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I pass through the door, pausing for a second, and leave her with a wink. I will both see her and have her again, or my name isn’t Luciano De Santos.
“It doesn’t matter; I’m not taking your case, Mr. De Santos.”
I walk backward, still in her earshot. “We’ll see, Ms. Atkins. We’ll see.”
I close the door behind me, but sure as fuck, I’ll see this beauty again.
* * *
My car is waiting for me as I walk down the steps from the impressive building of Coultier, Artmann, Mann, Armstrong, and Atkins Law firm.
My driver is out with the door open, and I crawl into the vehicle with Harry and Shaelyn. The rest of the staff has most likely departed and is returning to our corporate offices.
“That went well,” I begin, pulling for my scotch from one of the compartments of my town car.
“She’d been a pistol from the beginning. I had wanted to warn you.” Harry’s words are cautious as if he’s hand-picking them not to sound like a suck-up, but to stay on my good side.
“I know Ms. Atkins. We go back.” Yeah, and we’ll go back to bed again one night very soon.
“And it’s not biased to work with her?” he asks.
I swallow my scotch in one swig. “Nah. But that reminds me. Shaelyn, get Penn Coultier on the phone. I’ll need to contact the big gun and get his assistance. Ms. Atkins is difficult, attempting to refer me to a colleague.”
Shaelyn pulls for her cell phone and does her thing, getting me to the right person, as Harry’s stare doesn’t leave my face.
“Maybe it’s the best thing, finding a new lawyer? I mean, no offense, Mr. De Santos, but she doesn’t seem like the easiest person to work with. It’s as if she doesn’t respect you or your authority.”
Before I have a chance to reply to Harry, Shaelyn hands me the phone. “Mr. De Santos, Mr. Coultier is on hold for you.” I don’t owe Harry an explanation and I won’t respond.
“Penn?” He’s not simply my personal lawyer, but a friend, and we go way back, having the same needs and wants that are not typical of most people.
“Luca, so glad to hear from you.”
“Thanks for taking my call. I just met with Ms. Atkins about our case. I suspect you’re familiar with my needs, and Ms. Atkins is who I need to win this case.”
“Yes, Luca. I understand. Did your meeting with Anisten go well? Would you still like to use her and the firm’s resources?”
“Without a doubt. But Ms. Atkins feels Mr. Guylin would be a better fit, and I disagree. It just so happens that we know each other. But we’re both professionals, and we can work together despite our past.”
Penn clears his throat. “Anything for you, Luca, and I agree. If it’s Anisten Atkins you’d like, then I’ll make sure she’s at your disposal.”
Oh, she’ll be at my disposal. I have no doubt.
CHAPTERTHREE
That fucker. The nerve of him. “I’m not at his fucking beck and call,” I almost yell. After speaking with my senior partner, I have no choice. Penn told me I’d be representing the son of a bitch I now know as Luciano De Santos.
Luciano went behind my back, and now I’m stuck with the bossy bastard.
“Is there a problem, Ms. Atkins?” Caroline asks, popping her head into the office.
I’m candid with Caroline enough, and what I say always stays between us. “Mr. De Santos isn’t going away.”
She leans against the door frame. “Well, if there’s a man that’s not going away, he’s a mighty pretty one to look at, you know.”
I drop my pen and lock my stare on her. In the many years we’ve worked together, it’s the first time she’s let her guard down, sharing something that’s not work-related.
“Wow, Caroline. You’re not wrong, but he thinks he has everyone at his disposal.”
