Get your head right. Don’t be stupid, I tell myself over and over again as our elevator rises. I hold myself as still as possible even though I’m slick between my legs, and I’m dying to shift my weight so I don’t feel the wetness so much. It’s that crazy kiss—and his parting remark—that keep coming back to me. Masturbation did very little to alleviate my frustration, and I don’t know why. It did end my orgasm drought. That should’ve been enough, and I should’ve been able to shrug off his effect on me.
Craig Richmond’s office is on the top floor. A tall, lanky blonde in a charcoal-gray suit smiles at Elliot. “Good morning, Mr. Reed.”
“Morning,” he says.
Her gaze skims over me. If she’s wondering what a girl like me is doing with him, it doesn’t show. “Craig’s waiting for you in his office.”
“Excellent.”
Elliot leads me down the hall. A few modern art prints hang on the walls, and a pale gray carpet covers the floor. The office we reach is in the corner, and has huge windows with an impressive view of downtown L.A.
The partner stands up from a leather seat behind a massive executive desk. The glass built-in shelves are clean except for diplomas and various certificates. The man isn’t that much older than the picture on his firm’s website. He has silver-streaked brown hair in a conservative style. His face is light olive and quite affable although I’m sure it can look like a nightmare to his opponents in court. A carefully knotted wine-red silk tie adds color to his black Armani suit. I put him in his late forties.
“Good to see you, Elliot.”
“Hello, Craig.” Elliot puts a hand on my shoulder. “My fiancée.”
I step forward. “Annabelle Key,” I say, since Elliot isn’t going to.
“My pleasure.” Craig pumps my hand twice in a dry, firm handshake. “Shall we?” He gestures at two plushy chairs. “Something to drink, perhaps?”
“A finger of scotch if you have any.”
Craig’s friendly expression doesn’t change, like Elliot drinking this early in the day is normal.
“Just some water, thanks,” I say.
The lawyer pours the drink for Elliot and hands me a small bottle of water from the wet bar in his office. Must be nice to be a partner.
Finally he settles back in his seat. “So. I’ve reviewed your email and drafted a very simple agreement.”
“Wait.” I pull out the memo from my purse. “I have a list.”
Elliot plucks it from my fingers and skims it. “You added two more items.”
“I know, but—”
“Anything else you want to add? This is your final chance.”
I shake my head.
He hands my list to Craig. “You can create an addendum for the extra stuff on the list. And I want to stipulate that she is to wear only skirts or dresses during our marriage.”
My head snaps his way. He is going to put that in the contract?
Elliot shrugs. “You add stuff, I add stuff.”
“So if we go hiking or if I go work out, I’m supposed to wear skirts too?”
“Hmm.” He taps his lower lip a couple of times. “Yes.”
I glare at him.
“Do you actually go hiking? Or to a gym?”
My mouth purses. I don’t, since I’m not all that athletic, but still.
“Those activities are doable in skirts,” he says. “It isn’t like I said you have to wear stilettos the entire time.” Then he pulls out his phone and starts texting.
I can feel my face turn red. Embarrassed, I steal a quick look at our audience.
Craig is watching us with a bland expression. Maybe he’s calculating how much he can bill for every second we spend discussing our terms.
“Fine,” I say.
“Excellent.” The lawyer makes a few notes. “I’ll make the addendum, and you, Ms. Key—”
“Call me Annabelle,” I say.
“You can call her Gigi,” Elliot says at the same time without looking up from his phone.
Craig’s gaze swings back and forth between me and Elliot. For the first time, his smile slips a bit. But he recovers fast. “Well, you should review the newly revised document. If you like, a lawyer can be arranged.”
“Oh.” I frown. “Is it very long and complicated?” If it’s anything like the fine print on insurance policies, there is no way I can read it over myself and understand everything.
“Not at all. Two pages. No legalese. It says what you bring to the marriage is what you take with you, along with the other conditions you’ve discussed between yourselves. You can take your time to make sure nothing’s left out.”