right. Here’s what you’re going to do: grab Joaquin and explain the situation. Tell him I said to start his research with People versus Melongo. I know that the Illinois Supreme Court recently struck down the state eavesdropping law as overbroad, but I’m not sure how the case law has shaken out since then. That’s the first thing we need to figure out. And tell him to also check into whether there’s any kind of exception if the eavesdropper owns the phone line on which one of the parties was talking—like some kind of implied consent.”
“Got it.”
“When you get back to the dep, don’t mention the wiretap issue yet,” Victoria said. “Take another break in forty-five minutes, and then you, Joaquin, and I will discuss whether we have a move here. Sound good?”
Nadia nodded. “Yes. Thanks.”
Moments later, Will walked into her office. “I’m going to Perry’s for lunch. Do you want me to pick up your usual?”
Always a lifesaver, this man. “That would be great—thank you. And keep my schedule clear at one o’clock. I’ll need fifteen minutes to meet with Nadia and Joaquin.”
The rest of the afternoon was nonstop, between advising Nadia and finalizing a marital settlement agreement in one of Victoria’s own cases. It was after seven o’clock when she finally got home, stripped out of her suit, and changed into jeans and a flowy, sleeveless shirt. Luckily, she had a quiet evening planned. She’d probably just rent a movie since her trusty e-reader had been failing her as of late—nothing she read seemed to grab her attention these days.
After unpacking her briefcase, she realized she’d forgotten to check her mailbox on the way up. Sticking her keys into her back pocket, she headed down the hallway and waited for the elevator while scrolling through all the work e-mails she needed to catch up on over the weekend.
Ding!
As the elevator doors opened, she looked up from her phone and saw Ford standing inside.
With an attractive blond woman next to him.
It took Victoria a moment to find her voice. “Hi.”
“Victoria—hi.” He smiled awkwardly at her while holding the elevator door open for the blonde, who gave Victoria a polite hello as she stepped out.
Ford followed the blonde out of the elevator, then—always the gentleman—he held the door open for Victoria, too.
“Thanks.” She stepped inside, and then turned around and looked at Ford.
As their eyes met, the elevator doors slid shut between them.
Swallowing, Victoria pushed the button for the ground floor. Then she looked up as the elevator descended.
Her lip began to tremble.
Shit.
Her stomach rolled. Covering her mouth, the instant the elevator doors opened she bolted out and pushed through the front door. She ran straight to the alley behind her building and dry-heaved while holding on to the brick wall with one hand.
Afterward, she leaned against the wall, catching her breath.
She couldn’t go back to her place. She couldn’t risk that she would hear them laughing, or—God—hear the bed squeaking or banging against the wall, or the blonde moaning his name, or worst of all, Ford moaning as some other woman touched him, kissed him, stroked him, and figured out all the ways to drive him crazy, like Victoria once had.
She pushed herself off the brick wall and started walking.
Several people passing by on the sidewalk did a double take when they saw her. Victoria ignored all the looks, for once not giving a shit what anyone else thought. Seven blocks later, she walked into Rachel’s boutique shop, ringing the chime on the door.
Standing behind the counter while tagging a dress, Rachel looked over. Her eyes widened. “Oh my God, Victoria, what happened? Are you okay?”
Victoria caught sight of her reflection in the mirror behind Rachel. Thick black rivulets of mascara streamed down her face, mixing with her tears.
She gave her friend a wry smile. “I think it’s safe to say I’m definitely not okay.”
* * *
AUDREY ARRIVED AT the shop ten minutes later with a bottle of bourbon in hand.
“Holy shit, Rachel wasn’t kidding. You are a mess.” Audrey sat down next to Victoria on the couch by the dressing rooms. “What happened?”
Victoria went for a joke. “Well, for starters, apparently I do like Ford.”
“Oh.” Audrey smiled. “I hate to break it to you, sweetie, but Rachel and I figured that out at the barbecue.”
Rachel came out of the back room with three coffee cups and set them down on the table in front of the couch. “He brought home another woman tonight.”