Page 2 of The Wrong Guy

He shushes me. “I didn’t ask you to bring money. Just be ready for when he calls you. He’s a big fish in the pond.”

Tears flow out of my eyes unchecked, and I let them. I can’t believe this is how our marriage is going to end.

My marriage with Derek hasn’t always been the most uncomplicated relationship, and there have been somestruggles. When he started to rise in his company, I noticed a substantial change in our relationship.

I should have taken the hints and ended things earlier, but I didn’t know how. I could have asked my brother for help. That would have been the easiest thing to do. However, Andreas would have killed him.

I’m wondering if that is the way I should have gone. Should I just let Andreas oversee the situation and end this right now?

Chapter Two

Stavros

“This is Stavros,” I answer the phone as I pull back my nine iron and hit a ball into the net across the field.

I’ve been playing golf for the past hour, and my shoulder is hurting a little from swinging.

I’ve been working sixty-plus hours a week lately, and my body feels it. I should slow down and go out more than just sitting in the office and working. However, that is easier said than done.

I’m one of the city's most sought-after divorce attorneys, and with my caseload, I’m too busy to slack off. I didn’t get to this level by being lazy.

I’ve been building my business from the ground up without the family connections I could have used. Unfortunately, with the last name of Bilias, there’s only one correlation people would have made. My family had money, and I have chosen not to follow in the family's footsteps. I wish I could have joined a fraternity for fun instead of for business connections later.

I had court earlier today and needed to release some pent-up tension in my body. My client, Sarah, wasn’t asking for too much initially from her cheating husband- now ex-husband- until she stepped foot in my door. After she was able to prove he cheatedon her multiple times, I started poking holes in the seemingly solid pre-nuptial agreement.

Sarah is now a very wealthy woman who will never have to work again.

“Stav, this is Andreas.”

I placed my nine iron back into the bag and shook my arm slightly. “What’s going on?”

Andreas has been a partner in our firm for several years. The man is a tyrant in the courtroom and has been able to get criminals off of murder charges. I’m a family law attorney and have always specialized in divorces. The messier the divorce, the better for me.

“Look, I try not to bring personal business into the workplace, but my sister is about to get screwed in a divorce. She needs you.”

Of course, the ego boost will work in his favor, but typically, I wouldn’t say I like to mix business with familial business. Plus, I have a pretty full caseload.

I swallow back my objection and then ask the simple question. “Who’s the husband’s attorney?”

He growls his answer. “Sam Russell.”

Russell is a heavy hitter for male clients and specializes in supporting pre-nuptial agreements. I’ve never lost to Russell, but I’ve seen people who have. The man is a cock-sucking weasel in the courtroom and will bring up any and every indiscretion possible on the other spouse.

Russell is one of those snakes for attorneys who think he’s something more than what he is. The man drives an expensive sports car that his mother bought him and lives in her home with her because he’s in so much debt. I’m not surprised he’s taking this case since he’s broke. However, I’m amazed he’s not going after a more public divorce. Celebrity divorces usually provide more clout and money, which Russell needs right now.

Russell knows what he did to piss me off, and he knows I’m not going to forget. I won’t forget how he tried to screw one of my employees to get information on a case. The asshole had the balls to show up to court and flirt with my assistant thinking she wouldn’t tell me. I’m not stupid and could read the signs.

After his sneaky maneuver, I got what I wanted and knocked him down a few pegs.

Andreas is a good colleague of mine and one of the closest things to a brother.

“Normally, I would sayno,but you know how much I love to piss Russell off,” I reply. I start mentally going through my schedule for the week. “The only time I can guarantee I’ll be available is during lunchtime on Wednesday. Tell your sister to be there. I’m assuming you’ll be paying my retainer?”

I ask this because my hourly rate for divorce proceedings is $1500 for the hour. It may seem like a lot, but I’m thorough in my job and research.

He groans. “Like you need to get paid,” he mutters. “Fine, I’ll pay for it.”

Hanging up the phone, I throw it back on the golf club bag and grab my iron back. I look over at Drew Phillips, one of the other partners in the firm, and tilt my head back to the ball.

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