at my office Friday morning at nine to get everything signed,” she told him.
“Once everything is signed and filed, we’re good to go?”
“It’ll go before the judge; once it does, everything will be completed.”
Knox was happy to hear that. He felt like he’d been on this journey far longer than he had, but he was ready for it to be over with. He was ready for him and Mia to go their separate ways in all things aside from their daughter.
“That sounds good. I’ll see you at your office on Friday morning.”
“I’ll see you then. Is there anything you need from me?”
Knox smirked. “I do, but I can’t have it yet. Enjoy the rest of your day, Aiva.”
The two hung up, and Knox tossed his phone back on the bed. He went to his dresser and pulled out a pair of boxers and basketball shorts. He’d be staying in for the rest of the day, so he didn’t see a reason to put on anything else.
Knox grabbed his laptop and went into his living room. School would be out for the summer soon, and he decided now was a good time to book his and Yasmine’s trip. It would be a nice school’s out trip for her and a great end of the divorce process for him.
When he had their passes purchased and their hotel suite booked, he planned the date he would take Aiva on. He hadn’t dated in some time. But he didn’t want this date to be generic. After all, he was celebrating. Knox also did not doubt that she would agree. She’d pretty much done so when he’d told her he was going to ask her out.
However, Knox wouldn’t assume, and he would ask her again. He only had to wait a few more days. He was glad because his patience was wearing thin the more he thought about and saw her.