I held up my hand to stop her from killing me, which looked like something she might try at any moment. “I’m sorry. I can’t talk to you here. I can’t be seen in public with the person suing my client.”
“A fucking asshole who shouldn’t be your client!” She stepped closer, her hand coming away from her middle to point at me like she wished to stab me with it.
I looked around to make sure no one had seen or heard her. Luckily, there wasn’t anyone paying attention to what might have been no more than a lover’s quarrel.
“I agree, but I can’t do this right now, Kya. Walk away.” It would endanger the case if we were seen talking together, and it would also not be good if the media saw it and published something. Not to mention, Kya was a well-known musician in the area. She’d done decently for herself and had a following. If one of her fans rounded the corner, I could be in serious trouble.
Her eyes widened. “Then why? If this is some sick way to get back at me for high school when I didn’t want to date you, then you’ve already gotten your revenge when you slept with me five years ago.”
I looked around again just to make sure Whit wasn’t still around sitting in his car. “I can’t talk. Here.” I handed her my card. “Text me your number.”
She recoiled and shook her head, her eyes regarding me like I was a piece of trash that had blown across her fancy shoe. “My number? Hell no! I want to look into your eyes while I chew your ass! How could you do this to me?”
Her voice broke on the last syllable, and I tightened my jaw, not wanting to show any emotion or say anything that would have me pulling her into my arms and holding her to make it all better. No, that’s not where we were with each other. We’d one refused the other, so we were even. Square. Owing nothing.
But I still wanted to see her. I wanted a chance to explain my side of things, and like it or not, she’d listen. “I’ll call you after I arrange a private dinner for us. You can chew my ass over wine and at a low tone if you want. But not here.” I opened my car door, and she took a few steps back.
As I sat in my seat, she pointed her finger in my direction, shaking it like a mad woman. “Fine! You better show up, Leonard. This is not over!” I knew better than to think it was. Kya had never been the kind not to speak her mind or to let things go without doing so.
I slammed my door, and she shook her head and walked away, and as I watched her go, her hips swaying as her long legs taking her away from me with the speed of a runway model, I resolved that she had to be the sexiest woman on the planet. It took everything in me not to go after her, to stop her and tell her how sorry I was. But that wasn’t how it needed to be.
I had to explain how I didn’t have a choice, and as a professional, sometimes I had to make decisions that were best for the entire firm and not just myself. I’d have to speak my father’s language, and boy, how I hated that.
Chapter 14
Kya
After I picked up Addison at school, we went to the market for a roll of cookie dough big enough to choke a horse and a few other things I needed. We’d gone home, and I busied myself baking cookies and tried not to think about Leonard. He’d call when he called, and all the pacing in the world wasn’t going to make it happen any faster.
As the timer went off, he’d called, and I’d been so distracted by his invitation and his refusal to listen to my bitching, I nearly burned the last batch.
Addie had fixed a basket of cookies, which she now held in her lap as we pulled into Sadie’s driveway. Though it wasn’t unusual for us to bring dessert when going to Sadie’s for dinner, I had also hoped the sweets would work as a bribe.
I shut off the car, and we had barely made it out when Sadie opened the door. “Just in time. I have dinner almost ready.”
Addie ran over and gave Sadie a big hug. “I’ve missed you. Mama let me bake you some cookies!”
“I see that.” Sadie looked at the cookies, and then her eyes turned up at me and widened. “Wow, I didn’t realize this was a special occasion.” She got a suspicious look on her face, and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do a dump and run so easily without explaining myself first.
“Yeah, well, I was hoping you and Addie might want a little time to goof around together.”
Addie went inside, leaving the two of us behind as she hurried into the kitchen.
Sadie led me in, and we stopped in the living room. “That depends. Do you have a date?” Her narrowed eyes met mine. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
“I’m not. And this isn’t a date per say. More like a business meeting with an old friend.”
Sadie folder her arms across her front. “Business? As in band business?”
“Yes. Look, don’t make a big deal out of this, but I had to see him.”
“Him? Oh shit, you mean Leonard?” She looked over her shoulder, and I glanced over it to see that Addie was in the kitchen putting her cookies on the table where she’d climbed up in her usual seat.
“Yes, I went down to chew his ass out, and he wouldn’t talk to me. He gave me his card so I could text him my number, and he wanted to have a private dinner to talk. I think he just doesn’t want me to beat his ass.”
“Please. He probably wants to ride yours.”
I shook my head, determined. “Not going to happen.”
Sadie wasn’t buying it. “Ha! Tell me, was he handsome?”
I thought about how he looked and other than the shock of my being there, I had to admit, “He was gorgeous. He looks even hotter now that he’s matured even more. It’s like he’s better with age. He still has the facial hair that I loved the last time I saw him.”
“You’re getting that sound in your voice. The one where you’re mooning over a guy. And if you can do that after just a moment talking about him, you’re going to end up back in bed with him. He’s your kryptonite.”
