The Candy Bar Complete - 4 book box set: Candy Bar Series

by Patrice Wilton

  This deposition could not happen. I made a hasty dash for the door. “Excuse me. Can we take a short break? I’m terribly sorry, but I feel weird. A little light-headedness, I’m sure it will pass.”

  I took off before they could reply. I half-ran, half walked to the senior partner’s private office, and knocked on the door. Unlike my little hole in the wall that faced the main street, his was a corner suite that took up half the top floor, with a panoramic ocean view. “Hal? I need to see you for a minute. I have something to tell you, and it can’t wait.”

  “Good,” he beamed. “I was about to call you myself.” He stopped whatever he was about to say and looked at me curiously. He must have seen the way I was wringing my hands and looking like I needed a straight-jacket, because he said, all nice like, “What is it, Lydia? Why are you upset?”

  CHAPTER THREE

  “I slept with my client’s husband,” I blurted, adding quickly, “but it wasn’t my fault.”

  “You did what?” he bellowed.

  “Ssh! Please, don’t yell. I’m already falling apart—I need you to be sane for both of us.” I practiced my yoga breathing. In out, in out. “I didn’t know he was Alexei’s husband or anyone’s husband. I thought he was single since I met him at the Candy Bar. Everyone knows that’s where people go to meet other people looking for people.”

  Hal frowned. “Try to be a little more coherent.”

  “I didn’t know he was Alexei Perkins’s husband when I slept with him. I didn’t know until I saw him today.”

  “And why is he here?”

  “For a deposition. They are both here. What am I going to do?”

  “Well, you sure as hell have screwed things up.” He stood up and walked around the desk, gazing out the window that faced the boardwalk and beach. He didn’t look at me when he spoke. “You’ll have to withdraw as her attorney immediately.”

  I studied the smooth face of the handsome, tanned attorney, who looked more like George Hamilton than George Hamilton himself. I spoke firmly, “Yes, of course.” Our eyes met. “You know my reputation—you know I’m always on top of things.” Hal winced, but I forged on. “I didn’t connect his name. John Edwards. He calls himself Jed. How was I to know?”

  “Let me think.” He snapped his fingers and looked mighty pleased with himself. “Got it. You…” He looked down his haughty nose at me. “Go back into the room, plead a migraine, or PMS, something. Then call me and I’ll step in. We’ll use some excuse to remove you from her case.”

  That was it? What a genius we had for a senior partner. Not. Still, I fed his ego.

  “Great idea.” I almost snapped my fingers. “Thank you, Hal. I promise this sort of thing will never happen again.”

  “It better not, or you’ll be looking for a new place to work.”

  “I understand, and I won’t let you down.” Instead of saluting I gave him a firm handshake, then back pedaled my way out.

  Standing just outside my office I listened for a minute. From the smothered conversations I gathered Alexei was chatting on her cell phone, while Clive held a whispered conversation with his client. They weren’t talking about me. That was a good sign. I gulped in some deep breaths, squared my shoulders, and opened the door. My eyes fell on Jed, dressed in a blue sports jacket, white shirt and tie, and khakis. His blondish-brown hair was a little tousled, as if he’d driven with his top down, his forehead slick with perspiration, and either he was chewing gum or he’d developed a tic. Still, he looked so darn nice it was hard to believe he was a lying, cheating bastard.

  He half stood as I entered, and then quickly sat down.

  He might act like a gentleman, I thought, but a toad in a tie is a toad just the same.

  Maybe if I hadn’t had my nose so high in the air I would have noticed the Persian rug had been kicked up on one edge. But I didn’t; instead, my heel snagged on a corner. Twisting while trying to break my fall, I landed on all fours. My head was inches from Jed’s knees, and what’s worse, I was eye level with his crotch.

  Fervently I closed my eyes and prayed for the floor to open up and swallow me, but this was not that kind of day. When I finally dared a peep the bulge in his pants was still there—inches from my nose.

  I was so mortified, I wanted to die.

  “Hey. What’s up?” I quipped.

  Alexei snickered. “Oh, Lydia, get off your knees. He’s not that good.”

  Clive raised a brow. “Well, that’s quite an entrance. I can’t wait to see what you’ll do for an encore.”

