Page 4 of Celebrity

“I doubt you’ll be saying that tomorrow after eighteen holes,” he answered Nathan but held my gaze as he sat down and pulled out his phone.

“Ms. Kumar, you may continue.” Judge McGregor checked her watch as if I was wasting her time.

I took a deep breath and spoke. “My client has been on his best behavior, Your Honor. He was willing to settle this in private, but Ms. Bassett wanted it aired in a courtroom as well as in the court of public opinion.”

“Do you have anything to counter, Mr. Travis?”

Nathan shook his head. “I do what my client wants, and she wants to make her ex-husband suffer. I would rather be spending my weekends with my wife and kids.”

“I take it you aren’t enjoying the notoriety of this case?” Judge McGregor watched me, but asked Nathan the question.

“Let’s say my family prefers a quieter existence.”

“What about you, Ms. Kumar?”

“I’m not following, Your Honor.”

“You’ve become a celebrity in your own right. You’re on the cover of at least four magazines and half the people filling the courtroom were there for you. What does your family have to say about this?”

She looked behind me toward Judge Camden, telling me she was aware of my past with him.

Shit, how many people knew about us?

“It’s complicated things.”

If she only had a small inclination of the true depths of how difficult my life had become.

“How so?” Judge Camden asked from behind us, surprising not only me and Nathan but Judge McGregor too.

I turned, glaring at him for a brief second before I returned my gaze to Judge McGregor.

“My private life is just that, private. I do not like it invaded. That is the reason I sent my special request to Judge Trammel last week. One that she approved before your assignment to preside over the case.”

A frown appeared on her face. “What request?”

She searched through the stack of papers on her desk.

“As of this afternoon, Karina Taylor will take over Mr. Bassett’s litigation.”

“What?” both Nathan and Judge Camden said in unison.

“Sam, you aren’t serious.” Nathan gave me a pleading look. “Kim’s going to lose her mind when she finds out someone even younger than you will defend Clint.”

“What does Karina’s age have to do with anything?”

“You don’t know?” Nathan stared at me like I was clueless.

Was I missing something? I glanced at Judge McGregor, who shrugged her shoulders. “Mr. Travis, both Ms. Kumar and I are confused by your statement. Care to enlighten us?”

Nathan’s face reddened with embarrassment, and he pulled at his collar. He turned to me and spoke. “Sam, you’re, umm…you know, you. And it’s… How do I put this without being sexist and completely out of line? Never mind, I’m keeping my mouth shut.”

“Nathan, I’m not following this train of thought either.” I furrowed my brow.

“Let me clarify for you, Samina,” Judge Camden said from behind me. “What Nathan is attempting to say is that you are a very attractive person who happens to make Ms. Bassett very jealous. And changing to another attorney who is equally attractive but younger will not bode well for Mr. Travis.”

When was being thirty considered old? Besides, Karina was only a year younger.

“Honestly, that isn’t my problem.”

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