Chapter Thirteen #2
Hugo sat and then shifted his bulk in his chair as if no part of it was comfortable, his ruddy complexion darkening.
‘That girl is too sensitive. Can’t take any feedback.
How is she going to survive university and the real world?
She needs some backbone but her mother indulges her, gives in to her all the time.
It’s called enabling or codependence or—’
‘It’s called being a concerned parent, Hugo,’ Jack said. ‘Do you realise you could have lost your daughter that night?’
Hugo made a snorting noise. ‘She was play-acting. It’s attention-seeking, as I’ve said right from the start.’
‘What sort of attention do you give her? Positive or negative?’ Jack was thinking of his own childhood and his overly critical grandfather and how impossible it was to please him no matter how well Jack and his younger brothers did at school, sport or anything.
He couldn’t remember a single compliment without a negative ‘but’ tacked on the end.
‘I give her what she needs,’ Hugo said. ‘She goes to one of the most expensive schools in London. She’s lacked nothing her entire life and yet—’
‘You can’t tell me one positive thing about her.’
Hugo tried to outstare Jack’s steely courtroom gaze but failed. ‘I just want a divorce, damn it. That’s what I’m paying you to do.’
Jack opened his drawer and took out a printout of the information he had received from the independent forensic accountant yesterday.
He slapped it on the desk in front of Hugo Winters.
‘I was surprised you could afford me until we did a little research. Want to explain why you want your wife and children to live with next to nothing while you have millions of pounds squirrelled away in offshore accounts in tax-free countries?’
Hugo’s ruddy pallor faded and his bulk seemed to shrink in the chair as his shoulders dropped. He didn’t bother reaching for the document Jack had put in front of him. He sat like a sulky youth caught out in some misdemeanour he didn’t expect to be forced to take responsibility for.
‘Here’s the thing, Hugo,’ Jack went on in the same firm don’t-mess-with-me tone. ‘You’re going to have to find another lawyer because I no longer want to act for you. I can’t represent a man who cares more about his money than his children’s welfare.’
‘But you have to act for me!’ Hugo stood, a light of panic in his eyes. ‘Everyone says you’re the best.’
Jack rose from his own chair. ‘I know what I’m good at and I don’t need another win to prove it. This is a moral issue and I won’t compromise myself by acting for you when I know it will harm your children in the long run.’
Hugo blew out his ruddy cheeks as if he was going to argue the point some more but Jack gave him a levelling look. ‘One last word of advice. You need to love your kids more than you hate your ex.’
‘I don’t hate Edwina,’ Hugo said. ‘I’m bored and want a change. Marriage is hard work, especially when the kids are past the cute stage. Just wait until you’re in my shoes.’
Jack was about to say he would never be in his client’s shoes but then he thought of Sylvie.
There was no way he would ever get bored with her.
He was starting to realise why he was feeling so lonely.
He was in love with her. The real deal love.
The sort of love he wanted to have for the rest of his life.
Why had it taken until now to realise it?
All those years of squashing his feelings, pushing them down so deep inside him had made him unable to recognise what he was feeling in real time.
He was feeling love, true and lasting love for the first time in his life and he couldn’t wait to tell Sylvie.
But… Sylvie hadn’t said anything about loving him. She had ended their fling because she felt compromised over the lawsuit. Well, that was already sorted because he was no longer Hugo Winters’s lawyer. Could he take a risk and hope she felt the same way about him as he did her?
Sylvie was checking her emails while one of the hairdressers was styling her hair for her mother’s wedding.
She clicked on a work one even though she knew she should probably leave it until Monday.
It was a message from her secretary informing her Hugo Winters had changed lawyers.
Jack Wilde was no longer acting for him.
Sylvie clicked off her phone and stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Hugo had changed lawyers before, so it was crazy to think Jack might have walked away from the case because of her.
Wasn’t it? Because Jack Wilde was not the sort of lawyer to back down from a case he wanted to win.
Was it because of the forensic accountant’s report?
It had come in on Thursday and she had skimmed through it but she had read enough to know it wouldn’t serve Hugo well to persist in pretending he had no available assets for child maintenance.
‘There, all done,’ the hairdresser declared, stepping back with a smile, holding a large hand mirror behind Sylvie’s head so she could see how her chestnut hair was styled in an elegant updo.
‘It’s lovely, thank you,’ Sylvie said, smiling briefly, then vacating the chair for the flower girl.
