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When I outlined the case to them ten minutes later, Zach told me to drop it, but Thomas was just as interested as me. “If they have evidence against him—” Zach started.

“Evidence they haven’t produced yet,” Thomas cut him off.

“And if they did have solid proof that he was defrauding the company, why wouldn’t they be pressing charges? Why just the quiet firing?” I added.

Zach’s interest piqued at this. “Criminal charges would alert more of a media circus. Could they want to avoid it?”

I scoffed. “What production company has ever wanted to avoid the media? Especially when they get to look like the victims?”

Thomas snapped his fingers together. “You said he had an affair, right? Did he cherry-pick some CEO’s wife?”

I shrugged. “Maybe, but he didn’t seem at all apologetic about the affair. It was like he didn’t care about that at all. If he’d slept with the wife of a CEO, I feel like he would own that.”

The three of us fell quiet as we tried to work out what to do next. “It’s a longshot case,” Zach said, “and it involves a lot of big names in Hollywood. The production company could just bury us in litigation for the next two years.”

“But,” Thomas said, “if you win this case... it could make your entire career.”

I shook my head. “Only if I wanted to work Hollywood scandal cases for the next twenty years,” I said.

Thomas shrugged. “So, recommend me, and I’ll take it on.”

That was always an option. Thomas was an excellent lawyer with a great record... but a part of me didn’t want to hand him the case. The competitive part of me wanted it for myself, to prove that I could win a case that was nearly impossible to win.

Zach let out a low laugh. “He’s going to take it,” he said to Thomas. “It’s all over his face.”

“I’mconsideringit,” I said. “Like any other potential client who comes through my door.”

Thomas laughed. “So, you’ve decided.”

I hadn’t, not really, but the competitive part of me, the dogmatic part of me that desired success, wanted it. I was already formulating a game plan, leaving room for adjustments when I was presented with all of the evidence. Unbidden, my pulse began to race, and for the first time in a long time, I was excited about the potential.

Damn it all to Hell.

“Come on,” I muttered and stalked out of my office. Natalia was at her desk, typing away at her keyboard. “Where’s Mr. Bailey?” I asked.

She looked at me. “Alex is showing him around. He was getting... antsy while you spoke to Mr. Wagner and Mr. Porter.”

“Thanks, Natalia.”

Considering Alex wasn’t a fan of the view, she probably walked him down to the legal library. Maybe to the employee lounge to get a snack. I stepped out into the main corridor and walked in the direction away from the view, and sure enough, I found her and Hunter, each eating a small bag of chips. “Mr. Jacobs!” Alex said brightly. “I didn’t know you were taking on a case for Hunter.”

“You know Mr. Bailey?” I asked.

“I’ve run into Alex a few times. She did a hell of a job in PR.” He looked at her with a touch too much fondness, and I tried to keep the neutral expression on my face. “I was surprised to see her here, but she told me that she was going to law school.”

“Working in Hollywood just wasn’t working out for me,” Alex said with a shrug.

Hunter’s jaw tightened. “Me either, apparently.”

Alex patted his arm, and something dark stretched in my chest. She shouldn’t be touching him. She shouldn’t even be looking at him. I tried to shake off the thought, that feeling of possession, but I couldn’t get it to go away. “You’ll work again,” she said, and it sounded so much like a promise that it set my teeth on edge.

You couldn’t promise things to clients like that.

“I’ll do my best, Mr. Bailey,” I said, bringing his attention back to me. “But you are aware that it is an uphill battle, right? There arenoguarantees here.”

Hunter looked stoic for a moment, but then he nodded. “I understand.” He held out a hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, I shook it. “Thank you for taking me on.”

“Don’t make me regret it.”


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