  “Are you okay?” Jed asked with genuine concern and helped me up.

  “Oh, I’m sure I’m fine.” I was dying here, but I tried to muster as much dignity as I could under the circumstances. I took a step and faltered, and Jed was right there to grab my arm.

  “You can’t stand,” he accused.

  “Yes, I can.” I leaned against the desk, taking the weight off my foot. “See, I’m standing just fine.”

  “You are not. The desk is supporting you.”

  “Oh, puleeze!” I forced myself to take a couple of steps to prove I could. The pain was excruciating. Gritting my teeth I took two more. “See. I’m walking.”

  “You’re shaking. Come sit down.” He pulled my chair out for me and as I went to sit my ankle gave way.

  “Ouch.” I cried. Sinking into the chair I grabbed my pained ankle. “Damn it. I think I sprained the stupid thing.”

  “Oh, great.” Alexei whined. “Now what? We have to do this all over again?”

  “No, no, just give me a sec. Maybe the pain will go away.”

  Clive looked down at my swollen ankle. “I don’t think so. It looks twice the size of the other.”

  I picked up the phone. “Hal? Can you come to my office when you get a minute? Thanks.” I turned to the others and said, “The senior partner will be right down. He’ll assign someone else to do the depositions but it may not be today. I’m sorry.”

  Jed tapped his briefcase on the desk and frowned. “No. I need this over with. I can’t spare the time right now.”

  Alexei snapped, “I’m sure your construction company can survive a day without you. But it’s even more inconvenient for me.”

  “Why? You might miss a day at the spa?”

  “Enough. Go to your corners,” I held up my hands. “This is inconvenient for everybody. Bickering won’t help matters. With any luck Hal will find a solution.” I turned to Alexei, “He’s a wonderful attorney.”

  “But I hired you,” she complained.

  “I know. I’m sorry.” I gathered up my belongings, getting ready to take flight, sprained ankle or not. “Everything he needs to know is right here.” I patted the case file. “He’ll handle things just fine.” I tried to stand, failed, and sat back down.

  Hal Matheson entered. “Lydia, what’s the problem?”

  “I tripped on the carpet, and no,” I gave him a small smile, “I’m not going to sue.” I lifted my foot. “But I think I have to go to Emergency. This is swelling pretty bad.”

  When he glanced at my ankle he saw I was actually telling the truth. “That’s the size of a melon.”

  “Yes, and it’s growing as we speak.” I quickly introduced him to the others, watching him turn on the charm.

  Hal was dressed impeccably in a dark blue Armani suit. He looked quite dashing and elegant, casually leaning against my desk with his ankles crossed, arms folded. I’ve often wondered if he perfected that stance in a mirror.

  Alexei twirled a strand of her long, dark hair, and smiled at him. “Thank you for stepping in. I hope we can get this done today.”

  I pushed up from my chair. “Do you need me to brief you, Hal? Or can you take things from here?”

  “Off you go. Alexei and I will get along just fine.”

  Jed spoke. “You need help downstairs. I’ll take you.”

  “I can get there on my own. You need to stick around and answer a few questions.”

  Alexei glared at Jed, then piped in. “
Clive can take you.”

  “I can manage,” I said a little too sharply. “Thank you.”

  Jed wasn’t giving up. “You can’t walk out of here, let alone carry that big briefcase and hail down a taxi.” He sighed, “Don’t worry. I’m not going to cut and run. I want this over with too.”

  Clive slowly rose to his feet. “Stay. It’ll save time. I’ll help her get a cab.”

  “No,” I barked. “Everybody stay put. I can manage without assistance.” What was wrong with these people?

  I gathered up my things, slung what I could over my shoulder, and hobbled out. I was waiting at the row of elevators when from the corner of my eye, I saw Jed approach. He slowed his gait when he saw me standing there.

  Come on, elevator, hurry up.

  Finally, an elevator stopped, I stepped in, and punched the button in a desperate need to escape. Jed’s big hand reached between the closing doors, effectively halting it. Silently, but vehemently no less, I said the f…word. I mean, didn’t the man take no for an answer? Wasn’t it obvious I didn’t want to speak with him, or have him anywhere near?

