Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Paige sat in her favorite chair in the living room, her laptop on her lap. She had a cup of coffee next to her. Outside, Sunday morning was dawning bright and beautiful. She didn’t normally go to the fitness center on Sundays, but she still felt the need to do something.
Indulging in all that fried food Friday evening at Shooters had been fun, but she wanted to balance it out. Getting a couple miles in on the beach seemed like a reasonable solution.
But first, she had business to attend to.
She read the email and the attachment from Luminelle through once without stopping. Then she poured herself more coffee and read the attachment again.
By the third time, she had the distinct sense that she was missing something important. Not because she wasn’t capable, but because the language itself was designed to sound reassuring while also, most definitely, protecting Luminelle.
Then there were the terms she didn’t quite understand. Things like usage rights. Exclusivity windows. Content ownership. Clauses nested inside other clauses like someone had gone out of their way to make sure only a lawyer would feel comfortable saying yes.
She set her mug down slowly.
“Okay,” she said to the empty house. “This is officially above my pay grade. And I officially need an attorney who understands this kind of stuff.”
Graham was right. She needed Joe.
Paige picked up her phone and opened the group chat, hovering for a second before deciding not to make it a public thing. She tapped Cece’s name instead.
Good morning! Could you please send me Joe’s number? I need a lawyer’s brain for something.
The reply came back almost immediately. Of course. I’ll text it to you now. Everything okay?
I think so, Paige typed. Just being careful.
A moment later, the number appeared.
Paige thanked Cece, then stared at Joe’s number while she formulated what she wanted to communicate.
She sent a simple text. Hi Joe, this is Paige Wheeler. Cece gave me your number. We met at Shooters? I was wondering if you might have time to look over something. No rush if you’re not available. Also, I don’t need this for free. I’m happy to pay you for your time.
The response came faster than she expected. Good morning, Paige. Of course I remember you from Shooters. I’m free now. Why don’t you give me a call?
That was better than texting. It was a lot to explain. Paige tapped the number and brought the phone to her ear. “Hi,” she said when he answered. “Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. And on a Sunday.”
“Happy to,” Joe replied. “I will always make time for friends of Cece’s. What’s going on?”
Paige took a breath. “I have a presence on TikTok, a small channel that’s suddenly gone viral. And I’ve just been offered a paid partnership with a cosmetics company. It’s exciting, but the contract is…a lot.”
Joe hmmed on the other end, like he was already shifting into professional mode. “First of all, congratulations. Secondly, if the contract feels overwhelming, that’s generally a sign that involving a lawyer is a good idea. So you did the right thing in reaching out.”
“That’s what I thought,” she said. It was nice to have that confirmed, though. “I don’t want to agree to anything I don’t fully understand. Especially if it affects my content going forward.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he said. “Why don’t you give me a quick brief about what they’re asking for, and then you can send it over. We’ll take it piece by piece.”
Paige felt her concern about this ease just a notch. “That would be great,” she said. “I really appreciate this.”
“That’s what lawyers are for,” Joe said. “And sometimes friends.”
“Thanks.” Paige smiled, even though he couldn’t see it. For the first time that morning, the opportunity in front of her felt a lot less overwhelming. And a lot more like something she might actually be able to say yes to.
She took a sip of her coffee, then pulled her laptop closer and began reading the most questionable sections out loud to Joe.
He stopped her occasionally to clarify which parts were standard and which were worth pushing back on. He didn’t rush her and didn’t talk down to her. He translated legalese into plain English, pointing out where the company was protecting itself and where Paige needed to do the same.
“Right there,” he said at one point. “That clause about exclusivity. You see how open-ended that is?”
“Yes,” she said, feeling a small sense of relief at being right to question it. She could see why Cece was falling for him. Joe was a wonderful man. Almost as wonderful as Graham.
“That doesn’t mean it’s bad,” Joe continued. “But it does mean you shouldn’t sign it as-is without discussing boundaries. I can make up a list of specific questions for you to ask them, if you’d like.”
“I would like.” Paige nodded, clicking her trackpad, scrolling slowly. “There’s also the thing about content ownership. I’m not sure I like how that’s worded.”
“You shouldn’t,” Joe said without hesitation. “They’re overstepping. The fact that you noticed it tells me you’re paying attention, so good on you.”
She smiled faintly. “I’m trying.”
They went on like that for another twenty minutes, methodical and thorough. By the time they reached the end, Paige felt more informed than intimidated, which, she recognized, was exactly the point of calling him.
“Joe,” she said before they hung up. “Just a reminder that I want to pay you for your time.”
There was a pause on the other end. “That’s not necessary.”
“I know you’re about to say lawyers do favors for friends,” she said. “But this isn’t just a quick glance. This is real work.”
“I’m happy to help.”
“And I’m happy to pay,” Paige said kindly but firmly. “I can afford it, and it matters to me to do this right. Besides, if I’m going to get paid for this partnership with Luminelle, I might as well have some write-offs.”
He exhaled softly, then chuckled. “All right. But this probably won’t take me more than an hour or two.”
“Whatever it takes is fine,” she said. “I don’t need it done fast, I need it done right.”
“Fair enough,” Joe said. “Send me the contract. I’ll take a closer look and give you some notes.”
“Thank you,” she said again, meaning it.
They said goodbye, and Paige set the phone aside, feeling steadier than she had all morning. She attached the contract to an email, wrote a brief note, then hit Send, confident she was doing the right thing.
She closed her laptop, leaned back in her chair, and let out a slow breath. Whatever came next, she was going into it with her eyes open.
And if she ended up turning down the offer from Luminelle, then so be it. Better no offer than to say yes to something that wasn’t mutually beneficial.
Paige wrapped both hands around her coffee mug, the last of it lukewarm but still drinkable. She took a final sip, then got up, and put the mug in the dishwasher. It would be ready to run after she put her breakfast dishes in, but she wouldn’t eat until she returned from her walk.
She changed into walking clothes and sneakers, grabbed her sunglasses, tucked her phone into the side pocket of her leggings, and headed toward the beach.
She sank into the sand until she got near the water, where it was packed firm from the receding waves. She found her rhythm quickly, the noise of the waves providing the backdrop as she walked.
When she got back, she’d send a group text out with the hope that Blaise would respond and give them an update about Brick’s son. Paige thought they’d have heard something by now, but as the old saying went, no news was good news.
She really wanted that to be true. She picked up the pace and did her best to shut out the world. At least for a few miles.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she didn’t stop to check it. Everything that needed attention had already been handled. Anything else could wait.
She passed a few early risers. Other walkers, mostly, but also a man jogging with his dog, and someone setting up a chair despite the early hour. Pelicans skimmed low over the water looking for breakfast. The sun warmed her shoulders as it climbed.
Paige breathed in deeply, letting the fresh air fill her lungs.
She felt good. Not swept away by possibility, but not anxious about what might come next, either. Just ready for whichever direction things went.
Her life was fuller than she’d planned. More complicated, too. But it felt good after what she’d been through. Complicated was fine when those complications were Graham and a possible sponsorship deal.
She hit the mile and a half point and turned back toward home, kicking up sand as she went. Paige smiled to herself.
Things didn’t have to be perfect to be right. And what a life-changing realization that was.