Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,50

other way around. I want to show Jade how to live your own life and let the man join your life, not become your life. Reed’s the type of guy who will gladly add us onto his shoulders—he’ll house us, feed us, clothe us, and love us.” My voice quivers despite my best effort to stop it from doing so.

“Vic,” Chelsea sighs. “You can have all that and get your degree and have a career.”

I shake my head. “Maybe, and Reed might be the person to allow me that, but what if he’s a rebound and I lose him because I’m not mentally able to move on yet? There’s a reason I haven’t dated in so long.”

Chelsea leans back with a forlorn expression on her face and I wish I was capable of reading her mind right now.

“I understand.” She stands and leans forward to squeeze my hand before walking down the hallway. “But at least screw him.” The echo of her laugh trails along with her as she heads into her office.

The office door opens and Hannah races in, her heels clicking faster than I’ve ever seen before. “Just the person I need to beg.” She points to me and doesn’t stop, but heads right into her office.

What now?

Chapter Sixteen

“Beg?” I ask following Hannah into her office.

Her space is like walking into a Pottery Barn office catalog if there was such a thing for office furniture. White desk with a green fabric chair tucked underneath. A leather couch and a flower-patterned chair are arranged in the corner with some knick-knacks with empowering sayings by women strewn throughout the space. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all beautifully done. She had a decorator, but the vision was hers. It screams femininity and I love that she didn’t cave to the typical dreary brown and gray office furniture.

“I need a lawyer.”

I tilt my head. “A divorce lawyer?”

“No. I’m already divorced.” She holds up her left hand where her ring finger remains empty. “Someone to look over some contracts. There’s a similar foundation out there that’s coming after us saying that our name and slogan is too similar.”

“Oh no. Okay, I can look someone up. I’m sure it won’t be a problem.” I jot it down on my pad of paper. “What about that tax attorney who called the office a few weeks back?”

She’s already shaking her head. “He’s great with numbers, but I need someone who knows lawsuits and contracts. Not to mention, I already tried him. He’s on vacation or something. His secretary said he couldn’t be reached. Where does someone go that a cell phone can’t be answered or an email sent?”

She scrunches her face up as if the thought is really beyond her understanding. The man’s probably on an anniversary trip with his wife or a family trip and doesn’t want to be disturbed.

“I’ll find someone.” I turn around to head to my computer thinking this will be an easy task.

“Victoria?”

I circle back around. She’s sitting down in her chair and plugging in her laptop now.

“What about that steak guy? Isn’t he a lawyer?”

I wave her off. “He’s the assistant district attorney. We should probably find a specialist for this.”

She types in her password, and then leans back in her chair, her fingernails tapping on her desk. “Could you give him a call? He’s what, just down the street, right?” She glances out the window as if she can see his office from here. Which she probably can since we’re high enough in the building.

“Um… I’m sure he’s busy. I guarantee I can find someone else.” I step backward.

“Maybe he can just take a quick look on his lunch break?”

Why is she pressing this issue?

“Um…”

“You’re not comfortable with it.” She waves me off. “I would never put you in an uncomfortable position. Never mind.”

All the tension leaves my body.

“It’s just this company is threatening to file later today and I’m desperate for someone to make sense of this,” she continues. “There are terms I just don’t understand. This will affect the programs we’re already implementing with the girls and I’d hate for them to stop. Losing traction would be detrimental to our efforts.” She pauses for a second. “Once you find someone, try to get them here today. I’ll pay double.”

I nod, stepping out of the room.

Shit, shit, shit. She’s not even a mother and she can guilt trip almost as well as my own. Fuck.

I sit down at my desk. Finding the right lawyer is easy, getting him