Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
“You should have seen it. It was hilarious!” Riley told Briggs.
He was laughing along with the others who’d gathered at Auntie Athena’s.
“I’m proud of you,” he said. “Of course, it sounds strange for a Daddy to tell his Little that he’s proud of her for being extra bratty.”
Athena took a sip of her wine and said, “I think in this case it’s appropriate. Just don’t go getting any ideas about acting that way here at the nursery.”
“Don’t worry, Auntie. I’m not a brat,” Riley said.
“I know that, honey.”
“This is a real nice place you have here, Auntie Athena,” Eli said.
“Thank you, sweetie. It’s probably not anything close to what you have in Mountainville, but we’re proud of it.”
“I think it’s perfect,” Penny said.
“Agreed,” Chelsea said.
Penny was a pretty, full-figured woman with silky brown hair. Sitting next to her, her best friend Chelsea had short blonde hair and a runner’s build.
“Thank you. You two are the attorneys, huh?” Athena asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Chelsea said. “We’re the Office of General Counsel for Mountainville.”
“And,” Penny added, “we are Littles, of course. Though not in court.”
Everyone laughed.
Briggs asked, “So, my Little Riley’s contract with Rita is as bad as I’m thinking it is?”
He wasn’t sure he truly wanted to know the answer. He’d been holding out hope that she’d have a legal way out of this mess. Their answer was probably going to dash that. But it was better to have all the facts rather than living in a fantasy world.
It was Penny who answered. “Yes and no. The contract is ironclad but also unrealistic. A perpetual contract that extends even past the signer’s death could most likely be fought. But Rita was smart enough to make it hard. It would take more than a little time and a whole lot of money.”
Damn. It was exactly as he’d feared. Though he was willing to find a way if there was even the slimmest chance Riley could break free of that burdensome contract.
“I’m confident,” Chelsea chimed in, “that we could win this thing in court. We’re even willing to work pro-bono.
But we’re not licensed to practice law in California.
And by the time we went through the process and then fought all the ways Rita’s legal team tried to jam us up, well…
it’s easier just to go through with Operation Brat. ”
“And it’s a lot more fun,” Riley told them.
While the crowd laughed, Briggs just held his cutie tight and gave her a kiss on the side of her head. “Just be careful,” he finally said. “I think Rita is the type who’ll fight dirty. But heaven help her if she ever hurts you.”
“I’ll be fine, Daddy. I promise,” Riley said.
“Don’t worry,” Eli added. “I’m really good at being naughty. And by the time we’re done with this plan, Rita won’t want any part of Riley or her friends ever again.”
Briggs nodded.
Something told him that was true.
Those Littles smacked of naughtiness! Even his Little Riley.
And she sure was cute.