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“Oh, sweetie, first of all, it’s not your fault. These degenerates are a scum that most of us as lawyers haven’t even encountered.” He rubs my shoulder then pulls back to look at me. “But if you’re serious that these are the same people who have been after you, you have to tell Alex. They might be coming for you next now that they know what you were planning to do.”
“I know.” I nod, taking a tissue from Brett. “I’m finally the lawyer stereotype. I just stooped to a new low I didn’t think I was capable of.” He looks at me, confused. “I asked Clyde if there was any way he thought he could convince her to still testify if we put her in protective custody.”
He shakes his head, sitting back in the chair across from me. “That’s ridiculous, Jules. What you asked was a valid question. This isn’t just a case of asking for money because people are looking for a payout. These are lives on the line: their futures, plus entire families’ futures would be financially wiped out from these medical bills and them being on disability. I know it’s uncomfortable to push for their rights when another witness is under extreme duress like this, but you’re not being selfish. You see the greater good—the bigger picture.”
“Maybe, but still, I could have let her tears dry before I asked for her help again after her children’s lives were in danger last night. She doesn’t deserve this, and now I’m terrified they’re going to ruin her in other ways—her reputation, her career.”
“Listen to me,” he leans forward, getting his seriousdadlookas I always called it when we were in law school together. “This is why you’re the best goddamn lawyer I’ve ever known and this firm has known: because you know that you will find a way to make these fuckers pay. This will light a fire under you so damn big that you will destroy these idiots and make them pay for what they did to Talia. I know you, Jules.”
I nod my head. “You’re right.” I dry my tears, grabbing my water bottle and taking a drink. “I refuse to let these billionaire asshole bullies destroy anyone else. I’m a damn shark and I smell blood in the water.”
I spend the entire day going through every shred of evidence we have against Delmore. Then I go through their employee files, searching for anyone I haven’t yet interviewed who was fired in the last two years.
“Did you even take lunch?” I look up from the stack of files on my desk to see Brett halfway out the door.
“No.” I rub my forehead, closing my eyes for a second to give them some rest from the burning. I glance at the clock. “Shit, I need to head home so I can meet Chloe when she gets off the bus. Guess I’ll just be eating dinner,” I say as I grab my bag and pile my files into it.
“Hey,” Brett says, grabbing my arm as I exit my office, “don’t neglect yourself in all this.”
“I won’t.” I smile, reaching out to touch his hand before heading down to the parking garage.
Thankfully, her bus is running a few minutes behind, so I have time to pop inside and drop my bag when I get back to the house. I notice Alex remains in his car. I walk outside, heading over to his Charger, and tap on the window.
“Hey.” I smile sheepishly. “Everything okay? Didn’t see you this morning.” I’m close to telling him I missed him last night, but it doesn’t feel right—like it’d be too familiar.
“Yeah, needed to get some things from my place, so I ran over there before you and Chloe were up. Everything okay?” His normal friendly, if not flirty, demeanor is subdued, even sad.
“Yeah.” I shake my head. “Actually, no,” I say, correcting myself. “I need to talk to you about something—something serious—but I don’t want it to be in front of Chloe.”
“Okay,” he says slowly, his eyes dropping down to below the window. “Are you pregnant?”
“What? No! What made you ask that?” I say, horrified. “Do I look pregnant?” My hand instinctively goes to rest on my lower belly.
“No, sorry, didn’t mean to imply that. You don’t at all. You just seemed very serious about whatever it is you wanted to talk to me about. What is it, by the way?”
“Oh,” I say with a sigh of relief, “well, no need for you to worry. I promise I’m not pregnant, so I won’t be ruining your life anytime soon.” I chuckle, thinking he’ll let out a dramatic sigh or laugh, but he doesn’t. “Sorry, anyway, when I got to work today, I had a voi—” I hear Chloe’s bus turn the corner, the brakes screeching loudly as it comes to a stop. “I’ll explain it later,” I say as I jog across the street and wave at Mr. Lin, the bus driver.
“Hey, girlie, how was school?” I loop my arm around Chloe’s shoulder as we walk down the sidewalk and up the stairs to the front door.
“It was good. I got an A+ on my math test.”
“Of course you did.” I smile down at her. “You’re the smartest kid I know. How should we celebrate?”
“Mom, we don’t have to celebrate every time I do well on a test. It’s just a test!”
“Hey,” I say, closing the door behind her and grabbing her backpack. “It’s never just a test, and yes, we do. I want to celebrate every accomplishment of yours, even if it’s one of a million tests you’ll take in life.”
“Fine, how about . . .” she taps her chin as she thinks, “three episodes ofHe-Mantonight?”
I narrow my gaze at her. “Okay, but only three and only because it’s a celebration.” I reach into the fridge, grabbing her favorite yogurt and some granola to make her a snack.
“Mom, is Zara ever going to come over again?”
“I’m sure she is, sweetie. We just don’t need her services at the moment since I’m picking you up from school.”
“I know, I just miss hanging out with her. She’s so cool.” She takes a bite of her yogurt and smiles before shaking her head. “Sorry, not thatyou’renot cool, Mom, it’s just that she’s young, you know?”
I laugh. “I know, Chlo. How about I text her to see if she’s free this week? She can still come hang out with you while I’m home.”
