Page 15 of Dominate Me

Chapter Five

Haley

I crumpled the piece of paper in my hand and scowled. That damn, narcissistic loser of an ex-husband simply wouldn’t go away. I would have thought with as little energy Timothy put into making our marriage work, that he wouldn’t have expended nearly this much effort post-divorce.

I’d given him everything he asked for during the divorce even against my lawyer’s advice. The resort and my parents’ home had everything I needed.

But his new tactic, trying to sue me...that went too far.

It didn’t help that I had received the lawsuit first thing Monday morning when I arrived at my desk. I needed to focus on the tasks at hand, but it was difficult considering I was still living in a fantasy land from last Thursday at Luminous.

Gah. My body still tingled at the things I’d seen...the things I’d done...and I couldn’t stop thinking of Jensen.

The way he spoke to me and commanded me. While at the same time, ensured I was comfortable by explaining everything and asking me questions.

He’d been right, too. I had come home from Luminous and immediately had to work out my sexual frustration all over again. I did it while imagining his voice, his eyes on me, him telling me what to do every moment. And I hadn’t done it just once, but twice.

I woke up Friday, my body slightly sore and stiff, and my mind reeling. My phone stayed in my pocket through the morning while I helped the crew prepare all the rooms for our weekend check-ins, my first time being in charge by myself.

The entire weekend had gone smoothly, thank goodness, but I suspected that had more to do with Maria, the head housekeeper and lifelong friend to my parents.

I had been too absorbed with the thoughts of Jensen promising he’d call me to arrange a meeting to discuss my training, and too distracted when my phone remained silent.

All weekend long I’d replayed Thursday night in my head, and as each day passed, emptiness settled deeper in my stomach. Had I not been good enough? Was he not willing to train me after all? Had I not listened appropriately?

All these questions tumbled in my mind and, adding the frustration of this new lawsuit from Timothy, by the time I was in my office on Monday, staring at the lawsuit and trying to un-wrinkle the mess of paperwork in my hands, it was too much.

I felt lost. Unsettled in a way I didn’t imagine would happen after my first kink-experience, as vanilla as it was.

But it was all new to me, and I had more questions. The fact my phone continued to remain silent after four days made me want to place my head against my desk and let loose the emotions I’d been trying to hold on to.

Forcing myself to push Jensen out of my mind—which hadn’t worked yet, but a girl could hope—I pulled up law firms in Grand Rapids on the internet, and searched for a new firm to hire.

I had never actually hated Timothy while we were married, just felt disappointed—in him and myself for not truly seeing all the warning signs he’d clearly flashed my way.

He had been the bad boy, and he’d swept me up in his tales and touches and gentle kisses and I’d desperately wanted to believe every word he spoke.

No, I hadn’t hated him, not until I received this paperwork.

Now, I despised him.

“Ugh,” I groaned as I clicked through Google’s listing of local law firms. Mr. Townsend’s office in Ann Arbor was one of the largest, so I needed to find someone comparable. I needed a lawyer capable of beating them even if I knew this whole suit was laughable.

As I continued flicking through pages and sites and law review board recommendations, one name continued popping up.

Mr. J.R. Rhodes. His name was everywhere in cases won, the size of his law firm, the number of attorneys he had, and the recognition he received from various associations.

I wasn’t able to find any personal information on him or even a thumbnail photo. Based on the success he’d had, I imagined he was old enough to be my father.

Inhaling a confidence-building breath, I picked up the phone and called his office.

He sounded like he was the best. And that was what I needed.

* * *

“What do you mean he’s booked for the next three months?” My voice was high-pitched and panicky, and I couldn’t stop making that shrieking sound.

A heavy, annoyed sigh filtered through the phone. “I’m certain I made myself clear, Mrs. Portsmouth.”

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