“Fuck that. He’s just a man, someone from my past, and you’re the one who wanted me to tell you what he looked like. He can’t help but be handsome.” I couldn’t help thinking of him in that way. His eyes were so brown and deep set that they were permanently shadowed and dreamy, and his body, that big package combined with his strong, muscular frame, it made me grow warm inside.
I came around and turned my attention back to Sadie. “So, will you watch her? I’ve got to be down there in half an hour. I don’t want to be late.”
“What are you going to say?”
“I’m going to keep it simple. He doesn’t need to know shit about my life. But I’m going to ask him why he’s doing this to me.”
“That’s not a good idea, Kya. It’s like a conflict of interest or something. I’m sure our lawyer is going to flip out when we tell her you know Leonard on a personal level.”
“Which is another thing I’m going to cover. How this is even possible. He should excuse himself from the case on that basis. Instead, he’s making press conferences and sticking his nose right in it. I want to know why. I’m not going into this not knowing.”
“Fine. But tell me what happens.” She pulled me in for a hug. “We’re going to eat your share of the cookies and do our nails. You have fun.”
“Save me one,” I called out to Addie as I headed to the door. “I love you, sweet pea.”
Addie came around the corner eating one. “Bye, Mama.”
I shut the door and headed to the car, hoping I was doing the right thing. I didn’t need this to be a date or any kind of rekindling. What I needed was for him to explain himself and us to get the shit from our past cleared up. I had always thought of us as at least friends, but this had been the worst thing a so-called friend had ever done to me.
I got to the address he told me about and found it to be a small yet classy place. I gave my name to the hostess, and she led me back to a small area with a private table all alone.
My waiter came right away, and I ordered a glass of wine, which I drank, and then checked my lip gloss a few times and then my phone for any messages from Sadie or Addie, but th
ere was none.
I was just about to ask for my check when Leonard came into the room dressed like a million bucks in his tailored suit and joined me at the table. “I’m so sorry I’m late. I got caught up in a meeting with a prospective client.”
“It’s fine.” I didn’t need to hear his excuses. I could barely look at him. I turned my head and tried to focus across the room.
“You look beautiful, Kya.”
I glanced over and found him staring at me with a longing in his eyes that was the same one I felt.
“Please, save it. I want an answer, Leonard.”
“Call me Leo, please. And I will give you an answer, Kya, but it’s not going to be enough.”
“You’re right. It won’t unless you can make me understand it because I can’t think of any good reason you’d do it.”
“My father expects it.”
“Your father? Jesus, I’ve known him my whole life too. I guess that’s why you think it’s okay to shit on someone you’ve known your whole life because the old man taught you it was.”
He met my eyes. “It’s not about you.”
I fought the urge to kick him under the table. The two of us had grown up wrestling around in the backyard back when I thought I needed to be tough to hang with the boys. I’d taken him a time or two then, and I wished I could make him eat a handful of dirt for dinner. “How can you say that? You’re defending the man suing me.”
He held his hand up, his palms facing me like he needed to hold me back. “I mean that this has nothing to do with our pasts.”
I wasn’t about to go there with him. I sure didn’t need to talk about my personal life. “Are you sure about that?”
“I’m positive. Look, you have your life, and I have mine.”
“Right. And never the two shall meet. I get it. I got that when you ran out the last time like your head was on fire.” And he didn’t even care to ask me about it, not that I’d want him to. And it wasn’t like I cared what kind of skank he was seeing.
“I just mean it’s been a while,” he defended. “We’re different people.”
“Yes, we sure as hell are. So I need to know, the private dinner, the panic earlier—if it’s not such a good idea that we’re seen, why not excuse yourself? There has to be some law against defending someone against me.”
He nodded. “Normally, I’d excuse myself.”
That sounded good to me. “There. Do that. Excuse yourself.”
“No, I cannot do that. I already tried to get off the case, and my father said no. He needs me to take the reins. I did pull another member of my team over, so if it makes you feel more comfortable in the courtroom, I’ll have him speak directly to you.”
I feigned laughter and rolled my eyes. “Oh, thanks for making me comfortable while you’re trying to ruin my life. You’re such a fucking prince.”
He stopped and stared at me a moment. Then, his jaw dropped, his face turning red. “I don’t want to do the case any more than you want me to, trust me.”
“Whatever.” I sat back in my chair as the waiter came and brought more wine. Then, Leonard ordered us food despite me saying I wasn’t hungry. Like he had to help me keep up my strength or something.
“You need to eat. I don’t want you to go hungry.” He gave me a warm smile, and though it made me want to smile, I fought the urge.
“Like you care.”
“Look, Kya. I was young and stupid the last time we saw each other. I admit, refusing you felt good for a few hours. You broke my heart. I just wanted you to know what I felt. I’m sorry.”
I looked down into my wine glass. “I went after you, you know. But when I got downstairs, you were gone. I wanted a redo with you and had always dreamed I’d get another chance. When you showed up that night, I hoped I could.”
“I was miserable if it helps.”
