Christina found her moment during the stage-show intermission to complain of a headache. Tanya got up to leave, but Christina insisted she stay and continue the fun. With her being the designated driver tonight, she passed Tanya money to ensure she and her friends arrived home safely by cab. Christina then made a quick exit and drove to the other side of town. She knocked twice on the apartment door and after receiving no answer, pounded on the door with her fist.
“All right, I’m coming,” Vince called out. “I heard you bang the first time.” He opened the door, rubbing his eyes. “Christina?”
“Did I wake you?”
“At one in the morning, yes, I was sleeping. What’s up?” He tightened the string on his pajama pants. “Shouldn’t you be at a party?”
“I was, but I faked a headache to leave. I left as the fireman hauled out his hose.” She laughed when Vince rolled his eyes. “I called Tanya on my way here to let her know I had business to discuss with you.”
“Now…at one a.m.?”
She winced at his tired tone. “I’m sorry to bother you so late. I want to pick your brain regarding this damn case.”
He moved aside, allowing her to enter, and then closed the door. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“All I need is your brain.”
“The exact sweet talk that’s keeping you single.”
She punched his arm. “This case is driving me crazy. I’m not usually so distracted.”
“There’s one easy way to take care of that distraction.”
“This isn’t about your mysterious contacts? Because that creeped me out.”
He laughed. “While I would be very pleased with Steven’s disappearance, I’d rather be the one to physically beat him to a pulp. He deserves that and more after what he did.”
“I don’t need to add defending you to my list of cases.” Vince was her best friend and he had her back. Christina preferred not to test how far he’d go to protect her. “Let’s focus our attention on my case. I know I’m missing something.”
“You’ve considered infidelity?”
“I did, but after I spoke with my client, I don’t think that’s the secret her husband is hiding.”
“What does he do for a living?”
Christina sat on the sofa. “He is a local politician, Brent Fraser. You must have heard of him.”
He went to his desk, shuffling through a mound of papers. “I know the name.” He cursed under his breath. “Two days ago, I was assigned a new research project for a criminal case Greg is handling. I remember seeing Fraser’s name, but I’ve read so many reports in the last twenty-four hours, I don’t know where that piece of paper is in this mess.”
“Vince, we have to find that document.” She shifted to the edge of the sofa.
“Here.” He handed her a stack of papers. “You go through this pile. I need to splash some water on my face and then I’ll start on the other.”
Christina slumped her shoulders forward. “This could take forever.” She glanced up as he returned. “Can you give me a hint of what we’re looking for?”
“There are a lot of underground dealings with this case,” he explained. “Money-laundering is one of the felonies I’ve found.”
“Is Brent Fraser involved?”
“I don’t know how much, but his hands are dirty. I’ve made several notations on the pages we need to watch for.” He glanced at the pile of papers on the table and then to Christina. “All we have to do is find those pages.”
She tossed a stack of paper on Vince’s lap as he sat beside her. “Then let’s get to work. Time is of the essence.”
Another hour passed. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Vince staring. “You won’t find the answers we need on my face.”
“What?” He shifted to the end of the sofa.
“You’ve been staring for the past five minutes. What’s up?”
“This is the first time, since Steven’s re-entry into your life, that you actually resemble my kick-butt friend.”
Christina raised an eyebrow and then set the reports on the table. “We obviously need a break because you’re not making any sense.”
“You’re focused and determined. The person you are right now is who you are. Not the silly girl blubbering over a guy. My best friend doesn’t let anything or anyone interfere with her work.”
“I’ve been a bit preoccupied.”
He tossed his reports on the coffee table. “Have you fallen for him again?”
Leave it to Vince to get right to the point. “Our relationship is complicated. Steven and I have unresolved issues.” A lame response, but she didn’t know how to answer his question. While logically Christina knew she should run from the fire, she couldn’t deny the temptation to jump straight in with her whole heart. “What about you? You’ve been very secretive lately.”
He fussed with the papers on his lap. “I’ve been seeing someone. She’s beautiful, smart, and fun.”
“If she’s so wonderful, why do you look so miserable?”
Vince glanced up. “She has an issue trusting me.”
“Really?” She giggled. Christina was surprised to just now hear of her best friend’s girlfriend. “Maybe because you’re an incorrigible flirt.”
He stood and walked to the window. “If I knew you’d poke fun at me, I wouldn’t have said anything.”
“Vince, I’m sorry. I was only teasing. She sounds very important.”
“I think about her all the time. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”
Christina joined him at the window and wrapped her arm around his waist. “Then tell her what you’ve just told me. She won’t be able to resist you.”
“You think that sappy stuff will work?”
“Most definitely.”
He hugged her. “You get back to those reports, and I’ll get us some coffee.”
Christina sat on the sofa and leaned her head against the pillows. Her eyelids drooped and her limbs grew weary. She briefly closed her eyes, just for a moment.
A cell phone’s buzzing woke her. She checked her watch—seven in the morning. A blanket wrapped her snuggly on the sofa. She wiped the sleep from her eyes, not remembering falling asleep on Vince’s sofa.
The phone buzzed again.
