Alex is fidgeting again, fiddling with his phone, taking it out of his pocket and slipping it back in. I can’t tell if this is his usual state or if it’s just his married state. The nervous energy isso palpable it makes my skin itch. I’m tempted to offer to take him to the park to run it off, but we don’t have time.
Once we arrive at the office, he settles down, as if his nerves stemmed more from the looming threat of tardiness than the meeting itself. We’ve barely given the receptionist our names when the door to one of the offices opens.
The man standing in the doorway takes a moment to assess us. He examines me first, his steel gray eyes dragging over me from head to toe and back. I’m sure he’s cataloging everything he sees from the casual clothes I’m wearing to what brand my shoes are. Then his gaze moves to Alex. It’s a much shorter examination, focusing on his face more than anything else. Recognition flickers in his eyes and then he smiles.
The teeth may not be sharp but it’s still the smile of a predator.
“Come on in, gentlemen,” he says, stepping aside to invite us into his lair.
Alex enters first and his brow furrows slightly as he passes Richard. Alex takes a seat across from the attorney’s desk and cranes his head back to keep an eye on the other man.
I follow him and purposefully step in front of Richard, breaking Alex’s line of sight. He blinks and turns his attention back toward me. His eyes are still a little unfocused and confused, like he’s struggling to remember where he’s seen Richard before.
“Well, Alex, I almost didn’t believe it when Marsha told me who had scheduled a last-minute appointment.” Although his tone is casual, Richard drives home the fact that they know each other, leaving no room for doubt.
Alex gives a self-deprecating smile. “I’m sorry, I’m bad at names. How do I know you?”
Richard waves off his concern. “That’s understandable. I’m sure you met hundreds of people at that party.”
The vague answer does nothing to ease Alex’s confusion. I’m tempted to end the meeting now, call one of the otherlawyers in the stack of business cards, but there’s no guarantee one of them will have an appointment today or even this week.
Richard clasps his hands on top of the desk. “So, you two are here to discuss an annulment.”
“Yes,” I reply, purposefully drawing the predator’s attention back to me. “Is that something you can help with, or should we find someone else?”
His smile twitches slightly down before he catches it. “Of course I can help, but annulments are tricky. They’re harder to obtain than divorces and often take longer. Some annulments can take a year and a half to finalize. Who knows, after waiting that long, you might change your mind. Decide you don’t need it anymore and you’d rather stay happily married. Either way, maintaining other romantic relationships will be more difficult during the process. You certainly won’t be able to marry anyone else.”
As he talks, the blood slowly drains from Alex’s face. “Shit.”
Richard’s gaze swings back toward Alex. “I, of course, will maintain confidentiality during the whole process. But”—he pauses, drawing it out, savoring the kill—“you should tell any otherpartnersabout your spontaneous marriage.”
Alex thumps his elbows on the desk and buries his head in his hands. “Christmas party,” he mumbles.
Richard’s smile widens. “I’m surprised you didn’t remember me, Alex. You certainly made an impression on me.”
“You’re Theresa’s ex. The one she dated in law school.”
“All three years,” he confirms.
I stand up, shoving my chair back with a loud scrape. “We’ll find a different lawyer.”
Richard shrugs. “You’ll need two, actually, since you’ll both require representation, and it’ll be difficult to find anyone in this city who doesn’t know Theresa. She’s drawn enough blood in the courtroom for everyone to carry a few scars.”
“We broke up,” Alex mutters.
Richard’s attention immediately snaps back to him. “What was that?”
Alex sighs and drops his hands from his face so he can look Richard in the eye. “Theresa and I broke up before I married Euan. I’m not cheating on her. If you want to get back together with her, no one is standing in your way. Go bother her about it.”
The feral sharpness disappears from Richard’s smile. “It’s not about winning her back. Theresa is a hell of a lawyer and a hell of a woman. She introduced you to every important figure in the region as her loving boyfriend, and now you’re here married to another man. You can understand how it looks. Even with confidentiality clauses, people will speculate and concoct their own theories. Perhaps you should consider her feelings if this is made public.”
“Come on,” I say, placing my hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Let’s find someone else.”
Richard’s eyes drop to my hand. His brows pinch together briefly, the slightest twitch, before relaxing. “Here, I can give you a few names. They’re discreet and affordable. This time, don’t explain to the receptionist the reason you’re calling. Just say you need to make an appointment for a consultation.” He copies a few contact details onto a sheet of paper and tears it off the pad, holding it out to Alex.
I want to snatch the paper up and rip it to shreds right in front of Richard. Show him exactly how much I value his advice.
But Alex accepts the list, folds it carefully into a little square, and tucks it into his pocket. He stands and then hesitates. “You won’t tell her we were here, right?”
