Page 5 of Celebrity

I tried to have sympathy for Nathan, but his life wasn’t the one on perpetual hold. I couldn’t step outside my home without a camera pointed in my direction. If I was going to be a celebrity, I’d rather it be on my terms and not as part of a media spectacle.

Because of this case, my life was in complete shambles. The man I’d thought I’d spend the rest of my life with couldn’t look at me without getting angry, and I was left to live in fantasies. My friends hated going anywhere in public with me, not to mention there was no way in hell I could spend a night out on the town without causing more problems for myself.

“Ms. Kumar, I have to say, I respect your decision,” Judge McGregor said. “I was in your shoes before I took my current position. It isn’t one I wish to revisit. I have to say, I’m impressed how you’ve maintained a solid reputation, considering your poor choice in clients.”

Okay, was that a compliment? Maybe she didn’t hate me after all.

“Thank you.” I checked my watch. “Your Honor, I’d like to return to my client before anything unexpected happens.”

It wouldn’t surprise me if Clint had arranged a wrestling match between his and his ex-wife’s supporters.

“I agree. We don’t need any more spectacles. I’ll announce the changes to the case. Congratulations, Ms. Kumar. You are no longer representing Clint Bassett. Good day, Ms. Kumar. Mr. Travis.”

Chapter Two

Six hoursafter leaving the courthouse, I opened the door to my beautiful house and sighed. Thank God the hired security had my place protected like Fort Knox. The last thing I needed was another incident with an overzealous reporter—one break-in to capture the perfect picture was more than enough for this lifetime.

The paparazzi camped out along the front of my property, waiting for any sighting of me, and all I wanted was a large glass of wine and a sexy-as-sin man in my life. Preferably, someone like Devin Camden but without the career ramifications.

The wine I had in hundreds of bottles, the man was another matter.

After the roller coaster of a day I’d had, I might just pass out from exhaustion following a scalding shower and forgo the alcohol.

True to form, Clint and Kimberly had continued their love/hate behavior with long, sad looks and a complete meltdown from Kimberly when Nathan informed her that Karina was now lead for Clint. Nathan could have at least waited until Karina and I had exited the courtroom before sharing the good news.

On the positive side, I was officially on vacation for the next month and a half. Sometimes it was good to be the boss. I still had briefs to review, documents to draft, and planning to conduct, but those were things I could do for the most part from my kitchen island, in my PJs, with a cup of coffee. Besides, I’d more than earned this break by putting in nonstop hundred-hour weeks for over four months.

I planned to savor every moment of this stay-cation. The second it ended, I’d begin a new chapter of my life that would require more energy than I’d expended on the Bassett case. Too bad these new steps would be as a single woman.

I dropped my purse and keys on the front table and then took in the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Sound.

I finally had a home of my own. I’d moved out of the cramped condo in downtown Seattle a week before the trial started and into a place where I could see myself living the rest of my days.

The house was two years of blood, sweat, and tears. Who knew building a house on the Puget Sound would take so long? In the end, it was worth it.

Nine thousand square feet of water views, a chef’s kitchen, and a backyard that rivaled the landscape at a five-star resort. This was my dream home, built because of the success that came after years filled with long hours, little sleep, and limitless drive. And not a dime of it came from my father or my trust fund, something I’m sure annoyed my father to no end.

However, moving in had been bittersweet. I’d hoped it would have been with the man of my dreams, my partner, my husband, the father of my future children, but life had other plans.

I had no one to blame but myself.

I walked through the house to the doors leading to the back patio, and then to the half wall overlooking the beach below the cliffs.

Gripping the iron railing, I closed my eyes and envisioned piercing blue ones gazing at me with love and laughter. Something I hadn’t experienced in so long—over eighteen months, to be exact.

This man would see past the public persona to the woman underneath and still love me. He would accept my need for success as much as I did his. He wouldn’t hide what we were to each other, but be proud of it.

What I wanted could all be a dream, but I refused to give up hope. I’d thought I’d had it once, and it could happen again.

Maybe.

At that moment, I felt a presence behind me. The scent of soap and crisp cologne hit my senses.

Dammit, what did he want? How many times were we going to rehash the same fight, the same pain?

He couldn’t get over what my life had become and would continue to be, and I was tired of trying to make him understand. It wasn’t as if I’d chosen the fame or the notoriety.

His career couldn’t be the only thing that mattered.

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