Chapter 4
Chapter Four
LANDON
I ’ve spent the better part of five minutes in total silence because I’m trying to figure out how to tell my client he can go fuck himself in a polite way.
“Can we speed this up?” Bob looks at his watch impatiently.
“I’m going to assume that you don’t know this because you’re asking me to include it in a legal document, but sex in exchange for money is not legally binding.”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t know that.” He smirks like he’s solved the problem.
My hands are shaking with rage as I squeeze them together and pretend they are around his neck. “Although Miss Gray may not be aware that it’s immoral, if the contract were to appear before a judge, I could be disbarred. And no amount of money is worth risking that.”
There, I’ve gotten it out in the most professional way possible.
I take a deep breath to clear away my anger and calm down.
I will not lose my cool, I will not lose my cool, I will not lose my cool.
I tell myself the chant over and over, but I have a feeling it’s not going to work until I can punch something.
“Then I’ll make sure it doesn’t reach a judge. I’ve got deep pockets, and it affords me the things I want.”
“There are other services out there that would be eager for your”—I have to swallow the vomit creeping up my throat—“generous offer. Ones that wouldn’t require coercion or that could put you in a legal battle.”
“I don’t want a whore.” His expression changes to disgust.
“Sex worker,” I snap, correcting him. “And I’m referring to professional surrogacy services. Including ones that would provide the ovary if you don’t wish for your wife to be involved.”
“I want her.” He pounds his fist on the table like a child.
“You want her because she turned you down,” I say, and I know I won’t be able to bite my tongue for much longer.
“I’m not paying you for your fucking opinion, Adair.” Bob’s face turns red as he gets heated.
“Actually, that’s exactly what you pay me for.” I can feel blood pounding in my ears as I close the folder and stand. “And I’m of the opinion that I won’t be able to represent you in the completion of this contract, and you are well within your rights to try another firm.”
“How fucking dare you?” Bob stands from his chair too and points his fat finger in my direction. “You work for me, and you do what the fuck I tell you to do.”
Straightening to my full height, I casually tuck my hands in my slacks and allow a slow smile to creep across my lips. “I think you might be mistaken, Bob.” I take a few steps closer to him, and he takes a cautious step back.
“Mistaken? About what?”
“Did I ever tell you about where I grew up?” His confusion deepens as I take another step toward him. “I was taken in by the Logenelli family when I was nine. The head of the family, Dino, found me eating out of a garbage can.”
“I—I didn’t know.” Bob’s face pales as he takes another step back.
“He likes me to call him Uncle Dino. You know him, don’t you?
” I pause and grin. “On second thought, I’d advise you not to answer that.
But anyone with pockets as deep as yours would have done business with him.
” I shrug as I take another step in his direction.
“He was the one who sent me to college and helped me become a lawyer.”
Bob tries to back up again but hits the window overlooking the city. He glances behind him like he’s contemplating jumping before he turns back to me.
“So what I mean when I say you appear to be mistaken is that you’re under the assumption that I won’t fucking end you.”
“T-there’s no need for violence.” He chuckles nervously. “I was looking for a way to fuck her, okay? I admit it.” When I don’t speak, he hurries to fill the silence. “She’s nothing, nobody, it’s not a big deal. No need to get anyone else involved.”
There’s a screech from outside the conference room and then Judith yanks open the door. Her expression is frantic, but she pauses to look at how I’m looming over Bob threateningly.
“Um, we need you out here. Both of you,” she says and then darts out in the hallway.
I run after Judith when there’s another crash and I step in the hallway in time to see Mrs. Wilson throwing a vase at the wall.
“Kandi, what the fuck are you doing?” Bob shouts while I search for Piper.
“The little bitch ran out,” Mrs. Wilson snaps. “Do you have any idea how many servants I had to go through before you finally wanted to fuck one?”
“Oh shit,” Judith whispers from beside me.
By now, Griffin and Spencer have come out in the hallway to watch the drama. Good thing because Mrs. Wilson is putting on a show.
“I even tried men!” she shouts.
“Shut your fucking mouth, Kandi,” Bob hisses through his teeth.
“Maybe you two should have this conversation privately,” Judith suggests, but Mrs. Wilson keeps going.
“I paid so much money for the help to strut around in next to nothing and you wouldn’t give them the slightest bit of attention.” She lets out an evil laugh. “But it turns out, all I had to do was find someone that was as repulsed by you as I am. Suddenly you couldn’t stay off of her.”
“Shut your goddamn mouth!” Bob goes to lunge at her, but I move in his way.
“You don’t have to protect me,” Mrs. Wilson says. “Let him face me like a man.” She’s taunting him into coming after her, and I have to think there’s something in their prenup about him hitting her that’s motivating her to keep pushing him.
“Maybe everyone should take a deep breath,” Judith tries again, but nobody is listening to her.
“You think I’d ever let one of your parasites grow inside me?” Mrs. Wilson laughs, and Bob tries to charge at his wife.
“Call security,” I shout as I have to physically restrain Bob.
“They’re here!” Scout calls from the front, and four security guards come in behind her.
It takes a little while to wrangle them onto the elevator, and they both do their fair share of damage along the way. As soon as the elevator doors close, silence falls over all of us.
“Rich people are so fucking weird,” Griffin says, and the room bursts into laughter.
Once Griffin and Spencer go back to their offices, I search for Scout. She’s probably in the break room fighting with the coffee machine again.
“Hey, did Piper say where she was going?” There’s not a lot on her in the file, but I know some people who are good at tracking. I wasn’t bluffing about my Uncle Dino.
“No, but I have a guess.” Scout grins like she’s got a secret.
“Which is?” I’m impatient to know so I can find her. I’m telling myself that it’s to let her know the contract isn’t happening, but deep down I know it’s so I can see her again.
“The closest pet store.”