Page 86 of Greed

He pats her shoulder. “We appreciate you, so don’t hesitate to call if you need anything else. I hope you feel better.”

“Thank you,” she whispers, shifting her gaze to me. “Hey, Abby. I wasn’t expecting you.”

Feeling guilty for not insisting that Zayden call her to ask permission for me to stop by, I shrug. “I’m sorry to show up unexpectedly.”

“I’ll take off,” Alan says. “Call me when you need me.”

As he makes his way toward the elevator, Kalina’s gaze drops to the white sweatshirt and black sweatpants she’s wearing. “I look awful. I haven’t been feeling well for a few days.”

I hold out the flowers. “I brought these for you. Maybe they’ll brighten your day?”

She takes them from me, balancing them in the crook of her arm. “They’re beautiful, Abby. Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” I keep my eyes on her face, sure that I spot a single tear trailing down her cheek. “Is there anything I can get you?”

Her chin lifts. “I don’t know.”

I’m wise enough to know when someone needs a hug, so even though it’s completely unprofessional, I open my arms. “We can start with a hug?”

I watch her break in front of me as she rushes to me. Even though her hands are full, she presses her head against my shoulder as I circle my arms around her.

A loud sob escapes her. “I know why you’re here. It’s the deal, but…”

“We don’t have to talk about that,” I say, even though it brought me to her door today. “It looks like you need a friend, and I’m a great one.”

She steps back far enough to look at my face. “I do need a friend. I know you’re representing Wells, and the deal is important to you, but what about a cup of tea? Do you have time for that?”

“I do,” I say without any hesitation. “I can stay for as long as you need me to.”

She nods. “Thank you. I don’t have a lot of friends my age, and frankly, I wouldn’t know how to talk to them about what’s going on, and since this impacts the deal, I think it’s important that you come in.”

I try to piece all that together as I follow her into a loft space decorated in soft shades of pink and purple.

* * *

“The tea is great. Thank you.”I take another sip from the ceramic mug Kalina put in front of me after I sat down at her kitchen island. “Is it peppermint?”

“Spearmint,” she corrects me gently. “It settles my stomach.”

The big bowl of soup she yanked out of the paper bag smelled divine, but as soon as she popped the lid off, she made a face that I can only categorize as something I’ve viewed in my mirror after drinking too much red wine one night.

That should lead me to the conclusion she’s nursing a hangover, but I don’t think that’s it. She’s been wiping tears from her cheeks since I arrived.

She sets herself on the stool next to me. After taking a sip from her mug, she closes her eyes briefly. “The tea is comforting, isn’t it? Kind of like the hug you gave me. I needed that. Thanks, Abby.”

I smile softly. “That’s what I’m here for.”

A laugh escapes her. “I think you’re here to find out if I’ve hired a new lawyer yet.”

I nod. “I admit I’ve been curious about that.”

Her gaze wanders to the vase she placed the bouquet in. “I haven’t.”

Disappointed, I keep that to myself. It’s obvious something is causing her immeasurable pain, so although I know Declan wants the Llura deal wrapped up as soon as possible, Kalina isn’t in that mind space right now.

“I won’t be,” she adds. “I won’t be hiring a new lawyer to represent me.”

Confused, I consider what I want to say next, but she beats me to it.

---