“It doesn’t. That young man is a memory, and the thought of you going up against me makes me sick.” I looked up from the glass and shook my head. “He’s guilty, you know. I’m not sure if he’s told you. But I have proof that—”
He waved his hand. “I can’t even talk about that. No details.” He cleared his throat and straightened his tie. “I shouldn’t even have met you here. I just wanted the chance to tell you it wasn’t anything personal.”
“Drop the case.”
He turned his eyes away. “I can’t. I won’t.”
The words stung. “For me?” There was a time when he would have done anything for me, and I liked to think that when it came right down to it, he still would.
He shook his head and then took a long pull from his drink.
My heart filled with anger and grief. He may as well have been dead to me, and it wouldn’t have hurt any worse.
“I can’t believe the day has come when you’re back to letting people bully you. I thought you’d changed.” I got up and stepped away but turned back. “The old you was a hell of a lot easier to like.” While I walked away, he made no attempt to come after me, which was good because I’d probably turn around and knee him in the nuts.
I made it to the door before I broke down in tears. Of all the people in the world I thought would be big enough to put aside pettiness and help me, he had proven me wrong. But then, I’d never asked him for anything, so maybe I’d known deep down all along that was a lie.
Chapter 15
Leo
I’d thought about Kya all morning, and it didn’t help that she’d looked so hot the night before. After she stormed out, I wished I’d gone after her and made her listen. She had to understand my side of it, even though it was the wrong side. It was all I could do. My hands were tied.
As I walked back into the office after lunch, I knew I had to go down and talk to my father about the new evidence in the case. This was not only going to make us look like assholes, but we’d never win.
“Hi, Edith,” I said, greeting my father’s secretary.
She glanced up from her computer screen. “If you’re looking for your father, he’s in his office. I don’t even think he’s busy.” She returned to her work as I walked inside.
I found my father behind his desk, his head down focused on his phone in front of him. “How do you get this damned thing to turn back on?”
“Hey, Dad. What’s the trouble?”
“This piece of shit, for one. I tried to turn up the volume so I could hear my conversations, and for some reason, the damned sound is gone. Even my games, my ringtones. Piece of shit. I remember the good old days when we thought a cordless was the key to all our problems.”
“Here, let me look at it. I need to talk to you anyway.” I took the phone, and in two seconds or less, I had his phone fixed. “That should do it.”
He looked at the screen as I sat down across from him and hoped my fixing it had put him in a better mood. “I know you probably don’t want to hear it, but there’s bad news with the White case.”
“What kind of bad news?” His voice was rough and suspicious.
“Well, for one, the evidence shows he is, in fact, guilty. The numbers, the withdrawals made by him. He didn’t even bother covering it up most of the time. Then there’s the whole Kya thing. I know it doesn’t matter to you, but it sure does to me, and it could to anyone else who wants to point it out, like the plaintiffs.” I didn’t think telling him about my dinner date would do anything to help my case, so I kept my mouth shut about that. I’d made sure I’d gone to the one restaurant in town where I could depend on discretion.
The old man sat quietly a minute, almost as if he hadn’t heard me. “Is there any way you can spin it. Make it look like he had the right?”
“No. Not unless I could prove he spent it on the band, but he didn’t. He took countless vacations, spent money on toys and parties, none of which the band was even invited to, much less for their benefit.”
“See if you can find anything else in the contract between them, a way to make it seem as if they’re mistreating him, something that might deflect
a little.”
I couldn’t believe what I’d heard. “I don’t see why you’re so hell-bent on defending a man like this. He’s a piece of shit. He’s disrespectful, has no care of his reputation, or much less how he makes us look.”
“It’s the name of the game, son. Try to find a spin. It’s there. There’s always one in every case.”
“If not, then what? I can’t believe you’re making me do this. I wish for once you’d just be my father and understand where I’m coming from. This man stole millions from Kya, and you’re okay with that? Doesn’t it affect you at all?”
“And we could lose millions if this case goes wrong. Get yourself together and see if you can’t spin it. They are bound to have done something. There are always two sides, son. Find out what they’ve done on theirs, and let’s get this case resolved.”
I had to go. I had to get away from the man. I walked out of the office and didn’t even look at Edith as she said a farewell. I stormed my way back to my office, past Tabby, and slammed the door.
I went to my desk and took my phone out of my pocket and dialed Kya’s number. I needed to talk to her, not just because I hated being on the case, but because I didn’t think I’d stand another minute without hearing her voice.
She answered with a pissy tone, “I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Please. Let me see you.”
“See me? Leonard, you’re the one who said we couldn’t meet up.”
“I could come to your place. I mean, if you’ll have me? I’d like to talk. I have some information I think you need to know about.”
“Fine, but I’m not talking to you about the case from our end. If you want to show all of your cards, I’ll let you.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you. What time?”
“I could see you around seven thirty. Don’t be late.” The forceful tone really turned me on, and I was glad I’d convinced her to see me.
She hung up the phone without a goodbye, and I realized I was going to have to try my damnedest to make it up to her. She was right to be angry about the situation, but I wanted her to put that angry energy to better use.
My One and Only: A Bad Boy Secret Baby Second Chance Romance Page 10