Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cree paced the length of her office, her feet quiet against the plush carpet. From the moment she arrived at the firm, she debated on whether her plan of confronting Warren was a good one.
What if he wasn’t the person who hired the PI? But each time that thought flashed through her mind, she shot it down. He had to be the one behind all this, and instead of waiting to play defense, she was playing offense.
She stopped near the window and stared out at nothing in particular as she thought about the private investigator.
Cree wasn’t sure when he was turning in his report, but she had a feeling it would be soon.
Otherwise, the guy probably wouldn’t have shared anything with Milton the other day, but she couldn’t be sure.
What concerned Cree most was not knowing what was in the report. The photos were damning, clearly showing her dating her client, but what else would the PI share?
Sighing, she thought about something else that came up yesterday.
She and Tristan had spent part of the day before looking at social media posts of those who had attended her party.
There were videos of Tristan playing the piano, and tons of photos that included the two of them together.
More importantly, the news was getting around about their marriage.
Maybe they shouldn’t have been so rash in eloping without thinking everything through. But Cree hadn’t been able to help herself. Being in love with Tristan was all-consuming, and it was easy to throw caution to the wind when your man made you feel like all was well in the world.
She soon found out it wasn’t when her parents called before she and Tristan could share the news.
To say Virginia was disappointed was an understatement.
She dreamed of planning weddings for all her girls, and she told Cree that she robbed her of doing just that.
Her mother also insisted Cree’s father was looking forward to one day walking her down the aisle.
Virginia had always been good at laying on the guilt.
The only thing that saved the conversation from being too disappointing was when Tristan told both sets of parents that he and Cree were planning a reception for family and their closest friends.
That appeased everyone, and the best part was Cree didn’t have to plan it.
They immediately hired a wedding planner with specific instructions on what they wanted and didn’t want.
The number one item—guests. No more than a hundred.
In the meantime, Cree needed to focus on her career.
Huffing out a cleansing breath, she strolled out of her office.
It was time for a face-to-face with Warren.
Wearing a double-breasted suit dress that hugged all her curves and stopped just above her knees, Cree felt powerful and in charge.
Not only did the outfit catch attention, but it made her feel like the badass Tristan claimed her to be.
As she approached Warren’s closed office door, she slowed and mentally thought about everything she needed to say to him. Once she was ready, she gave the door a quick knock, and then she did something he often did, she walked in like she owned the place.
Warren was seated at his desk but stood abruptly, confusion on his face. “Cree. Since when do you barge into my office?”
She closed the door and approached his desk. “Since you decided it was a good idea to have me followed. Did you honestly think I wouldn’t find out that you hired a private investigator to keep tabs on me?”
Though she didn’t know for sure if Warren was behind this, Cree was taking a gamble. She couldn’t think of anyone else at the firm who would do something like this, and she watched Warren carefully for any signs of deception.
He removed his readers and set them on the desk, giving her a better view of his deep gray unflinching eyes.
His salt and pepper, full mane of hair had recently been cut and was as neat as usual.
He believed in looking his best, and the expensive three-piece suit, that draped perfectly over his slim build, was a testament to that fact.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said and reclaimed his seat. He opened a file folder on his desk and started to look through it.
Seriously?
Cree slammed the folder shut. No way was she going to stand there and be ignored.
Warren shot up out of his desk chair again and glared at her. “Now you wait just one minute! You can’t come into my office and accuse me of anything. I told you I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“And I think you do!” she snapped, anger hanging on the fringes of her control, especially when she knew for sure he was lying.
Warren had a tell. His left eye twitched when he wasn’t being completely honest. She’d first noticed it a few months after joining the firm. It was such a small flicker that, if someone wasn’t paying attention, they’d miss it.
“What I don’t know is why? So, I suggest you start talking before I really get mad. Why did you hire a private investigator to follow me around?”
“I told you. I don’t know what you’re talking...”
Cree slammed the side of her fist on his desk, causing several items to jostle. “Dammit, Warren! I’m not playing games here. I want the truth, and I want it now.”
He released a humorless laugh as he walked around his desk, stopping a few feet from her. “You want the truth? Why don’t you start by telling me about how you dated, maybe fucked, and then married one of our clients. It’s amazing the things you can learn while watching a sports news channel.
“Imagine my surprise while watching football recaps last night, a sports analyst mentioned Tristan Whitmore got married. Not just married but married to one of our attorneys!” he roared.
Cree sighed and debated on how to respond. She knew that topic would come up at some point, but she wasn’t going to let him deflect.
“You answer my questions, then I’ll answer yours,” she said simply. “Why did you send a private investigator after me?”
After staring her down, Warren grumbled something under his breath. “I did hire a private investigator,” he said as he reclaimed his seat.
Cree leaned on the back of one of the guest chairs that faced his desk. “Why? What were you after, Warren? Are you so jealous of my success that you have to dig up dirt to try to make me look bad?”
