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Which is why I won’t, I remind myself, setting up a tray with coffee, sugar, and cream. This is my job, and I’m damn good at it. It’s one meeting. We’ll keep it professional.
I head back down the hallway with a rigid spine and a renewed resolve. I’ve got this. “Now,” I state, closing the door behind me, “We’ve got a lot to get through, Brody. Let’s not waste time.”
“You’re the boss.” He reaches for one of the coffee mugs and a packet of sugar. “Again, thanks for meeting with me. I know I was a little arrogant yesterday when you pretended like you didn’t know me. It was—”
“I don’t know you,” I snap more forcefully than I mean to. “Our paths barely crossed back then, Brody. Let’s leave it that way.”
His pale blue eyes lock with mine for a long moment, and he seems to be weighing out his retort. Finally, he nods, lowering his focus to the coffee in front of him. “Your call, Corinne.”
“Good.” But it doesn’t feel good at all. I’m being a total bitch to him, purely to protect myself from something that happened two years ago. Something that I can’t protect myself from at all, because it already happened. I shake my head as though to shuffle the thought away, clearing my throat as I reach for the files I’d brought in with me. “Mr. Barrett would like more detail regarding your case. Are you willing to put together a written affidavit and sign it as to your side of the events that have transpired?”
“I already told him the story,” Brody states, his gaze roaming over the file in front of me. “And I signed it, too.”
“Really?” I flip through the few pieces of paper I have in front of me, but only the written agreement for Mr. Barrett to take on Brody’s case and a copy of the receipt and guidelines of confidentiality are there. “I don’t have a copy of that.”
“He slipped it into a blue file folder, not a red one like that.”
I raise my gaze to meet his, surprised, but he just shrugs, offering me a weak grin. “I have an eye for details, what can I say?”
I’m a bit perturbed, but I decide that Brody must be mistaken. He can’t have already signed an affidavit. Mr. Barrett wouldn’t leave me without it if he did. “Give me a second, okay? I’m just going to check my boss’s office.”
He nods, but the moment I get up and head out of the room again, I know what I’m going to find.
Mr. Barrett’s office is locked. His blinds are up, however, and I see no blue folder on his desk. I advise Brody of this, and he
just shrugs.
“So, I guess we’ll start from scratch,” he replies nonchalantly. “No use wasting time, right?” The amused, crooked grin that follows has heat creeping into my cheeks again.
Not only do I not like having my own words tossed back at me, but I’m pretty sure he’s just realized that I didn’t want to have to hear his own personal story if I didn’t have to. I was inwardly praying the folder was there on Mr. Barrett’s desk, allowing me to send Brody home without anything further. “Are you sure what you signed yesterday was a written statement, though?”
“Honestly, not really.” He chuckles mildly. “I was nervous enough yesterday about having to even come here that I’d have signed anything just to get it over with.”
“We’re not that bad around here, are we?” I surprise myself by joking with him, and the smile he responds with is enough to remind me that we’re not here to chitchat.
It’s too late, though. He’s heard the humor in my voice, and he’s seen the break in my resolve. Brody leans forward, grinning. “Just the pretty brunette assistant. She’s kind of stuck up.”
I bristle at his remark, pursing my lips. “You haven’t seen anything yet,” I advise him as evenly as possible, but once again the sarcasm in my words shines through. Damn it.
Brody leans back, watching me carefully with a smug expression of satisfaction. “Maybe not yet, Corinne, but I think I’m looking forward to it.”
Chapter Four
Brody
She might be right, perhaps I have no idea what I signed yesterday with Mr. Barrett.
But I’m right, too. I am looking forward to this. As much as these legal proceedings are going to suck, the preparations with Corinne are going to be the highlight, other than the fact that a judge will end up awarding me sole custody of my son.
She might be my brother’s ex, but she’s got a fun, sarcastic streak in her that’s just begging to shine through. She’s holding out on me, though. She says she doesn’t hate me, but Corinne sure as hell doesn’t trust me, either. And I’ve got Jackson and his cheating bullshit to thank for that.
“What do you need to know?” She’s finally got the computer booted up, ready to type whatever I say. According to her, after this she will have me sign the paper and put together all other documents needed to schedule a court hearing and file the appropriate paperwork.
“Everything,” she admits. “If you think it’s important, tell me. I’ll ask more questions if there is anything I need further clarification on.”
“Wow.” I breathe out slowly as I dig around in my briefcase. “Never thought I’d be sitting here doing this.”
“Talking to your brother’s ex-girlfriend about personal matters?”
