Loyal Lawyer - Jeannine Colette Page 0,2
bore you with my drama-filled life.”
“Quite the contrary actually. Your text was the only exciting thing to happen all day. So, now that we’ve cleared the name issue, please, tell me about the hole in the wall you referred to.”
I glance around to see a bench and sit down, needing to take a break from life for the moment. Leaning forward, I put my head on my hand while I hold the phone up to my ear.
“I’ll give you the Reader’s Digest version. I was with a guy who said and did all of the perfect things. That was, until he slept with the dog walker.”
“No. Not the dog walker!” he says breathlessly but obviously kidding.
A slight chuckle escapes my lips, and I inhale a deep breath, thankful for the action to help calm me down.
“I moved out because the jerk was moving her in—with me still living there.”
“Wait. What?” Now, he’s not kidding around, and his tone is all serious.
“Yep. He said he wanted to move on and couldn’t afford to live anywhere else. So, as he stated, I was ‘just going to have to get used to it.’ Oh, because did I tell you that he had shit for credit and the entire apartment was in my name?”
“Damn. That’s one shady dude. What did you do?”
“I did the only thing any sane person would do. I moved out. There was no way I could stay there with the two of them. Plus, I couldn’t kick him out and swing the rent myself. I already pay an astronomical fee for the lease on my business space. So, I packed up and took off.”
“But you left without the dog?”
“Don’t even get me started on the dog. He took her when he knew I was moving out. I tried to get her back, but the sneaky bastard changed the locks, so I couldn’t even break in to take what was rightfully mine.”
“Now, you’re homeless, dog-less, and calling him because he’s leaving holes in walls?”
“Yes. Our landlord just called, saying he skipped on the last month’s rent and left an insane amount of damage in the place that I’m on the hook for.” I let out a frustrated groan. “And I’m not totally homeless. I’m staying at my—” I pause and sit up straight. “Wait, why am I even telling you this? I’m sorry. You don’t need to hear all of my woes. Plus, you’re a stranger.” I stand up, heading in the direction I was going in the first place before my day took a complete dump.
“Listen, I’m not trying to be some creeper and get all up in your business, but I am an attorney, and you seem like you have some legal issues you need to work through. I can help.”
“Thanks. I appreciate the offer—I truly do—but I have, like, zero money to hire an attorney.”
He laughs into the phone. “Please don’t think I’m some ambulance chaser who tries at any chance he gets to land cases. That’s not what I’m doing here.”
“Then, what are you doing?” I ask skeptically.
“Well, for one, I’m responding to a text that you sent me. And two, I’m intrigued now, and I feel like the universe is telling me I should help you with your dilemma.”
I tap my foot on the pavement and contemplate his offer. What are the odds that the total stranger I dialed is an attorney who happens to be able to help me with my current predicament? A bazillion to one, I’d guess.
No. There is no way I can work with this guy. He’s probably a serial killer or a rapist. Or has some weird Pomeranian fetish. Those guys do exist.
“Thanks, but I can handle it.” I try to be polite in my refusal.
“If the determination in your voice is like the rest of you, I have no doubt you will.”
I smile, though I know he can’t see me. “Thanks. It was … actually nice, talking to you. Thank you for brightening my day, if only for a little bit.”
“You’re welcome. Can I at least get your name?”
I open the door to the bank, where I was heading, to work on the loan that I’ll probably never get now. “I’m Amy.”
“Well, Amy, my name’s Sebastian Blake. If you do decide you want to take this guy to court, you have my number.”
I laugh out loud. “Yes, that I do. Thank you.”
We both hang up on what was possibly the strangest phone call I’d ever had. There’s still a slight