Hollywood Flirt - Alexa Aston Page 0,22
here?”
He nodded. “You need to place the ad ASAP. It’s got to run once a week for four consecutive weeks. I’d suggest the LA Times, as we did before. Smaller papers don’t run as many ads as they used to. I know you don’t want this to stand out.”
“I’ll set up the posting as soon as we’re done.”
“Good. Today’s Tuesday, so let’s file with the clerk a week from today.” Marvin pulled out his phone and consulted his schedule. “Any time after one is good for me.”
“Then I’ll be at your office at one, and we can go straight from there.”
“Come a few minutes early. That way we can get everything signed and notarized before we leave. The filing fee’s a little over four hundred dollars.”
“It’ll be four hundred well spent,” Sydney assured him, as she put the appointment on her phone’s calendar.
“We’ll get our court date when we file. Then you know the rest. The judge’ll hold a hearing and review your petition and decide whether or not to grant it. We should be in and out, short and sweet.”
“Okay. I’ll work on getting the paperwork filled out.”
Marvin closed his briefcase and rose. “I’ll be ready on my end. We’ll transfer all your investments into Sydney Revere after that. My admin can help you with all the other things, from insurance to Social Security card. Getting a new driver’s license. The whole kit and caboodle.”
Sydney stood. “Thanks again for everything, Marvin. You were a rock for me after Craig died. You’ve managed everything for me all these years. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“I was happy to do it, Sydney. Craig was a good man and he wanted you taken care of, with no worries.” He paused. “I’m sorry your second marriage didn’t work out.”
She shrugged. “Me, too. Actually, I have one more thing to ask you.”
“Anything for you, sweetheart.”
“If—this is a big if—the time comes that I need a restraining order against Wake, I’d like it to already be drawn up.”
His brow creased in concern. “Your ex is giving you trouble?”
“Not in person. He’s called me a few times. I’ve changed my number after each incident. He sent me flowers at work. On my birthday and our anniversary. He wasn’t happy about the divorce, Marvin. He said that Marshalls didn’t get divorced. They soldiered on. His exact words, I kid you not.”
“You were supposed to soldier on while he screwed anything in a skirt?”
She chuckled. “Apparently so. I guess it was a family tradition. Wake’s mom read me the riot act the minute she learned I’d filed for divorce. Said that her husband and every other Marshall man did as he pleased. I was to turn a blind eye to any affair, have a few babies, preferably males to keep the Marshall name going, and keep my chin up and my mouth shut.” Sydney shook her head. “That wasn’t in my blood.”
The lawyer hugged her. “I’ll see that we have that paperwork ready to go in case it’s ever needed. Take care, Sydney. I’ll see you next week in the office.”
She saw him out and glanced at the clock. She had time to jump in the shower before she headed over to the house the Corrigans were renting for the summer.
The hot shower perked her up. She decided since it was an informal affair, she could get by with mascara and lipstick. She applied them quickly and then pulled the topknot from her head, bending over and shaking her hair out. Sydney brushed it with care. She wasn’t vain about her looks but she was happy to glance in the mirror and have her real hair back. It spilled just past her shoulders, the color rich and vibrant once again, thanks to Ramon’s magic touch and the glaze he’d sent home with her.
Sydney pulled on one of her mother’s sundresses. She’d moved all of mom’s clothes at the Malibu house into her bedroom once the first stepmother arrived and tried to give away Monica’s clothing. No one had emptied Sydney’s closet during all the years she’d been away. It pleased her that she still had a small part of her mom and that everything fit. She’d been able to wear her mom’s shorts and T-shirts and other beach clothes this week while she worked. She’d even put on a couple of her swimsuits and taken a dip in the cold ocean at the end of each day’s work. Sydney still had to buy some new clothes but