“It never was, and it never will be,” I say. “I’ll see you back at the office.”
I end the call and opt to remain in the courtroom. I retake my seat at the table and spend the next few hours reading through documents without a single image of Scarlett crossing my mind.
It’s not until a security guard alerts me that I have to leave that I realize it’s been five hours.
Packing up my things, I leave—grateful that my distraction phase is over.
The moment I step into the hallway, I see Scarlett standing in front of the grand staircase, holding her phone out to me.
Fuck.
That evening
There’s a man in a light gray pinstriped suit leaning against the front door of my condo when I step off the elevator.
Since the only way up to my floor is via key code or password, I’m confused as to how he managed to slip by security.
He looks at me with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, and I can sense that this isn’t a friendly visit.
I keep my distance, weighing my options: One, immediately call the police and risk getting the security team fired. Two, take matters into my own hands and get my own hands bloody if it calls for it. Three, turn around and return to the firm.
“You have five seconds to get the hell away from my door.” I settle for option two. “I didn’t approve any visitors.”
“I don’t remember you being this rude, Jameson.” He doesn’t move. “Then again, you were only a young college student back then.”
“Please walk and talk at the same time.” I gesture to the elevator. “I don’t have time for you, whoever you are.”
“Oh, that hurts me deeply,Jameson.” He utters my name like it’s a cancer. “I remember everything about you perfectly. Good to see how much you’ve progressed as a defense attorney over the years.”
“There are ten seconds standing between you, a broken jaw, and a fractured eye socket.”
“You even make threats like a lawyer.” He smiles and finally moves off my door. Then he holds up a few envelopes. “I was just making sure my letter made it to you, and I also picked up the rest of your mail.”
“Mail tampering is a federal felony.”
“I’m confident I’d beat the charges, but if you want to experience your first loss, go for it…”
Not wanting to give him another second of my time, I walk toward him—stopping when the features of his face become clearer under the light.
His gray eyes are still as cold as they were decades ago, the same shade as they are in the monochromatic memories I can never forget.
His smile remains as crooked as his soul, and despite being a millionaire several times over, he can’t wear a decent suit to save his life.
If there was ever a way for me to get away with murdering this man, I’d take the chance and build my firm over his grave.
“I’m giving you one last chance to crawl back into whatever hellhole you’ve escaped from, Peter Hansel.” I force myself to say his name.
“Hmmm.” He doesn’t flinch in the slightest. “I bet you’re struggling to sleep as a certain case date draws nearer, and I’m really worried about you.”
My blood boils with every syllable that drops from his mouth, and I can’t help wondering if spending the rest of my life in prison might be worth it.
“I’m only here because I want to save you from wasting your time.” He’s still talking. “I know how hard life must have been for you all these years, and I bet you’ve exhausted every coping mechanism on this planet.”
“You don’t know a goddamn thing about me.” I step closer, my fists clenched. “And the next words out of your mouth better be ‘I’ll never disturb you again.’”
“I’ll never disturb you again.” His smile returns. “But also... I would suggest that you leave this case—and you know exactly what I’m talking about—as it is. It’ll hurt you and give you more sleepless nights if you don’t.”
“Are you threatening me, Peter?”
