Chapter 53
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
My phone rang just after six in the morning. I hardly slept all night, but I also knew I wouldn’t be able to rest until I addressed the chaos that had been unraveling in my life since before breakfast yesterday.
I answered the phone, not at all surprised it was Sienna.
“Hey,” I answered, sitting up in bed.
“Catalina.” The concern in her voice immediately softened something inside me. “I just saw the news.”
I closed my eyes. “You and the rest of the world,” I answered, dropping my feet over the side of the bed and forcing myself to the kitchen to make an espresso.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I was with him in Montecito when the FBI arrested him.”
“I can’t even imagine what that must’ve been like.”
“I think I’m still in shock,” I responded. “I’m just confused that it happened.”
“I wish I had something brilliant to say,” Sienna admitted. “Unfortunately, I’m not on the case, I don’t know the facts, and I’ve only met Titus a handful of times, so I can’t even give you my professional opinion. I wish I could.”
“I know,” I replied.
“I know you two have grown closer recently, and I’m not sure how this is affecting you emotionally, but if it helps you feel better, I know he has some of the best attorneys in the country working for him.”
I sighed.
“That’s a good thing, Cat,” she said.
I looked toward the ocean from my windows. “Yeah, I know. Jim said the same thing.”
“As an attorney, I can promise you that if Titus didn’t commit a crime, his legal team will prove it.”
“And if he did?”
Sienna exhaled. “Then that’s a different conversation.”
I appreciated that she wasn’t feeding me comforting nonsense and was just giving me the black-and-white facts she worked with all the time when defending men like Titus. She was giving me the truth.
“True,” I answered.
“What about you?” she asked. “Have you slept at all?”
“Not really.”
“If there’s anything you need from me—anything—you know I’m here for you.”
“Actually, there is something I need your help with,” I said.
“Give it to me.”
“I need to get out of the Jameston lease. I want my business out of there today.”
“Today?”
“Today.”
“What happened?”
“Well, we have reason to believe he was involved in Titus’s arrest,” I said, rubbing my forehead.
“I don’t know how involved Christian is or could be, but that’s not even the main reason I want to get out of there.
The man creeped me out before Titus was arrested, and I don’t want my company operating in a building he owns. ”
“Okay, let’s find you a good, old-fashioned loophole,” she said, and I could hear her smile through the phone.
“How about that he has come into my office multiple times unannounced, trying to look at my phone and computer? Would that work?”
“You have no idea how well,” she said before I continued to run down the laundry list of his inappropriate behavior.
At the time, the man just creeped me out, but it turns out his creepy ways were going to be the reason his father would terminate my lease.
It was only ten minutes after we’d hung up the phone that Sienna confirmed we had an appointment at one in the afternoon with Lowell and Christian and that she would be representing me as my attorney.
I only wished I could thank her enough for canceling two client meetings and pushing a mediation to tomorrow to do this for me so quickly.
I dialed Marcus Bosch’s line and decided to take advantage of Titus’s insistence that his security detail stick with me until he was released.
“Ms. Veléz,” he said.
“Hi, Marcus. I need a favor if you or your men are able.”
“Of course, whatever you need,” he said.
“I’ll be meeting my attorney friend at my office building today to terminate my lease with the Jamestons,” I said. “I would appreciate it if someone could be present there for both of us during the meeting with Lowell and Christian.”
“I will personally escort you, ma’am,” he said.
“Thank you,” I answered.
“What time is the meeting?”
“One this afternoon,” I answered.
“I’ll be waiting for you at the entrance at twelve-thirty,” he said. “Will you require assistance relocating your office?”
“You’re a moving company too, Marcus?” I said with a soft laugh.
“No, ma’am,” he said, with some humor in his voice. “But all staff of Mr. Hawk have been instructed to handle anything you may require in his absence.”
Good Lord, Titus.
“I’ll have a moving company relocate our furniture,” I said. “Thank you for your willingness to help me with that part, though.”
“It’s not a problem at all,” he answered. “I will see you this afternoon.”
I hung up the phone feeling more reassured and less helpless than I had been when I woke up this morning.
At least I’d be out of that fucker’s building by the end of today. My old office on Melrose had sat empty since we moved, and thankfully, it only took a five-minute call to the owner to confirm the place was mine if I wanted it.
At least there was a silver lining in this whole mess, and that was that Aria would finally be reunited with Garfield.
The moment I stepped off the elevator onto the executive floor of Jameston Holdings, I realized the word had traveled fast. All eyes were on me. Conversations lowered, heads turned, and several employees pretended not to stare.
Titus Hawk had been arrested less than twenty-four hours ago, and the news cycle was having a field day.
Sienna walked beside me, carrying a leather portfolio, while Marcus walked behind us.
“You know,” she said quietly, “I’ve been looking forward to this meeting all morning.”
I glanced at her. “I have, too. I’m happy to know this will be the last time I have to see this man.”
“I spent the morning building this case,” she said. “There’s nothing they can say or do now that will make them argue with you about breaking the lease.”
The receptionist immediately rose as we approached the double doors of the conference room we were expected to report to.
“Ms. Veléz.”
“I’m here to see Lowell Jameston. My attorney and I have a meeting with him.”
“And this gentleman?” Her eyes flickered toward Marcus.
“Is my personal security,” I said.
I watched as she stood there, momentarily at a loss for how to proceed. “I’ll let them know you’ve arrived,” she finally said.
The call lasted less than five seconds.
“They’re waiting and ready for you, Ms. Veléz,” she said.
