Page 71 of Conquering Oz

She’d shared her frustration with Oz. He seemed unbothered by her dilemma, suggesting “you hired him to do a job, let him do it.” His advice did nothing to settle her nerves, but it was valid. She had to trust her lawyer. His office had called confirming the date, time, and location of the meeting yesterday.

In another few hours, she’d know the fate of her store.

The light turned green, and she headed west toward the center of the city. Elodie rolled her neck and grabbed her coffee, taking a sip. Overhyped on caffeine probably wasn’t the best way to go into the meeting. It wasn’t helping to calm her nerves. She drew in a deep breath and glanced down at her phone. She’d contemplated calling Oz all morning. They’d been spending almost every night together except a few days when he was out of town. Like last night. She’d sent him a few texts but only received one-word responses. He’d mentioned checking out another location for a new club.

At forty, she was fully equipped to handle her own affairs. But…

She tapped the screen. “Call Oz.”

When she heard the ringing she gripped the steering wheel tightly, glancing up through the windshield at the numbers on the building.One ring, two rings, three rings…

“Pick up the phone, Oz,” she mumbled and groaned when she got the beep.Why the hell doesn’t this man have an outgoing message?

“Hey, Oz. Ummm” —she turned left at the light and pulled into the parking garage— “I might lose you, but I’m heading into my meeting at the lawyer’s. Was hoping for a pep talk, but I see that’s not gonna happen. Anyway, call me when you get this. If I don’t answer, I’m either still in the meeting or drowning my sorrows at Starr’s.” She pulled into a spot, shifting the gear into park. “Alright well, I’m going in. Love you. Bye.”

She clicked the phone and froze.What the hell did I just say? No!The words just slipped out.Shit!Elodie dropped her forehead to the steering wheel and closed her eyes.As if she needed one more thing to stress over. Why would she say that? They’d been together less than a month, and while they’d spent most nights together, it was definitely too soon.Right?

Elodie straightened in her seat.

There was no fixing it now. Maybe he was the type of man who didn’t check his messages. Wishful thinking. She got out of her car, locked the doors, and headed into the building. Elodie took the elevator to the tenth floor and was immediately escorted to the conference room by the receptionist. It was a minor reprieve not having to sit in the waiting room with her thoughts. She would’ve dwelled on her slip of the tongue on Oz’s voicemail.

Gah!

Elodie was seated at the table when a group of three walked in. A woman and two men. Lawyers, no doubt. As if her nerves weren’t already on high alert, her heart rate spiked, and it took great effort not to fidget in her chair. She was seconds away from breaking out in a sweat.Who the hell needs three lawyers for a civil case?It was confirmation once again that Julian was an asshole.

They were gathered at the far end of the room when Julian and another man walked in.

This was just great.Now he has four lawyers, and I have one who can’t even show up on time.Elodie leaned down, grabbing her pocketbook and pulling out her phone. It was three minutes after ten and no messages from her lawyer.

“Shall we get started?”

Elodie jerked her head. Julian sat across from her at the conference table with one of his lawyers seated next to him. His eyes were locked on her though he lacked his usual arrogance. It was strange that something she’d admired years ago as confidence was now the biggest thing she loathed about him.

Elodie expected the woman and two men to take seats across from her next to their client. Instead, the two men sat next to her, leaving a seat open between them while the woman sat on the other side of her. She watched her sit and pull out a folder from her briefcase.

What the…

Elodie leaned closer. “Aren’t you supposed to sit with your client?”

The woman angled her head. “It’s standard practice.”

Elodie glanced at Julian and his lawyer then back to the woman next to her.

“Whose lawyer are you?” Elodie whispered.

She smirked and arched her brow. “Yours.”

What?

Julian’s lawyer cleared his throat. “We were unaware Ms. Martin retained new counsel.”

Join the club.

The woman folded her hands, resting her elbows on the table and essentially commanding everyone’s attention. “As of this morning, yes. I’m Caitlyn Archer representing Ms. Martin and” —she gestured to the men on the other side of Elodie— “Mark Jackson and Steve Hunter will serve as my co-counsel.”

The two men at the end of the table were for her too? What the hell was happening? She could barely afford one lawyer.Now I have three?

“Alright.” Julian’s lawyer cleared his throat. He appeared confused and very much intimidated. “Shall we begin then?”

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