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“Call me when you’re not such an asshole. You’ve pushed it to a new level, Luc.” Murph theatrically leaves my office, banging the door behind him. He slams it with so much force, my windows shake. I’ve forgiven him for pushing Isabel away years ago. She’s content. And he’s as happy as a man who strays from commitment can be. And honestly, I don’t want to think of my little sister being tied up by my best friend. Maybe it was good for everyone involved—their relationship never progressed.

But he’s not wrong. And I had been more of an asshole than I typically am and it has everything to do with the woman I’ve not fucked since our first time together.

“Shaelyn,” I call through the intercom.

“Yes, Sir?”

“Order Morus LXIV for Murph and several fancy sausages and olives you keep on hand.”

“Yes, Sir, no problem.”

Hopefully, the seven-thousand-dollar gin gets me back into Murph’s good graces. He’s my best friend at the end of the day, and we share so much history.

“Oh, and get Ms. Atkins on the phone. Don’t take no for an answer.” I hit the button, ending our call, and wait for the irritating blonde who gets under my skin, but I can’t let her go.

“Mr. De Santos, she’s in a meeting. I’m sorry. She’s told her secretary she isn’t to be disturbed, and she’ll call you back at her earliest convenience.”

It’s not surprising. “Shaelyn, get Penn Coultier on the phone.” I end the call again. If Anisten Atkins won’t come to me, I’ll make it so fucking hard on her when she doesn’t. Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t typically push, but I know she wants me as much as I want her.

“Luca,” Penn greets. “Good to hear from you. The paperwork is all signed, and Anisten is on board, so what can I do for you?”

I let out a theatrical chuckle for effect. “Is she? Because I called her, and she was anything but on board when my secretary was told she was unavailable. With my retainer, one I doubled to ensure I was the only case she’d take during the duration; I expect her to accept my calls, not blow Shaelyn off.”

“I can’t believe Anisten meant it that way.”

I mute his part of the call and buzz Shaelyn into my office.

“Yes, Sir?”

“Penn, Shaelyn is here. She was the one, after all, who tried to get Anisten on the phone. I’ve not heard from her all week.” I pause, letting that sink in for my personal lawyer, who I can also call a friend outside of work. “Shaelyn, can you please tell Mr. Coultier what was relayed to you when you attempted to reach Ms. Atkins?”

“Yes, Sir.” She clears her throat. “Her secretary told me Ms. Atkins would call back at her earliest convenience.”

“Thanks, Shaelyn, that will be all.” She turns on her heels, and Penn is speechless for a second before he replies.

“Sorry, Luca. I’ll handle this. It will never and I meanit will neverhappen again.”

I let out a long and deep chuckle. If there was ever a way to bring Anisten Atkins to me, this is it. I’ll have a livid blonde bombshell in front of me by the end of the day, and I look forward to it.

CHAPTERFIVE

The door swings open, and I expect Luca in front of me since I’ve avoided him for a week. When I divert my attention from re-reading claims by the environmentalists suing De Santos Inc., I look into the stormy eyes of Penn Coultier. He’s twenty years my senior, and at fifty, he looks like he may be thirty-five. He’s a good-looking man, generally, when he’s not ready to let loose on me over something I assume deals with this new case he’d ordered me to take.

“Do you know what I don’t like, Anisten?” he asks, not saying hello or hey, can we talk.

“I assume there’s a lot you don’t like, but I’m guessing you didn’t come down to talk about all of them.” My attempt at humor isn’t met with a laugh on his end.

“I don’t like dealing with your clients,the ones under your care. I also don’t like having gone to bat for you last year when I pushed for partnership when the rest of the named partners were against it. Especially Jeffery Mann.” The man’s name enrages me like no other and he has had it out for me since the day we met. Penn isn’t finished and continues. “But I did all of this because I believe in you.”

I place my reading glasses down and push back into my chair. “Wait, Penn. What are you talking about? I’m not surprised you have my back, because Jeffery hates me.” I pause to order my words. “Oh, I can’t wait to hear this. What did Mr. De Santos tell you? The man is….”

“The man is covering all expenses, and his rate is doubled because he wants your attention on him and only him.”

This unfortunately makes me chuckle because Penn doesn’t know how much Luca wants my attention fullyon every part of him.

“Do you find this funny, Anisten? If he walks, I can’t save your ass. You get that, right? You bring in a lot of money to our firm. No doubt. Everyone happens to be tree huggers nowadays. It works for you. You’re passionate, but with each new case, there’s a chance you can fall. And if he leaves us, there’s no saving you.”

This has gone too far. “Penn,” I push back up, both hands on my desk, “I told you I was personally tethered to this man. I knew I couldn’t work with him, but you gave me no choice.”

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