“I did it to protect the interest of this firm. This place will always be my top priority.”
“And mine too.”
“Is it though? First, you only sign Whitmore to a six-month contract, which is unheard of around here. Especially for a high-profile client. Then when I questioned you about it, you got cagey.”
“What are you talking about? I told you Tristan and I had history. I wanted to see if we could work together again, and we both agreed a short contract to start with would be in our best interest. But if we’re being honest here, Warren, you’ve been treating me strangely for months.”
He shrugged. “I was concerned you were doing something underhanded that could affect the firm, and I was right. Dating a client is taboo, but you know that. You should’ve handed his account over to one of us the moment you even thought about screwing around with Whitmore,” he said with disgust. “Where’s your integrity?
You could get sanctioned or maybe even disbarred for dating a client. ”
“The latter won’t happen since me and Mr. Whitmore had a relationship before I became his lawyer.”
“What? That three-day marriage thirteen years ago? That’s beside the point. You knowingly dated one of the firm’s clients, and discipline actions will be taken.”
Anger boiled inside of Cree. At least now she knew the PI was thorough. “Did you hire a private investigator to dig up dirt on me so you can have me fired or, worse, disbarred? Is it your intention to sabotage my career?”
“What?” he asked, faking concern. “How could you even think that? I’m just looking out for the firm I started.”
“And how could you think I’d do anything to intentionally sabotage the firm?” she countered.
Yes, it was unethical to date Tristan, but she married him in a short period of time before anyone, except Warren and his PI, knew.
If he did try to go after her license, she could argue she and Tristan had a previous relationship before he signed with the firm.
That would make a difference in the eyes of the law, especially since they were once married and now remarried.
Cree wanted to wipe the smug look off his face. “What else do your PI dig up?”
“Question is what should we do about this situation? I saw on the partners’ group calendar that you set up an emergency meeting for this afternoon.
You beat me to it. I received the report from the private investigator yesterday and…
” His voice trailed off, and he narrowed his eyes at her. “How did you know I hired a PI?”
Cree stood upright and folded her arms across her chest as she looked down at him.
“My husband is a very wealthy man with connections you and I could only dream of,” she said, partly lying but going with it.
She didn’t want anything to come back on Milton or his PI contact.
“It’s such a small world, Warren. You never know who knows who. ”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Instead of answering, she said, “Since it’s clear you want me out of here, I’m going to give you what you want. We can start the dissolution process. I’m hoping we can settle everything within thirty days instead of sixty. I think it would be in all our best interest if I leave the firm.”
“It’s not that easy. There will be a lot to settle, debts to take care of, and—”
“I will pay whatever it takes for a speedy dissolution and to be free and clear of the firm. All I ask is that you keep your mouth closed about your PI’s findings, and you give me a copy of his or her report.”
Warren burst out laughing as he swiveled back and forth in his chair.
“Why would I do that? I have enough information on you to start disciplinary actions, and if I wanted to, I probably could go a step further. Maybe talk with the courts about your sexual misconduct. You know—because you dating a client is highly unethical.”
“It was unethical for you to hire a PI to follow me around and dig into my life for no good reason,” Cree said, even if he did have a fairly good reason.
“If you wanted to know something about me, you could’ve asked.
I would have answered your questions, and like you, I care about this firm.
I have brought in a ton of money that shows just how much I care.
It’s a shame it has to end like this with you trying to sabotage me. ”
“What’s a shame is that you put the reputation of this firm at risk!” he snapped.
Cree remained silent because he was right.
She could admit that to herself. She should’ve handled the situation with Tristan better.
Mainly, she should’ve transferred his account to someone else or waited until the six months were up before hooking up with him.
But it was too late for that. Still, she didn’t like how smug Warren was being about this.
And before she could stop herself, she said, “How would you feel knowing the private investigator I hired to look into you gave me some damning information? I wonder how your wife would react if I shared the findings with her.”
Cree could honestly say she had never seen blood drain from a person’s face. Warren suddenly turned white, and he swallowed hard as his chest heaved.
Interesting. She was bluffing, taking a chance that he had something to hide and apparently, he did. Maybe the rumors years ago, before she joined the firm, were true.
Cree had heard one of the firm’s associates had accused him of sexual assault.
The woman had retracted her claim almost immediately, quit the firm, and the situation went away quietly.
Cree wouldn’t be surprised if Warren had paid her off.
She also wouldn’t be surprised if he had plenty of other things to hide.
By his weary expression, her guess would be he did.
He stood slowly from his seat, no longer wearing the smug expression from moments ago. Instead, he looked like he wanted to pummel her. “Are you threatening me?” he asked.
“Not at all,” Cree said, standing her ground. “I’m just saying two can play the same games. Glass houses, Warren. Glass houses.”
She glanced down and picked invisible lent off her dress before looking at him again. “Now that we have an understanding, we can get to work on the dissolution process. The sooner we do, the sooner you’ll be rid of me.”