That was pretty fucking quick. Apparently, they were expecting us.
The secretary admitted the three of us to the room, where I saw Lowell standing by the windows and Christian seated in a chair at the head of a large table.
Neither looked pleased to see us.
“Ms. Veléz.” Lowell turned and offered a smile.
It certainly lacked enthusiasm, and Christian didn’t even bother to pretend. His attention shifted from me to Marcus, then back to me, as though he were trying to figure out why Titus’s head of security was standing in his building.
Sienna pulled out a chair and sat, and I sat beside her as Marcus stood near the door, watching the two men intently.
Lowell took his seat and joined us at the table. “Ladies, what can we do for you?”
Sienna opened her portfolio. “We’re here regarding Catalina’s lease.”
Christian seemed to relax at the declaration. It was quite obvious he thought this was going to be simple.
Sienna slid several documents across the table. “After reviewing the agreement and compiling supporting documentation, we’ve determined that Jameston Holdings materially violated multiple lease provisions.”
Lowell frowned. “What violations?”
Sienna looked genuinely surprised. “Would you prefer the short list or the complete list?”
Christian leaned forward. “You’re serious?”
“I am the most serious person you’ve ever met,” Sienna said, like the absolute badass she’d been as long as I’d known her.
She slid another document toward him. Then another. And another. I watched the color drain from Lowell’s face.
Sienna folded her hands. “The documents before you clearly show that there was repeated interference with my client’s business operations by a Mr. Christian Jameston...
” She tapped another page. “This individual also committed another offense on multiple occasions, gaining unauthorized access to her private office.”
She tapped another page. “Harassment,” she said, pointing to another. “Creating a hostile work environment.” Then another. “And repeated disruptions impacting her ability to conduct business.”
Christian laughed, but the sound felt forced. “That’s ridiculous.”
Sienna’s smile widened. “No. Ridiculous would’ve been filing all this without documentation.” She tapped the stack. “This stack of papers is all of the documentation that backs everything up.”
Christian narrowed his eyes and picked up one of the reports. “What exactly qualifies as harassment?”
Sienna didn’t even glance down. “Entering her office without invitation.”
Christian rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on.”
“Interrupting meetings,” she continued. She reached for the stack of papers.
“This is evidence of an attempt to access confidential client information.” She reached for another.
“This is a witness account from Dani, her assistant, who cited multiple instances of you attempting to view private communications on her personal device.”
The room fell silent. I watched Christian’s expression shift because he remembered these damn events.
The day he’d walked into my office while I was texting Titus, the way he’d leaned over my shoulder, the way he’d looked at my phone and warned me about Titus after seeing his name.
And the way I’d told him to get out. Twice.
“You can’t seriously be using that. That was all casual,” he said flippantly.
Christian looked toward his father, but Lowell didn’t share his son’s nonchalant facade.
Sienna continued. “The pattern of behavior is extensive.” She slid one final document across the table. “Combined with multiple contractual breaches, it provides sufficient grounds for immediate termination of the lease without penalties or cost to Veléz Global.”
Lowell looked at the paperwork, then at me. “When did you start planning this?”
I met his gaze. “The last time I realized Christian couldn’t stay out of my office.”
The look Christian was giving me should’ve frightened me. Then I glanced at Marcus. One look at the cold, unwavering stare in his gray eyes, fixed on Christian, and I almost laughed. Christian definitely wasn’t the most intimidating man in the room.
Sienna closed the folder. “The movers are arriving this afternoon.”
Christian’s head snapped up. “What?”
“My office is already being packed,” I stated.
His expression darkened. “So, you’re leaving.”
“Yes. I’m not sure if you’ve put it together yet, but that’s what my attorney has been spelling out since we walked in here.”
Christian leaned back in his chair and smiled a grotesque smile, a forced attempt to regain control.
“Interesting timing,” he finally said, eyeing Marcus, then me, with a knowing look. “Tell me, does it bother you that everyone now knows about Titus Hawk?”
I didn’t respond.
“Tough week for that man,” he said, folding his arms. “Federal detention…” He smiled again. “Jesus. Every news outlet in the country, discussing your relationship with that man.”
“Let them talk,” I said, meeting his gaze.
“Whether you like it or not, that’s a stain people will remember.”
“I assure you,” I said, “whatever happened to Mr. Hawk will most definitely not end in a stain that people remember.”
The confidence in Christian’s expression faltered. “You built your reputation on discretion, did you not?”
I didn’t answer.
“Now, every client considering your firm will wonder whether confidential information is safe around a woman who is dating a man under federal investigation.”
Sienna gathered her files as Marcus pushed off the wall. The meeting was over, and I wasn’t going to sit here and listen to this man’s bullshit.
I picked up my purse and looked directly at Christian. “You should spend less time worrying about my reputation and focus on the fact that you just lost a tenant.”
His jaw tightened. “Trust me, Hawk will not come back from this one, Ms. Veléz.”
There was something to be said for not having the last word with men like Christian Jameston. I had to imagine Jim was right when he said men like Christian always trip on their own swords in wars like the one his dumbass started with Titus.
I walked through the door Marcus held open for Sienna and me, feeling nothing but relief that these were the last steps I’d take in this building.
Somehow, going back to my old place felt more appealing than moving into this building ever had.
Now, I needed to meet with my team for a late lunch, as I had promised, and explain everything to them. It never seemed like anyone was really attached to this place, so I had a feeling they’d be happy to hear we were going back home to Los Angeles.