I covered my mouth, elbow resting on the table as I placed the photos in front of me. I didn’t know about TikTok, but Lucia had read me well.
“What do you hope to achieve with this suit?” I asked.
“I want to protect others from their pattern of abuse. We…” she gestured between herself and Lucia. “Would also like out of the NDAs so we can be honest, and for them to be stripped of their positions.”
“Richmond Holdings is a public entity, and the Richmond family own the majority shares,” Lucia said. Of course I understood the make-up of my father’s company. “They’re powerful, but they can’t continue to abuse women. I’d like a bigger payment than what they gave us. Maybe twenty-five thousand dollars or fifty thousand dollars more.”
“So do we have a case? Would you consider taking the case?” Teresa asked, I could almost feel her fingers crossing due to the hope in her tone.
I was left battling an existential crisis of what was real, and the best way to proceed forward.
“I’m open to reviewing what you’ve provided. These cases can be costly and the final results vary. A case like this can drag on for years. I know my father. He won’t roll over easily, if at all. These allegations are appalling. It sickens me to think that any of my family is involved in these claims…” My jaw tightened as I reached for the pad and paper Stone left for me. I barely glanced over at Teresa who wore a smile on her face.
“Why’re you smiling?” I asked.
“Because everyone else we spoke to barely listened to our claims, saying the damages weren’t sufficient enough to take on Richmond Holdings. Some wanted us to put up a retainer. At least you’re willing to look at the information we’ve put together.”
“No one seemed to believe us,” Lucia added.
“I believe you,” I said as I jotted down bullet-pointed notes for Stone to begin researching. “But the rest is complicated. I may not be your best representation,” I explained. “How do I get a hold of you two?”
Teresa pulled another piece of paper from the expandable folder. She slid it across the table toward me. It contained their complete contact information.
“Your assistant, I guess,” she said as she cocked her thumb over her shoulder in Stone’s direction, “made a copy of it already.”
Mechanically, I gathered everything together and stood. I rounded the table toward the door and took the files they’d brought. “I need your permission to discuss this with my husband and a select few others. I wouldn’t ordinarily mention anything a client tells me, but you brought this to me because itismy family. If I take this on in any way, it’s going to impact my husband.”
“Yes, of course,” Teresa said, Lucia nodding.
“Are you staying the night in Sea Springs? Does Stone need to help you find accommodations?”
With all certainty, I’d be up most of the night reviewing their evidence and evaluating the emotional toll this would take on me and Beau. If I took the case, did it scream vindication? My father’s law department would use me and my life against these women, but could they sell it to the federal court system to sway a class action suit of this nature?
“I think we’ve lost him,” Lucia said, beyond the now open conference room door.
“That’s rare indeed,” Stone said. “I’ll show you out.”
Stone received another good job check mark, along with all the others he’d earned tonight.
When the front door rattled its closure, I stared at Stone who grinned like a Cheshire cat. I never discussed my birth family with anyone, but as my personal assistant and paralegal, he was privy to all of my phone calls, except with Beau. He listened to everything to help keep me on track.
“Get the smile off your face. I don’t know if we can handle this. Employment law isn’t my strong suit, and this’ll cost us a fortune.”
Stone kept grinning as he said, “But one way or another, in this climate, your father has to take a hit.” Stone gave a loud clap of the hands and pivoted to his desk. “I believe this should be a class action lawsuit. Brianne should be reassigned solely to this case. She has an employment law background and thinks outside of the box. Of course, I’ll handle the leg work. I might need to hire someone to help.” He snapped his fingers then pointed at me. “Go home now. I suggest you tell Beau the truth tonight before they become clients. He needs to understand. He’s a good guy. He’ll support us.”
Us?This was an entirely new side to Stone I’d never seen before. I let him keep talking until I made it to the front door. “They’re probably already our clients. I’ll handle Beau. He’ll worry and be hard to get along with. Be patient with him.” The giant decorative clock above Stone’s desk read almost five forty-five. The kids went to sleep at nine o’clock during the summer. As I left, my mind didn’t allow me to put work behind me this time. A first in many years.
20: The Boots
Beau/Dash
Beau
Most of the evening turned into a fashion show extravaganza as the girls flaunted their new clothes, strutting across the living room’s make-shift runway in their best impressions of high-fashion models. They wiggled their hips and walked by kicking their legs out in front of them with their hands on their hips. They were hilarious and adorable and ours. The two youngest boys got in on the action until their teasing became too much. Now they sat at my feet, playing on my and Dash’s cell phones. Duke and Dixie played peacemakers and were strategically placed between the two boys to keep them from roughhousing.
“I like that outfit the best on you,” Dash said about Ava’s dark jeans and vintage Cage the Elephant tee. She commandeered Dash’s music system, and a Cage the Elephant song played quietly all around the house. With a pair of black military-style boots, her ensemble came together nicely.
“It’s my favorite too,” she said, excitedly.
