Page 23 of Lily, Unwritten

I sighed with frustration. “Peter’s leading the case, and they want me to be full time on it, with Anna, of course. I get extra money, and they’ll get other people to cover my normal duties. You think I should do it?”

“You should definitely do it, it’s an amazing opportunity. Which firm are they up against? Have they had DNA tests done?”

“Stop trying to talk dirty to me with the DNA.” I flicked my tongue against his warm skin. “It’s a new firm that nobody has heard of. DNA tests should be back Monday. Kye wants to countersue for custody, and there’s some stuff about having had his child kept from him. Are we done with the work chat?”

Zack flipped me over and pressed his whole body against mine as he kissed me, his tongue rolling over my own. “We’re so done with the work chat.”

Monday morning raced around too quickly, as always. I headed to Margaret’s office as soon as I’d finished absorbing that first, hallowed coffee.

She looked up as I entered. Was there almost a smile there? Impossible to tell with Margaret’s unmoving face.

“Have you got five minutes?” I asked.

“Literally only five. Have you made a decision?”

“Yes, I’m in. I’d love to work on the case.” I smiled as I spoke, but she didn’t seem to particularly appreciate it.

“Brilliant. Take an early lunch. We’re meeting at one and it’s likely to be for the rest of the day.” She shuffled paperwork around and picked up her phone; I was obviously dismissed.

I messaged Zack to let him know the deal was sealed but didn’t expect to hear back as it was his first day in the Manchester office. My phone did however beep with a message from my lovely Cassie.

Hello. You feel better now you’re reunited?!

What is the fascination with my sex life?

Hah! You just sounded glum last week.

He’s definitely un-glummed me x

That sounds gross. I know it’s short notice but fancy a resurrection of our Monday night tradition? I’ll drive over to you?

Sounds perfect, miss you. Come to the house around seven thirty?

It’s a date, you better put out woman xx

At exactly one o’clock I stepped into the intimidating boardroom, which had been taken over as the headquarters for this case. A lot had happened since last week. The DNA test had confirmed this was, in fact, Kye’s child. The media block had been denied and the case was expected to become common knowledge in the evening news.

There was an air of anticipation in the room, an electric feeling as documents were handed to me to be copied for everyone. Paper and digital versions of every item for each of us, which seemed wasteful. I knew what the paperwork for a case like this would be like.

As I waited for the computer to spring to life, I glanced over the outline. Listening to all the legal jargon and knowing what the eye-watering bill would be, it was easy to forget that at the center of this was an innocent child.

It seemed the mum was a part-time shop worker, juggling single parenthood with everything else. Not a WAG or a celebrity like I’d expected. She’d fallen pregnant after a one-night stand three years ago, before Kye was famous. He’d never known, until now. The cynical side of me wondered if she was only coming forwards at this point because his multi-million pound contract had been in the news – but her version was that she just couldn’t manage financially and needed support.

Now, though, a whole other barrel of worms had been opened up as Kye was taking action over being kept in the dark about his child. Kye had millions, literal millions, to pay us to represent him. The mother, Holly, would not have matching resources. It saddened me, but I knew how these cases went - money talked in law.

I flicked through the rest of the paperwork absentmindedly until I froze on the original documentation sent by the other side. The logo was new. The name was new. The address was not new.

Adamson Hughes Family Law.

I grabbed my keyboard and Googled it.

It wasn’t a new firm at all. It was an old firm with a change of partner. A very familiar firm. Mr Draper must have finally retired, and that meant… Cassie had said he was doing well at work, but she hadn’t elaborated.

Luke would be as surprised as me. When the paperwork was sent to Kye, they wouldn’t have known he would instruct my firm to represent him.

“Lily!” Anna’s voice screeched across the office. “What are you doing? We need more coffee.”

I grimaced. I wanted to slap her already. Nobody else spoke to the secretarial staff like she did, and she saved the worst for me, every time.

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