Falling for the Lawyer - By Anna Clifton Page 0,40

fast.

“That’s exactly what it is. And what’s all this nonsense about studying law? What do you want to go and do that for when you and Simon are starting a family soon? You’ll never use it.”

“What if it’s what I want,” Alex snapped. “Has anyone actually asked me what I want? Have you and Dad once sat me down and asked me what I want to do with my life, my career, my marriage …?” Alex stopped and closed her mouth, wondering where all the pent up anger was coming from all of a sudden.

Silence reigned on the other end of the phone. “Your father and I have done everything for you,” Mary Farrer replied eventually in a crackly voice, clearly hurt. “And now you’re suggesting that we’ve forced you into things?”

“No I’m not blaming you and Dad. Things got away from me a long time ago and I should have spoken up sooner. It’s my fault.”

“I don’t understand where all this talk is coming from! Your father and I want whatever makes you happy.”

“But I’m not happy Mum, that’s the problem,” Alex croaked huskily, tears welling. A long silence reigned on the other end of the phone before Alex continued.

“I know you want me to be happy but my life is in a big mess and I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t know how to start telling the people I love what it is I really want. But I’m sorry, I’m going to have to hang up now. I’m at work and Simon’s picking me up soon …”

“All right then,” Mary conceded. “I’ll let you go but I think you’d better come over soon and talk to your father and me. Can you come tonight?”

“No. I’ll be tied up with work until late. I’ll give you a call as soon as I can come over.”

Alex rang off in a daze of disbelief. Was her mother right? Was there really something between herself and JP? Was Monique really on a mission to lure Simon away from his engagement? Impossible questions! And absolutely no chance to digest them, for Alex had to grab her bag and head out of her office as fast as she could to meet Simon outside.

“Where are we going?” she asked breathlessly just minutes later as she slipped into the passenger seat of Simon’s black Saab.

“Bellevue Hill.”

“Bellevue Hill!” Alex echoed. What could possibly be at Bellevue Hill that he needed to pull her out of work for? “And you won’t let me know what this is all about?”

“No,” Simon shook his head definitively. “Do you have to rush back to work? I thought we could grab an early lunch afterwards.”

Alex felt a sick feeling in her stomach as she anticipated his reaction to her next response. “I can’t, Simon. I’m sorry. I have to be at the Central Hotel for a meeting at ten. I’m likely to be there until late, maybe after midnight.”

“Until when?” he bit back, slamming his hand down upon the steering wheel, unable to conceal his frustration and anger. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

“I was going to tell you this morning on the phone but you cut me off.”

“This is getting ridiculous! When are you going to give up all this nonsense, Alex?”

“It’s not nonsense. It’s my work.”

“Tell them you can’t go,” he demanded.

“No, I’ve agreed to go so that a statement can be drawn up today, and it’s not an unreasonable request when you work at a law firm. The matter’s urgent.”

“I can’t take too much more of this!” Simon warned. “I could cope with it when I was busy in New Zealand but now I’m back I don’t want to be met with your work commitments every time I suggest something.”

“I like working Simon, you know that.”

“You don’t need to work. I’m a wealthy man.”

“But I want to work,” she argued. How could she put it more simply?

“Maybe I could understand it if you were doing something important. But the way you’re talking you’d think you were Hilary goddamn Clinton!”

Alex’s hand rose to her lips and pressed on them tightly to stop the violent wobble that threatened. But she couldn’t hold back the two salty tears of crushing humiliation stinging her eyes. She stared out the passenger window and brushed them away. She couldn’t have said a word if she’d tried. Simon withdrew into a sulky, guilty silence that Alex knew from experience would last quite awhile.

Within fifteen minutes they were pulling up outside an apartment

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