Page 4 of Attorney Privilege
“Oh, we have a service that comes in and takes care of them.” She seems disappointed when I say this, and weirdly I hate the idea of letting her down. “But I’ll tell them you said that.”
She doesn’t say anything but nods and continues to look around the room.
“Do you like plants?” Why the fuck am I asking her about plants? I need to get her to sign the prenup and then get her the fuck out of here so I can go get an MRI.
“I like gardening.” She smiles, and for the first time, it seems genuine. Her dark curls fall over the soft slope of her shoulder, and I have the almost unbearable urge to trace the curve of it. “But I’m not sure I’ll get to do it for much longer.”
“Why?” I have to stop asking questions, but my mouth isn’t working with my brain. Okay, so it’s a stroke. I’m having a stroke.
“Because Conner lives in an apartment.” When I don’t say anything, her storm cloud eyes find mine. “And I’m supposed to move in with him.”
“You say it like you don’t have a choice.”
“Do I?” She laughs, but it sounds far from funny. “You might be the only one that thinks so.”
I cock my head to the side, trying to figure out the puzzle in front of me. I’ve seen Gamer with a lot of women, but none of them look like Emerson. Most of them knew the score and were in it for a good time. I don’t know what I expected the woman who would marry him to look like, but I would have thought she’d be happy about it. Emerson looks like she’s in front of a firing squad.
“There’s always a choice,” I say, and then it feels like I’m being pulled in her direction.
She glances at the nameplate on my desk and then at me. She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Mr. Bennet, with all due respect, no matter how much money that piece of paper says I have, choice is a luxury I can’t afford.”
I hold her gaze for a long moment, and to her credit she doesn’t look away. I want to tell her not to sign this, to stay away from Conner Merritt, or to run out of here as fast as she can. But I don’t get the chance to say any of it before Mrs. Brown barrels into my office.
Chapter Three
EMERSON
It must be freeing to always have a choice. I’m sure it’s something I’ll never experience. In my world, everything comes at a price, and it’s always paid with money.
“Mr. Bennet.” My mother introduces herself. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
I’m always amazed at how Mother can speak to people. She’s greeting Mr. Bennet, but it’s in a tone that lets him know she wants to hurry this along and be done with him.
She holds out one hand, and he takes it but doesn’t rise from his seat. I suppress a smile because I know it will annoy her. Does he know that too?
“Call me Gideon,” he tells her, but his eyes flick my way.
“All right, Gideon.” Mother takes a step back. “May I?” She motions to the empty chair beside me, pointing out that he hasn't offered her a seat.
“Unless you prefer to stand.”
I don’t have to glance over to her to know she has likely tilted her chin up in disapproval. She doesn’t care for his answer, but she sits nonetheless.
"Are the papers ready?" she asks, folding her hands in her lap.
"Yes, but there are things we should go over."
"Emerson." Mother gives me a pointed stare, and I sit up straighter, correcting my posture. Once I do, her attention swings back to Gideon. "There isn't anything to go over."
"Have you read the terms?"
"As I said, it's a moot point."
"You're not the one signing them, and I can't have anyone sign a contract they haven't read. It's not ethical."
"You're a lawyer," Mother laughs. "What do you care about ethics?"
"I didn't spend years pursuing the law to risk my license because you didn't want to read a few pages."
