Legally Binding (Love and Lawyers)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

PIPER

T he meeting I have to attend or face legal consequences is already intimidating me, and now the building is intimidating me too. I stare up at it as a few raindrops hit me in the face, and I think it might be the tallest in the city.

“Move.” A man bumps into me, pushing me forward, and I drop my umbrella.

He doesn’t bother to give me a second glance as he rushes inside, so I grab my umbrella off the ground before I get drenched. When I walk into the building, my sneakers squeak on the shiny polished floor. The security guards' attention comes right to me, and I wonder if I look like a threat.

“May we help you?” one of them asks.

His eyes go up and down my body with disappointment at my jeans and basic shirt. I didn’t see why I needed to get dressed up for this. I’m not going before a judge. Plus, it’s not like I have anything nice enough for this place to begin with.

“I have a meeting.” They both appear skeptical. Does it count as a meeting if I’ve been bullied into showing up? I still can’t believe it has come this far, but here I am, nonetheless.

“I do, I swear.” I don’t want to be here, and now I’m going to have to convince my way inside. Great.

“With whom?”

“I believe his name is Mr. Adair.”

Okay, so I don’t believe, I know that’s his name.

Of course I googled him. How could I not?

Afterwards I wished I hadn’t because he’s one of the top lawyers in the state.

I shouldn’t be surprised because Mr. Wilson always has the best of everything and is quick to let everyone know it.

He would make it a point to have the best legal team.

"Your name and ID." The guard holds his hand out, and I have to tuck my umbrella under one arm so I can pull my bag close. I’m careful to not let them see inside.

Once I find my ID, I hand it over, and the guard takes his time looking down at it and back to me four times. He finally hands it back, and I gently put it back into my bag, in the side pocket.

“The Adair, Bennett, and Chapman Law Office is on the sixty-sixth floor.”

“How many floors are there in this building?”

“Sixty-six.”

“Right.” Of course it’s all the way on the top floor.

I take a deep breath, but my fear of heights is making my hands shake.

“Thank you,” I mumble before I head over to the bank of elevators and hit the button.

When the doors slide open, I step inside and select the top floor.

Once they close, I check inside my bag again.

“You keep being quiet, okay?” I tell the tiny kitten inside.

I found him on the way here, so what choice did I have but to put him in my bag?

He was shivering in the rain, and I’m not a monster.

The same can’t be said about the people in this building.

I bet they put their law office on the top floor to intimidate people.

It’s their way of being the king of the building, along with letting everyone know they can afford it.

When I reach the top floor, I step out and face a big reception desk. A tall blonde stands, and her icy blue eyes land on me. She’s really pretty and put together with her silky cream-colored blouse and shiny, perfectly styled hair. Somehow her perfection is as intimidating as the building.

I aspire to achieve her level of sophistication one day. I'm not sure being a dog walker and pet sitter will get me there, but who knows? I didn’t think I could be blackmailed into being a surrogate, either, so I guess I shouldn’t rule it out.

I run a hand down my damp hair, which I'm sure is starting to frizz, as I approach the reception desk.

"Good afternoon." She gives me a bright smile before picking up the glasses off her desk and putting them on. "I'm Scout." Wow, even her name is cool.

Whatever stuck-up ice queen I was trying to peg her as melts away. I should know better than most people not to judge. I thought Mr. Willson was a good guy, but clearly he isn’t.

In fact, Mr. Wilson isn’t a good husband or dog owner. He sucks all the way around. Why he wants to be a father I have no idea because he’ll suck at that too. I’m sure he’ll hire a nanny and ignore the kid the same way he hired me but ignored the dog.

"Piper Gray," I say, trying to return the warm smile. It’s no use because I'm not feeling it. Not only because of my mood, but my clothes are damp, and the cool air conditioning isn't helping.

“It's a pleasure to meet you.” She comes around the desk. “Let me take this for you.” Scout takes my umbrella and places it in a gold stand located off to the side. “Will your lawyer be joining you?”

“I don’t have one,” I admit, and Scout's brows lift in surprise. “I can’t afford one,” I tell her. There's no need to conceal the obvious. There’s a clear difference between me and this place.

“Okay.” An expression of concern takes over her face for a split second before she covers it.

“Hit me with it straight, Scout. Can someone really make you have their baby?”

“This is about the surrogacy contract you have with Mr. Wilson, correct?”

“I guess?” I shrug because I’m unsure. It wasn’t a contract exactly.

He and his wife asked about me being a surrogate for them.

At the time I was new to working for them, and they were so nice.

They gave me a sob story about wanting a baby, and I said I’d think about it because it was awkward and I felt bad.

It didn’t take long before I put together they needed a surrogate because Mrs. Wilson enjoys her nights out and doesn't want to give them up.

Then a few weeks ago, Mr. Wilson cornered me.

He told me to call him Bob and went on about his marriage falling apart and wanting a family.

I tried to be understanding and supportive.

I felt bad when he told me his wife was banging her trainer.

Now I don’t know if it was true or not, but it doesn’t matter.

When I was trying to be supportive is when everything changed. He tried to kiss me and pull me into his lap, suggesting I give him a baby. As in, not just carry it, but for him to put it in me himself.

I never agreed to anything, but when I didn’t show up to walk his dog the next day or return all of his calls afterwards, that’s when I got served a letter to show up here today. Or else.

“Are you sure you don’t want to see about getting a lawyer and rescheduling?” Scout says in a low voice so no one else can hear.

“Can I ask you a question?” I whisper.

“Sure, but I’m not a lawyer.”

“Is a verbal contract really a thing? Like it holds weight?”

“Yes, a verbal contract can be legally binding.”

“So it’s his word against mine,” I mutter, knowing no one is going to believe me over him.

“Tell you what, why don’t you have a seat and?—”

Another woman pokes her head around the corner, interrupting whatever Scout was going to say.

“Is that her?” The lady nods toward me but doesn’t let Scout answer. “Because they’re waiting.” She steps closer and waves me toward her. “I can take her back.”

I cast a quick glance at the elevator doors, contemplating whether I should simply make a run for it. Scout gives me a sympathetic look like she knows what I’m thinking.

Taking a deep breath, I follow the woman and hope this can all be sorted out. What are they going to do? Hold me down and put a baby inside of me?

I keep that thought to myself. No need to give anyone any ideas.