13. Chapter Thirteen | Theo
Chapter thirteen
I can’t stop thinking about Savannah. I even found myself peeking at my sister’s calendar to see if there were any meetings with Savannah that I wasn’t aware of so I could crash them. I toss a squash ball up in the air as I pace my office.
Am I attracted to her just because I hate her ex?
No, that’s definitely not it.
Her ex has nothing to do with her soft, loose golden waves that always look perfectly styled, and they make me want to mess them up a little with my hands.
I don’t want to make her hair look bad; I want to mess it up just enough for the world to know my hands were there.
Her ex has nothing to do with her sassy attitude, her poised grace, those cerulean-blue eyes I want to swim in, and those damn perfectly plump lips.
I bet they are soft and plush and would smash against mine while I devour her mouth.
And her ass? Her ex has nothing to do with her phenomenal ass and that incredible hourglass figure that Marilyn herself would be jealous of—and that’s before considering the most mouthwatering rack I’ve ever seen.
Fuck.
This is a problem.
Or … is it? Is it a problem?
I’m not technically her lawyer, my sister is, and I’m just helping out to fuck with Shane. Also, I’m Theodore Ares Smith-Harrington. I don’t get nervous around a beautiful woman. Get your shit together, man. You’re forty-seven years old, not seventeen. Man up. If you want her, pursue her.
Do I want her ?
Oh, hell yes, I do. I can’t remember the last time I wanted something as much as I want Savannah Callahan-Williams. But I’m going to have be strategic and patient in my pursuit.
This is a long game. She is wounded, going through a messy divorce, and judging by our few physical interactions, likely to be skittish about any guy right now.
So, I just have to figure out a way to prove to her that I’m not just any guy—I’m the right guy for her. She’s a queen that deserves a king who will always show her she is cherished and respected.
A knock at my door pulls me from my consuming spiral of all things Savannah as Cian bounces into my office.
“Hey, man. Pippa’s assistant just let me know she’s stuck in court with the Pederson case but needs someone to attend the temporary hearing with the updated filings from last week.
I’m assuming you want to be the one to stand in for her, but if not, I can find another associate to stand in? ”
Let’s fucking go. When Pippa found out that the judge who approved the freezing of assets was Shane’s golf buddy, she decided to wait until the court calendar had a different judge on the docket and is going to nail Shane’s ass to the wall. But now I get to swing the hammer.
“You assumed right, my friend.” I set the ball back on my desk and grab my suitcoat. “I figured Pippa would have already called for an emergency hearing on that bullshit he pulled.”
“Typically, she would have, and I thought the same thing. When her assistant called me to check your availability, I asked her about that, and Pippa decided to take a strategic approach of letting the other party assume they were winning for a few days before slapping him with today’s filing, including officially notifying the court of her new representation. This one is going to be wild.”
“Clear the rest of my day, I have a court date with an asshole.” Cian gives me a knowing look—we both are well aware this shouldn’t take more than ninety minutes of my day, but obviously, I intend to be very thorough with this specific client.
I don’t have to explain that though, Cian knows this isn’t my typical modus operandi, but I know he will handle my schedule with finesse.
With twenty-two minutes to spare before the hearing is scheduled to start, I walk around the courthouse and immediately spot Savannah pacing at the top of the front steps.
Thankfully, there is no Shane in sight. Savannah is wearing black high heels, a body-hugging black dress, and the palest of blue blazer that make her eyes pop even from a distance.
Her hair is pulled up in a smooth high ponytail and she looks incredible, but she’s missing her beautiful smile and her sparkle is faded.
The asshole dimmed her sparkle and that lights a fire under me in a way that has me feeling protective of her, which surprises me a bit.
She turns and sees me as I walk up the courthouse steps. “Theo? Where’s your sister?” There’s no greeting, no formal handshake, no radiant smile, but if her twisting hands and tapping foot are any indication, there are plenty of nerves.
“Hello, good to see you too, Savannah. I’m well, thanks for asking, come with me.” I don’t stop walking as I place my hand on her lower back and guide her into the courthouse without giving her an explanation, nodding hello to colleagues as we enter through the main lobby.
“Theo! I asked where your sister is,” Savannah stage whispers at me.
“I know, but we are going to first remove you from the center stage in front of the courthouse, okay? I know what I’m doing, Kitten, trust me.”