She flipped the blanket aside and dangled her legs off the edge of the cushions. “Vince.” No response, but she did hear the bathroom shower.
Another buzz.
She picked up Vince’s phone. The caller’s number was familiar, but her worn-out brain couldn’t identify the association. She placed his cell back on the table.
Vince strolled in the room, ruffling his fingers through his damp hair. “Hey, sleepyhead.”
“You should have awakened me. I would have gone home.”
“I often dreamed about you spending the night, but this isn’t quite how I pictured our tryst.” He laughed.
“The exact sweet talk that’s keeping you single.” She quoted his words from last night. “And you wonder why your girlfriend has trust issues.” She picked up one of the sofa pillows and threw it toward his head. Several papers fluttered to the floor that had been hiding under the pillow. “I should be getting home…” She bent to retrieve the reports, slowly straightening as words on the papers caught her attention.
The report contained actual quotes from one of Vince’s informants. Several politicians were secretly dealing with members of an illegal organization. Brent Fraser’s signature authorized many illegal transfers of city funds. The documents were meant to appear supportive of local charities, but only half of the money went to the charities while the other half was deposited into illegal accounts.
Her pulse soared. “Oh my, I found the evidence to help my client.” She held up the report. “I can’t believe the information was right under my nose, or in this case, under my head.”
Vince took the pages and photocopied them. “This provides you with the evidence to win your case, and to rid your life of the scum
of the earth.”
Yes, this proof would do both. Her stomach lurched. Was she ready to say goodbye to Steven? “I have to go. I need to contact my client, and shove these reports in a certain someone’s face.” She thanked Vince and left, feeling more exhilarated than she had in a long time. She’d won—beat Steven at his own game.
****
“Don’t worry, this will work. Trust me.”
Steven’s continual stride scuffed a path on the carpet in his office. He didn’t feel comfortable playing along with Rebecca’s devious plan.
“You want to know the truth, don’t you?”
He nodded. Not knowing Christina’s true feelings spawned a whole in his heart, but Rebecca’s devious plan wasn’t the cure.
“Then bring those luscious lips to mine and you’ll soon get your wish.”
“Rebecca, this isn’t right.” A distasteful knot of guilt churned his stomach. “Christina seeing you and I together could ruin the progress I’ve accomplished so far.”
“But you don’t know if she loves you.” She held up a well-manicured finger. “You want confirmation of Christina’s feelings? Well, this is the way to get verification. If jealousy shows its ugly face then you have proof she cares.”
Rebecca was very persuasive at convincing someone what she wanted them to believe. Steven was nearly swayed, yet the vision of Christina’s somber expression when he had her fired held him back. “I can’t do this.”
“After what she did last night, you deserve retribution. Let’s play.”
“I shouldn’t have called you this morning and vented my frustrations.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m thinking much more clearly today, and what I saw doesn’t necessarily mean Christina is with another man. My heart wants to believe in her, to believe in us.”
Rebecca’s devious plan would cost him everything he had worked so hard to repair. No more games. He opened his mouth to refuse.
Rebecca grabbed his arms and pulled him against her voluptuous curves. Lowering her lashes, she kissed him.
****
Christina had gone home for a quick shower before heading to Steven’s office. After she spoke with her client, she called him. Supplying Gwen with only minor details of her findings, she did inform her client the ball now laid in their court, and she didn’t have to worry about anyone taking her children.
Hoping not to wake her sleeping sister, she tiptoed around the apartment. Christina left Tanya a note explaining the business she had to tend to, and promised to make up for abandoning her last night and again this morning.
Christina couldn’t wait to tell Steven she had defeated him. This was quite a moment. To overturn Steven Mitchell in a legal case was an accomplishment for any lawyer.
Near his office, she found a parking spot and sat in her car. Spying her reflection in the rear view mirror, she fluffed her hair with her hands and touched-up her lip stick. She inhaled a deep breath and stepped out of the car.
Walking into Carvers Law Firm flooded her emotions. A lump formed in the back of her throat. Being in this office—the place where she once worked and was terminated—definitely felt strange. Anxiety overwhelmed her as her heartbeat sounded loud in her ears. For a nervous few moments, she considered retreating into the elevator, but forced her feet to move forward in pursuit of Steven’s office. Christina clutched the reports in her hand and hurried down the hallway before she listened to the little voice in her head telling her to leave.
Steven’s assistant wasn’t at her desk and his office door stood slightly ajar. When Christina didn’t hear voices, she assumed he was alone and working at his desk. Slowly, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. “I beat you at your own game—” She waved the reports in the air, and then just as quickly, dropped her arm to her side as bile rose from her stomach to the back of her throat. She couldn’t breathe.
Steven was kissing another woman. He was indeed in his office, and not alone. A woman was wrapped in his arms.
Christina recognized that vibrant red hair anywhere. A breath of air finally escaped her in a gasp.
Steven moved away from Rebecca so abruptly he collided with his desk. A pink hue rose over his cheeks.
