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We both breathe heavily. Or I do. Kingsley Asshole Shaw has no problem making someone feel smaller than a poor fly on his shoulder before brutally murdering it.
He’s the type of lawyer who advises his clients not to compromise, even when the other party abides by their demands.
“You’ll get more if you sue” is his famous line, the bane of the opposition’s existence, and the reason behind his ruthless devil-may-care reputation.
No wonder he’s the ace of criminal defense in the whole country—if not the world.
But if he thinks his assholish methods will work on me, he doesn’t really know me.
Or how far I’ll go to gain my daughter’s trust.
To be part of her life and make up for the twenty years I lost.
He retrieves an old gold Zippo and flicks it open, then closed. “Either you used your witch blood to summon a clone of yourself or you’re still here. Would you rather have the police drag you out?”
“And risk a commotion at your own daughter’s wedding?”
“Small sacrifices for the greater good.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And you’re still here.”
“I’ll leave,” I say with a calm that doesn’t betray my need to stab him with the nearest sharp object. Because, unlike him, I don’t want any problems at my daughter’s wedding.
“You’re not walking.”
“I’ll only leave after I congratulate Gwen and Nate. Not a minute before.”
“Allow me to decline the offer. Get the fuck out before I have you arrested.”
“Then I’ll vandalize something on my way out.”
“Then I’ll sue you.”
“You have no grounds or witnesses, nor a strong case. Besides, it’s bad press to sue your own subordinate, not to mention it creates a hostile work environment.” I flip my hair. “You’re welcome for the reminder.”
“Bad press means jack shit to me. And you won’t be my subordinate for long.” He steps forward until he’s towering over me, stealing the air and replacing it with his stupid damn scent. “I’ll get you kicked out of my firm if it’s the last thing I do.”
If his eyes were lasers, I would be incinerated right now.
It’s no secret that Kingsley and I never got along before, but ever since he found out I’m Gwen’s mother, he’s been sprinkling my path with mines, trip wires, and an unhealthy dose of sabotage.
He hates me with a passion that resembles the way he loathes his stepmother. And I don’t understand it.
It’s not like we had any relationship prior to conceiving Gwen, and we definitely didn’t part with bad blood between us.
It was one night. Nothing more, nothing less, unlike what the young version of me tried to think.
The truth remains. Kingsley and I are the personifications of water and fire. Coexisting is impossible. A healthy relationship is mythical.
Nate told me Kingsley is acting this way because he’s overprotective of Gwen and doesn’t want me to take her away from him. But if the asshole had any logical brain cells, he’d know I would never attempt that.
He was her only parent for twenty years, and no one could take his place in her life, least of all, the mother who just came into the picture.
“Good luck trying, Kingsley. Curious to see how that works out for you.”
“You might want to sharpen that armor of yours, witch. You’ll need it when you job hunt at a second-rate law firm.”