Her mother came over to her and took both of her hands in hers. ‘Darling, why are you frowning? Please tell me you’re not having doubts about Patrick?’
Sylvie forced a smile. ‘No, of course not. It’s just a work thing.’ She squeezed her mother’s hands. ‘You look beautiful.’
Linda blushed like a schoolgirl. ‘So do you. It’s a pity you didn’t bring Jack but—’
‘He wouldn’t have come anyway,’ Sylvie said. ‘I ended our…fling.’
Her mother’s eyes rounded to the size of dinner plates.
‘Why? I thought you two suited each other so well. I was sure he was falling in love with you, and Patrick thought the same even though you told us you were just friendly neighbours. The way he looked at you all the time made me sure he was in love with you.’
Sylvie stretched her lips into a pained smile. ‘That’s because love is all you and Patrick can think about right now. Jack is a playboy.’
Linda began stroking Sylvie’s hands with her thumbs, her gaze steady and serious. ‘Did you tell him how you felt about him?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Do you love him?’
Sylvie found it hard to hold her mother’s searching gaze. ‘I do but it’s pointless because he doesn’t want to settle down.’
‘And you do?’ There was a note of surprise in her mother’s eyes.
‘I didn’t until I held Hamish, Natasha and Mariah’s baby boy,’ Sylvie said. ‘I guess I was so frightened of falling in love after what happened between you and Dad that I locked away those yearnings and concentrated only on my career. But I realise now I want more than my successful career.’
‘You want Jack.’ Her mother said it softly, her expression full of love and concern.
Sylvie gave a tiny nod. ‘But it’s hopeless. And besides, I don’t want to ruin your wedding day by talking about my stuff.’ She forced a bright smile on her face and added, ‘Let’s have a glass of champagne to settle your nerves.’
‘My nerves?’ Linda laughed. ‘I’m not nervous at all, just excited, but a glass of champagne sounds like a good idea.’
Sylvie had her phone on silent in her clutch purse but she heard it vibrating with a call.
She ignored it but it rang three times. There were still a few minutes before the ceremony, so she took herself to a quiet corner of the garden and checked her recent calls.
All three were from Edwina Winters. A flood of panic rushed through her and she wondered if something bad had happened to Mimi.
She called back and within two rings Edwina answered.
‘Sylvie? Oh my God, I can’t believe it but guess what?
Hugo has given me full custody and everything I wanted in the settlement.
I’m sorry for calling on the weekend but I couldn’t wait to tell you. ’
Sylvie frowned. ‘He did? Wow. But I heard he’d changed lawyers again.’
‘He hasn’t got a new one yet but he told me Jack had refused to act for him. I don’t know what Jack said to him but he’s agreed to everything I’ve asked for. When you next see Jack, will you please thank him for me?’
‘I probably won’t be seeing him outside of a courtroom but yes, I will.’
‘But I thought you were—?’
‘Neighbours, that’s all,’ Sylvie said, her heart pinching at the thought of being a witness to Jack’s playboy lifestyle. She would have to move if it got too difficult.
Then she turned from the shady area under a grove of Japanese maples to see Jack Wilde striding towards her.
He was dressed in a smart suit and tie and looked as handsome as ever, possibly more handsome than ever before.
Her heart gave a jerk against her breastbone and her legs were frozen in place.
‘Sorry, Edwina, I have to go. I’ll call you Monday. ’
‘Okay bye.’
Sylvie put her phone in her purse with fingers that weren’t quite steady. She snapped it closed just as Jack came to stand in front of her. ‘Jack? What are you doing here? Did my mother invite you?’
‘I’m being appallingly rude by turning up like this but I had to see you.’ His expression was serious and he looked like he hadn’t slept properly for weeks.
‘Is Shadow okay?’ Sylvie could think of no other reason for him coming to see her with such a grave look on his face.
A brief smile flickered on his lips. ‘She’s fine. She’s moved in and taken up residence on my brand-new white sofa.’
Sylvie’s eyes widened. ‘Are you serious?’
He rolled his eyes. ‘Talk about a pushover. All she wanted was smoked salmon and a few pats. Now we’re best mates.’
‘You and your legendary charm.’
He smiled at her. ‘I’m hoping it’s going to work right now.’
A butterfly flutter of soft wings brushed the floor of Sylvie’s belly. ‘Jack, why did you stop acting for Hugo Winters?’