“I’m not a damn cat.” She tries to move away from me as she hisses, but I just tuck her closer into my side. I didn’t mean to let that nickname slip, even though it fits her perfectly.
“But you have the razor-sharp claws of one.” I barely hold my bark of laughter in as I once again envision a kitten riding a dragon but can’t hold back the smirk on my face as I guide us down a corridor and into an empty small conference room.
After shutting the door behind us, Savannah spins to likely read me the riot act, but I hold up my hand to hopefully stop her from using her claws to verbally scratch me.
Her eyebrows shoot up and her pillowy lips are pursed into an angry pout.
Fuck, I want to know if her lips are as soft as they look.
“I’m sure you have choice words at the moment, but I need you to focus.
Please? Take a deep breath.” I pause and raise a single eyebrow until she does just that, but her eyes are narrowed and her claws are still ready to attack.
She’s adorable even when she’s pissed off—I know better than to tell her that—and I need her to focus.
“Pippa is stuck in another court proceeding and if she can make it, she’ll meet us there, and if not, I’ve got this covered, okay?
This is routine and there shouldn’t be any surprises up there in store for us.
We are the ones launching the nukes today.
You’re in good hands. But you also need to remember that your battle does not start when you enter that courtroom.
The battle starts the moment he can set his eyes on you, especially after his recent tantrums.” She looks down at the ground, and I place my hand on her forearm with a gentle squeeze and wait for her to raise her eyes back to me.
“I will not have you standing alone in front of the courthouse for him to accost you without any representation or protection.” My voice is commanding and I try to soften it a bit, but the idea of Shane even trying to upset her is really pissing me off right now.
She softens at that and exhales a deep breath.
“Good. Do that again, Savannah. Take another deep breath. Remember who you are—you are the queen here. He is the fool. That’s right; nice, deep, cleansing breaths.
” Her chest rises and falls with each deep breath, and I should win some type of award for controlling my basal instincts, instead of admiring her incredible chest. “Shane does not get to rile you up because he does not have the power here. He only gets to do that if you choose to give him the power to do that, and we’re not doing that today. Okay?”
“Okay.” Her meek whispered response isn’t going to work for me.
I shake my head. “No, Savannah, who has the power here?” My voice is deep and commanding, oh well, so much for softening it for her .
She blinks a few times and looks at me from under her long lashes. “I do.”
“And who is going to come out on top in all of this?”
“I will.” She rolls her shoulders back and stands a little taller.
“That’s right. You will not bow to a court jester.
Even if you have to fake it a little, you will not show him any weakness, okay?
You are not weak. You are a powerful queen.
Say it.” I know I’m demanding right now, but I can’t have her walk into that courtroom and allow Shane the satisfaction of thinking he somehow got to her or made her question anything about herself.
I have read enough research on the importance of affirmations in my pursuit of being the best father possible, and I know how powerful the right words can be to one’s psyche.
“I’m a powerful queen.” Her voice is a bit steadier, but I still need more.
I need to push her a little more. “Yes. Say it again.”
“I’m a fucking powerful queen.” Good girl, now she sounds like she means it.
“There she is, I knew you had it in there. You’ve got this and I’ve got your back, okay? Let me do the talking, you just keep your head held nice and high so your crown doesn’t slip a single inch, okay?” The smallest smile appears on her beautiful face and she nods once in agreement.
“Alright.” I check the time. “We’re going to make our way to the courtroom now.
You defer to me, and if you must look at him, you slay him with the bitchiest, coldest ice queen glare you have in your repertoire.
I’m sure you have some fierce ones in there.
” That gets a bark of laughter from her before she squares her shoulders again.
“Otherwise, eyes on the judge or eyes on me, got it?”
She nods. “I’ve got this. I’m good. He is not worth my concern.” She slightly lifts her chin and transforms into the frigid ice queen I knew she could pull off.
“Yes, you’re right. You do have this.” She’s a fucking warrior. I turn to open the door but stop when she puts her hand on my forearm .
“Theo?” Her voice is softer, and dare I say, even slightly vulnerable.
“Mmm?”
“Thank you.” She squeezes slightly and I have to take my own deep breaths to control my physical response to her.
I place my hand on her lower back and we walk into battle together. “My pleasure, Savannah. My absolute pleasure.”