  I watched as the doors spread apart, allowing him in. Since I was blocking the entrance, his shoulder brushed against mine. Then suddenly he stopped and stood his ground, inches from me. “Lydia, we’ve got to talk.”

  “Oh, no we don’t.” I gave him a sharp glance. “What did you say to them anyway? I hope you didn’t say anything about us.”

  “I’m not that stupid.”

  I wasn’t sure about that. “Then why are you here?”

  “I told them I was gonna take a bathroom break, and luckily you were still here.”

  My look was enough to chill. “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull here. Did you know I was your wife’s attorney when we hooked up last night?”

  “Whoa! Wait a God damn minute. You think I knew who you were? My wife’s blood-sucking lawyer?” His voice rose an octave, “You think I’d have recharged your battery if I’d known that? I don’t think so, Lady. Being in cahoots with my soon-to-be-ex who’d like nothing better than to take me for every cent, take the kids, and leave me in ruin, does not make you a running candidate for sexiest woman of the year. So, if you think I purposely set out to seduce you last night, think again.”

  “Ha! At least you admit you seduced me.” My courtroom voice, so I’ve been told, can frost windows. “And I want you to know one thing, buddy. I don’t date married men, and I certainly don’t go to bed with them.”

  “Ha, nothing. You jumped into bed with me! And had I known then who and what you are, I’d have left you stranded in that parking lot, and enjoyed watching you get drenched.”

  I was wondering how much damage my stiletto could do to his instep when we stopped a few floors below, and the elevator doors began to open.

  I lifted my chin a notch and hissed, “Oh, that’s real gentlemanly of you.”

  “I don’t feel very gentlemanly right now. I feel like wringing your scrawny neck.” He ignored the couple who made the mistake of getting into our elevator. “Making a hefty profit from other people’s misery…” He was right in my face. “I suppose you always take the woman’s side. Don’t you?”

  “That’s a stupid question. I give legal representation to the person who hires me, and for the most part they happen to be women.” I snapped, “It’s hardly my fault that your wife retained my services to get her divorce. That’s what I do and I’m good at it.”

  The couple who had joined us listened to every word. I saw the woman smirk and the man look at his feet.

  “I’m sure you are.” Jed’s eyes raked over me and I could see the fury in them, a fury that matched my own.

  “And what is that supposed to mean?” I asked with venom, “If you weren’t such a sneaking, cheating husband, she wouldn’t be divorcing you and hiring me.”

  “I never,” he sputtered. “This whole thing wasn’t my idea, it was hers.”

  “Oh, yeah.” My chin jutted out. “So, you’re still in love with your wife and don’t want a divorce? Is that what you’re telling me?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “He didn’t say that,” the man in the elevator agreed.

  I shot him a warning glance and he shut up, and kept his eyes on the doors. His wife snorted and shuffled her feet as if she had a bladder problem.

  I refocused on Jed. “You were quick to blame her, and me, but the fact is you have a lot to feel guilty about.”

  “Oh, shit.” He rubbed his head with the palms of his hands. “Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?”

  My ankle throbbed which had to be the reason for the hurt I was feeling. “I think you proved it last night. Don’t you?”

  I got zero satisfaction from watching him flinch.

  The elevator door opened, and I hobbled behind Jed. Out on the sidewalk he spotted a taxi, and put two fingers in his mouth, letting out a whistle loud enough to break my eardrums.

  “Good.” Jed hissed. “Just in time.” He flung the cab door open and threw my briefcase in. “Go get your ankle looked at.”

  Lifting my bad foot in the air, I hopped to the cab. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” Slamming the door behind me, he walked away.

  I rested my head against the backseat, blinking away tears. I’m not big on crying, but I’d just ruined my life. Possibly my chance at making partner this year. It was all Jed’s fault.

  My eyes were closed so I didn’t see what caused the jolt. All I know is that I was thrown forward, then back, and it felt as if my damn neck snapped. “Holy shit!” I cried. My hands flew up. “What happened?”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “We were stopped at a light, but the idiot behind us didn’t stop. Smacked right into us.” The cabbie got out and opened my door. “You okay?”

