Page 85 of This Time Around

Twenty-Seven

Cooper

This was ridiculous.I was a puppet and Camilla held the strings, and never in my life did I want her holding onto anything of mine, ever again.

When my plane landed, I was surprised there weren’t cameras flashing, a host of paparazzo shouting at me asking me about Rebecca or Camilla.

It seemed like the kind of publicity Camilla would manufacture.

Instead, I was whisked into the back of a waiting Town Car where Max was already sitting and we headed off to Paul’s office.Once there, we sat for hours, Paul calling Camilla’s lawyer repeatedly, trying to get a damn answer on why they were running so late.

I was so damn irritated the entire day I didn’t even want to pick up the phone to call Rebecca.When I talked to her, I wanted to be able to tell her what I was thinking, what I’d mentioned that morning.I didn’t want Camilla’s bullshit clouding anything between us.

I wanted Camilla gone.Then I wanted Rebecca.Even a text was out of the question.The first thing Rebecca would ask would be, “How are you?Everything okay?”and there was no way in hell I was lying to her.Not ever.

Eventually, her lawyer, Stefan Gotkowski, called Paul.“She wants dinner at the Five-Seven Club.She’ll meet Cooper alone there.”

“No way in hell,” Max said through the speaker.He didn’t even give Paul a chance to talk.“I got him here and we agreed.Hell Stefan, this was her idea.”

“Her idea has changed.She meets him there or she doesn’t sign anything.”

I dug my hands into my hair, desperately needing a haircut and a bucket of valium.This freaking woman.How had I missed her psychotic side?

And that team of decent men I had on my side, honorable men who had my back and knew how I wanted to do business?Stefan wasn’t the kind of man to be on that team.I heard more shit about him not only coercing female clients to sleep with him in order to take them on as clients, but he wasn’t all that particular with genders.He was the worst of the worst, and he made millions living that way.

I found him deplorable.And I was also pretty sure I now knew how Camilla snagged him as her lawyer, and why she always refused to leave him.The man not only screwed his potential clients—literally—he was also rumored to videotape them.If she left and that got out, Camilla would be ruined.

I planned on ruining her my own way.

Jesus.How was I blind for so long?I wanted the white picket fence and a wife and two kids and instead, I saddled myself with a Joan Crawford clone from Mommy Dearest.

“I’ll do it,” I said, leaning forward so Stefan could hear me clearly.“I’m on my way in five.”A quick check of my watch told me traffic would be brutal.Not that it wasn’t always, but at this time of the evening I-5 would move slower than snails.“It’ll take a while.Tell her I’ll get us a table for seven-thirty.”

I’d get the best one.If Camilla wanted an audience for our dinner, I’d give her a show to remember for the rest of her life.

“Cooper—” Max’s voice held a warning.

I didn’t listen.“Tell her Stefan.And after tonight this is done.”

“Sure Cooper, whatever you say.”

He doubted me.Camilla could play her games for the rest of her life and never grow weary.Fortunately for me, she didn’t realize I held the game winning hand.

Max pressed the disconnect button and ended the call, turning to me.His black brows speckled with gray that matched the hair at his temples and in his trimmed beard, furrowed.“This isn’t smart.This is a PR stunt of disastrous proportions.”

“It’ll be fine.And when I’m done, or tomorrow, you and I have to talk.”

“Yeah?About what?”

“I’ll tell you then.”I needed the night to finalize what I wanted.“I’ll call you.And thanks, Max, for everything.”

I shoved off the chair.My overnight duffle was on the floor and I was still wearing the jeans and T-Shirt I put on this morning.For a moment, I debated changing.The Five-Seven Club wasn’t exactly shirt and tie required, but it was a hot spot, the place to see and be seen.Who gave a shit about all of that.

A month away and I realized I didn’t anymore.The thrill of the hunt was fading to the serenity of pastures and goats and cow manure.

Words I never thought I’d think.

“Take care.I’ll call you.”I grabbed the manila folder filled with documents Camilla would be signing by the end of the dinner and shook Max’s hand.

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