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The woman pointed to an open door. “This is it.” She knocked on the wood. “Ms. Stern, Mr. Reyes is here for you.”
Vivian’s head whipped up from her computer, and she jumped out of her chair. “Thank you, Amanda. Please close the door behind you.”
I stepped inside the small office with a single window, and there was a soft click behind me.
The two of us stood almost awkwardly, as if we’d just met. But maybe it was because we’d never seen each other in a professional environment before. Or maybe it was because Vivian had run out of my house this morning like she’d seen a ghost.
“You look—” Vivian cleared her throat. “You look very nice.”
I grabbed the sides of my suit jacket and opened it. “Thank you. I thought it’d be best if I dressed up. I know how some people judge me because of my tattoos, and I don’t want Spencer to suffer because of that.”
Vivian blushed. “Yes, that would be a bad thing.”
“So, what do you need me to do?”
“I’ve been working with someone on the custody issue. I will take you to meet her in a minute. And”—she lifted her chin and smiled—“I’ve decided that I will be the one to work on your brother’s criminal case after all.”
“No.”
Her expression went blank. “Excuse me?”
“I said, no. I’m going to be the one paying the bills because we both know my mom doesn’t have two dimes to rub together, and I want someone else.”
Vivian stared at me with her mouth open.
I could understand her confusion. Several hours ago, I had asked her to take my brother’s case, and now, I was telling her the opposite. But I’d thought about it. I didn’t want her around because she was working for my brother. I wanted her around because of me. Because she wanted to be around me.
“I apologize if this sets us back a little, but I didn’t know you were going to change your mind, or I would have texted you.”
“No, it’s fine. You’re the client, which means you’re the boss.”
I smiled. I liked the sound of that.
“What’s funny?” She looked around as if she’d missed something.
“Nothing.” I schooled my face. “Do you have anyone in mind who can take Spencer’s case?”
“Yes. Now, we’ll just have to see if he is free.”
I slid my hands into my pockets. “I’m ready when you are.”
“Let me collect all my information.” Vivian turned around to her desk and put several piles of paper into one bigger one. She straightened. “All right, let’s go. We’re going to talk to Elaine Rogers first. While you are meeting with her, I will work on finding your brother a lawyer. Sound good?”
“Sounds great.”
She took a step forward and stopped. “Oh, do we need to wait for Gina?”
What a strange question. She was my friend, but we weren’t that close.
I chuckled at the oddness of it. “No.”
Vivian opened her mouth but closed it and tilted her head to the side. With a professional smile, she said, “Let’s go then, shall we?” She opened her office door. “It’s going to be a long day. I hope you’re ready.”
“I don’t think I have a choice,” I said.
Her eyes filled with sympathy. “No, I suppose you don’t.”
She used one hand to let go of her papers, almost as if she was going to reach out to me, but she pulled back, as if she’d changed her mind.