  “Yes. No. I’m not sure.”

  The driver of the Ford pickup truck stepped out. He was a big, burly-looking guy, wearing ripped jeans, a sloppy T-shirt, sporting tattoos on both mammoth arms, and an angry expression on his unfortunate face. He came forward and I watched as the two men had a go at each other.

  I called out to them. “Hey, can we move this along? Just exchange insurance information and be done with it.”

  I closed my eyes again, and rubbed the back of my neck. The pain wasn’t excruciating, but it did hurt.

  The tattooed, pony-tailed driver leaned in the opened door. “Hey, your taxi driver stopped without any warning. You’re all right, right?” He eyed me warily, “You don’t look hurt. You’re not about to fake an injury, are you?”

  That was it. I wanted to give him two black eyes. “I’m on my way to the Emergency right now with a sprained ankle. I just might have a concussion to go along with it.” Great, just great. I’d gotten my wish—a perfect reason to withdraw from the case. But, damn, if this wasn’t overkill.

  “You don’t have a concussion.” He offered me a view of tobacco stained teeth. “It was just a little bump.”

  “So, you’re a doctor now? Well, I’m a lawyer, and as you know there is nothing we like better than having somebody to sue.” I barked, “Give me your name and address.”

  He backed away from the car. The cab driver followed, they exchanged insurance cards, while I watched from the side-view mirror. If I didn’t hurt so much I might have laughed. The black pick-up truck had a tail-gate bumper that read, proud to be a redneck.

  When the cabbie returned, I spoke quietly. “I really would like to go to the hospital now, please.”

  * * *

  Hobbling from the cab to my apartment building, I used a crutch to keep the pressure off my gimpy ankle. Catching sight of me, Jimmy, the doorman, ran to my aid. “Jumping Jeez! What happened to you?”

  “It’s a long story. You don’t want to know.”

  “Yes, I do. Come on, Ms. O’Reilley, my night is boring, entertain me some.” The big, dark skinned man grinned cheekily.

  Smiling at his impertinence, I answered, “No, t
hank you, Jimmy. Not at my expense.” My pride had taken enough of a beating for one day.

  “Oh, please? I’m sure it’s a dilly.” He pushed the elevator button. “Want me to help you upstairs? Seriously, you don’t look like you can make it.”

  I tried to lift my chin in contradiction, but a sharp pain prevented that one simple act. “Naw. I’ll be all right. Thanks, for offering, but I’m fine. Really.”

  “Good night then, Ms. O’Reilley. Take care now.”

  “Good night, Jimmy.” I held myself together long enough to enter the apartment, drop my briefcase on the floor, throw the crutch down and hop to the couch to collapse. Sinking into the comfort, I wistfully hoped I could stay there permanently. All I needed was to close my eyes and sleep for a long, long time.

  Before finishing the thought, the phone rang in the kitchen. I let it ring, hoping for the first time in my life that it would be a telemarketer.

  I listened to the voice on the answering machine and groaned. It was my sister, Shannon.

  “Lydia, it’s me. On your way over here would you mind stopping and picking up some Pampers? You know? The toddler size.”

  My sister is one of the greatest people on earth. Really. Everybody loves her and she’s this itty-bitty thing, and a regular Martha Stewart, only sweeter, and polar opposite to me. She’s got a daughter in kindergarten, a two-and-a-half-year old son, and another bun in the oven, sex unknown. She bakes, and gardens, and decorates homes, and everything.

  I hopped to the phone and picked up. “Shannon, I can’t. I just got in and I’ve had a hell of a day.”

  “Sorry to hear that, but please stop for us? Yes, I know Kylie’s too big to wear them, but he just had an accident in his pants, and now is not the time to make a fuss.”

  “Shannon, stop for a minute and listen to me. I’m truly sorry but I can’t do this tonight. I’m dead tired, I was in an accident, my entire day’s been a calamity, and I won’t be able to make it to Mom’s and Dad’s.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you’re coming. Don’t even try, Lyd. I know how you always manage to skip birthday celebrations, but this you can’t.” Her voice lowered, “Look, everyone went to a lot of trouble and the entire family is here waiting for you. So, you have to come. Period.”