Page 33 of The Baby Behind Their Marriage Merger

‘That was unfortunate because I could’ve saved you the trip to our offices.’

Addi looked at the conference table and wondered why she hadn’t been offered a seat or something to drink. The appointment was scheduled to last for two hours so she’d expected more than to be kept on her feet and spoken to in a tiny office.

‘Is there something wrong? Are you not able to meet with me?’ she asked, frowning.

‘I’m afraid not,’ Thandi told her.

‘Why?’ When Thandi didn’t reply, Addi’s heart plummeted to her feet. ‘Look, if you can’t take my case, then I’ll take anyone else in the firm. I just need some help.’

‘I’d be happy to help you, Ms Fields, Iwantto help you, but I can’t do any more work until we receive your retainer.’

Addi tried to make sense of her words because Jude had paid them over two weeks ago. ‘The deposit was made into your bank account a while back,’ Addi told her, utterly confused.

Thandi shook her head. ‘It hasn’t been, I’m afraid. Because of the urgency of the situation, I did start work on your case, hoping to see the money come in. When my bosses realised I was working on your case without payment, they werenothappy.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ Addi murmured, humiliation coursing through her body. This conversation reminded her of too many from her childhood, of Joelle sweet-talking her way out of the rent being late, or trying to persuade a lover to let them stay at his place a little longer, despite knowing they weren’t wanted.

‘You now owe the firm a few thousand in fees. And we can’t go any further until we receive payment for that workandthe retainer,’ Thandi told her.

‘But...but...’ Addi felt her stomach clench, wondering how much damage her lawyer’s lack of action and response had caused her. She lifted her hand to her mouth and closed her eyes, trying to push down the rising tide of blood-red anger. The main reason she’d married Jude was to fund the cost of the lawyers so that she could keep custody of the girls.

‘You have a hearing tomorrow, and you need representation at that hearing. If you don’t, you will put your chances for custody in severe jeopardy,’ Thandi told her. ‘If we do not get the payment in our account, by the close of the day, I cannot represent you.’

It could take time for money to appear in an account so, even if Jude did do a transfer, they might not see it. She racked her brain, feeling like she couldn’t breathe.

‘To be clear, if I manage to pay you today, someone will be able to represent me tomorrow?’ Addi demanded, feeling hot and cold, thenverycold at the thought of Thandi saying no.

She nodded and Addi’s stomach released one of its many knots. She was supposed to fly out to Namibia tomorrow to view three hotels owned by Thorpe Industries. ‘Do I need to be at the hearing?’

Thandi shook her head. ‘No, actually, it’s better if you stayed away. The lawyers will meet with the judge, and we’ll be arguing case law and procedure, so you don’t need to be there.’

Okay.Addi flicked her thumb nail against her front tooth and tried to figure out a solution. She needed hard cash and the banks would be closing soon. There was only one other option.

‘Do you take credit cards?’ she asked.

Thandi nodded. ‘Sure. We can go through to the finance officer and I’ll swipe your card.’

Ha ha, funny.

She didn’t have enough credit on any of her cards, or all of them together, to pay the retainer. And, since Jude’s promised maintenance hadn’t come through—she’d presumed he’d pay her at the end of the month—she had very little in her current account.

He’d promised to pay the lawyers! How could he let her down like this? She’d been so caught up in him, in the sex and being spoiled, that she’d forgotten to follow up on his promises. How stupid was she? People had always let her down and disappointed her but, because she’d been entranced by Jude’s kisses, loved being loved by him, she hadn’t checked and double-checked as she usually would.

And that it was Jude who’d disappointed her thoroughly was a shock she’d never expected. Somehow she’d thought that he wouldn’t, or couldn’t. Yet he had, and she was both angry at him and incandescently angry at herself for assuming he would be different. Angry that she felt enough for him to let this get to her on such a visceral level.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

She forced herself to look at Thandi and caught the sympathy in her eyes. She wanted to help, but Addi understood that her hands were tied.

‘What time do you close?’ she asked.

Thandi looked at her watch. ‘Two hours, but our financial lady leaves in an hour.’

She had an hour to get this sorted. An hour to save the girls from going back to Joelle. She was going to kill Jude for this. Hauling in a deep breath, she forced her mouth into something she hoped was a smile. ‘Can you give me a few minutes to make some calls?’

Thandi nodded. ‘Sure. I’ll find you here in fifteen.’ Thandi walked away and, when she reached the door, she turned back. ‘Can I get you a cup of tea? Coffee?’

She was grateful for the offer, but she knew that nothing would make it down her super-tight throat. ‘Thank you but I’m fine.’

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