Page 50 of Impending Consent

"No. He has his own practice. I used to split my time between both, but now I'm fully committed to our firm." Pride in her voice that expressed how important independence was.

"My office is this way."

I followed her down a hallway until we reached her office, which was spacious but understated. She had a large desk which was unreasonably clean, a seating area with a leather couch, and bookshelves filled with law texts. Everything was impeccably organized, not a paper out of place.

"This is very you." I moved to examine the few personal items she had displayed. A photo of her with her siblings, another of her parents which I knew because I recognized her father from our brief interaction, and a small crystal paperweight shaped like a stack of legal texts.

"It serves its purpose," she mumbled and settled behind her desk.

"No photos of friends? Just family?"

"My family is my life, Rival. Everything else is just..."

"Temporary?"

"Exactly."

I took a seat across from her, watching as she moved through the paperwork she was here to complete.

"Is that why you're so resistant to this marriage? You think it's just another temporary thing?"

Her pen paused. "No. My parents have been married for over forty years. This marriage is temporary. We have a contract with an expiration date."

"Contracts can be renewed."

Her eyes met mine and narrowed. "Not this one."

"We'll see.”

She went back to scribbling on documents and arranging them in folders while I scrolled through my phone. I smirked each time I felt her eyes on me but I gave her space. After about an hour, she closed her laptop, stacked the folders, and sighed.

"You done?"

"Almost. I need to file one thing then we can go." She checked her phone and frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

Sailor looked panicked and that had me sitting forward. “Sail, what’s the matter?

"My father's been trying to reach me."

"Okay?"

I watched her swiping through her phone quickly, then her eyes landed on me.

"Problem?"

"He went by my apartment yesterday. Couldn't find me, so he called Sky and Teej. They told him to call me." Her expression was tense as hell. "He wants to know what's going on."

"Then tell him."

"It's not that simple."

"It can be."

"My father isn't like most people, Rival. He doesn't just accept things. He analyzes, critiques, then takes control."

"Sounds like someone else I know."

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