Steven caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Christina prayed for strength to regain her lost composure. She inhaled and then opened her mouth, hoping words would come out. “I’m sorry, I should have knocked. I called earlier. I didn’t mean to intrude. Had I know you were in a meeting?” Blubbering idiot! She pointed toward the door and commanded her feet to follow that direction.
“Christina,” Steven called out.
She ignored him and sprinted as fast as she could run in heels to the elevator. As she anxiously pressed the Down button, she felt his hand grab her elbow, turning her to face him. Determined to break free, she fought the tears.
“What you just witnessed is not what you think. I can explain.” His mouth was pressed into a straight line, slightly smeared with fire-engine red lipstick.
The lipstick on his lips caused anger to flash deep inside. To hear the details on his intimate moment with Rebecca was more than she could stomach right now. “You don’t have to explain anything. Your personal life is no concern of mine.” Her breathing grew labored. She remembered the reports, still clutched tightly in her hand and shoved them at his chest. “I wanted you to have these documents regarding the case.”
“Please, come back to my office,” he pleaded, his gaze searching her face. “We need to talk.”
Was he crazy? Return to the scene of the crime and face the red-headed vixen? I don’t think so! Again, Christina pressed the elevator button. “I have to meet with my client.” She forced calm in her tone. “You will find everything in those reports giving my client full rein in this divorce. We’ll need to finalize the documents, but can do that later.” She blinked rapidly. “When you’ve completed your meeting with your friend, contact me.”
Where is that damn elevator? She breathed a sigh as the doors opened. Christina pulled her arm free from Steven’s grip and stepped into the elevator.
“Don’t leave. We need to talk.” He reached out to brace the doors from closing. “What you saw in my office was nothing.”
“I don’t care. Your relationship with Rebecca is not my concern.” Her temple throbbed and her vision blurred. To ground herself, she gripped the handle of her purse. “I have another meeting. Please, let go of the door.”
Steven glanced over his shoulder as Mabel returned to her desk.
The brief distraction gave Christina the chance to push aside his hand, allowing the doors to close. The barrier she had been holding broke, flooding tears down her cheeks and they continued to fall until she arrived at her office. She dabbed her eyes with a tissue and walked to her office, head bent to avoid eye contact with anyone.
She closed her door and leaned against the wall. Why hadn’t she trusted her instincts and left that damn building? Fool! Her heart ached. Christina allowed Steven to draw her in…again. The signs were there, but she chose not to listen. Five years ago, he’d dumped her, now he was leaving town and he had a girlfriend. She failed to see the obvious right in front of her eyes. Now, she’d have to pay the consequences of her stupidity.
Chapter Sixteen
Just breathe. Christina stood in the middle of her office, shaking her arms and dipping her head from side to side, mustering any inner strength that remained. Steven’s assistant had contacted her to request a meeting, one Christina should be looking forward to. With the evidence she’d found, she would win her case, and her client would retain full custody of her children. But even a day later, the gnawing bite of heartache overshadowed the thrill of victory.
She shook her head, removing the vision that had haunted her dreams last night. Today, she had to be strong and concentrate on this meeting. Gwen’s husband wanted to discuss a settlement in person and Gwen had agreed.
Christina gathered the divorce documents from her desk and placed them in a folder. On her way to th
e boardroom, she passed her assistant’s desk. Christina recognized the signs of sleep deprivation. “Good morning, Jill. Are you feeling okay?”
“Just a bad night’s sleep.”
Jill’s low tone and eye-avoidance hinted of personal matter. Christina wished she had time to help her assistant with whatever was troubling her, but right now, she had to get to the conference room. She also knew, from recent experience, if a woman was weeping over a man, she’d want privacy. “I can guarantee this case will be closed today, and I don’t have anything else lined up, so why don’t you leave early? We both deserve a vacation.”
Jill nodded, and then collected her purse and sweater from the closet. “Thank you,” she added before leaving.
Christina frowned. She had a nagging hunch whatever troubled her assistant involved her.
Once she left her desk, Jill almost ran for the elevator door.
What’s up with that?
While Christina waited for Steven and his client to arrive, she briefed Gwen on the proceedings about to take place. She also informed her client that if at any time she felt uncomfortable or wanted the meeting to end, she should let Christina know immediately.
A few minutes later, Steven and Mr. Fraser joined them. Brent took a seat opposite his wife, and Steven sat beside him.
Christina’s pulse skipped a beat. As much as she wanted to strangle him for leading her on, she couldn’t help but admire how good he looked in the black tailored business suit that fit his body so well.
Gwen fidgeted with her fingers under the boardroom table.
Christina then focused on Mr. Fraser, ignoring the heat of Steven’s stare. “Mr. Fraser, with evidence found regarding your illegal political dealings, we have a settlement I’m sure you will find reasonable.” She pushed the document across the table, dodging any hand contact with Steven as he reached for the paper. “You requested to speak to Gwen before we finalize the divorce.”
Brent Fraser gazed longingly at his wife. “I only want to explain what really happened before the press warps the truth.” He reached for Gwen’s hands, but she kept them hidden under the table. “I’m sorry I caused you so much pain. I didn’t want to push you away. I had to keep you and the children safe from the mess I created.”
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