“What?” Elizabeth asked innocently. Marcus looked like he’d just thought of something, but couldn’t put his finger on exactly what it was.
“This … mmmmm … my goodness. What is this heavenly confection you’ve tempted me with, young lady?” He slowly reached his arm out, the half-cookie still in his hand, wrapping it around the edge of the plate to drag it closer to him. “Mine.”
Elizabeth smiled. “My new business partner baked those.”
“I want in. Where do I sign? How much do you want?”
Elizabeth couldn’t help but laugh, feeling instantly validated in her decision to go into business with Aimee and Kiki. “We’re not taking on any partners.”
Marcus pouted, pulling the cookies in tighter.
“But, you can have all the cookies you want, in exchange for legal advice.”
“Done. Just so you’re aware, I can eat my weight in cookies in a very short period of time before starting the process all over again.”
“That’s not a problem. I’m working the financials. I’ll put an extra line-item in for your cookie budget.”
“That’s my girl. Now what kind of legal advice do you need?”
“Two kinds, actually. One, to help us set up the business and issues with the partnership.”
Marcus waggled a finger at her as he chewed another cookie and took a quick sip of coffee. “No. Not partners. Members. You will have an LLC. It will be better for you to manage; and for tax purposes, as you know, it will be cleaner.”
“Fine. So we need that. And one of the partners, Aimee, she’s in the middle of a hairy divorce. She needs help. Badly.”
“Who’s her attorney?”
“She doesn’t have one as far as I know. Her ex is a lawyer, and I’m pretty sure he’s taking advantage of her.”
“Who is it? Do I know him?”
“Jack. Jack … Parsons.”
Marcus choked for a second time that visit. “Jack?! Gah … Jack Parsons? Excuse me … sorry … did you say, ‘Jack Parsons’?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“Whatever your friend needs, I’m here. I’d like nothing better than to see Jack Parsons’ ex wife take him down, down, down. Like all the way down.”
“Why the hatred, Marcus?” Elizabeth was smiling, realizing that this was somehow personal to her cousin. And he might be flighty when it came to finding boyfriends and trying new fashions, but he was one hell of a divorce lawyer. All the high-profile cases came his way because he always ended up getting his clients what they wanted. He was like a dog with a bone. Eventually he just wore the competition down; and he was very good at finding dirt.
“Homophobe. Big time. Looks down his nose. Poop doesn’t stink. Zero ethics. I’ve heard things …”
Elizabeth leaned in and dropped her voice. “Like what kind of things?”
Marcus leaned in and whispered, “Very bad things.” And then he winked at her and sat up. “I’m not a gossip. Leave this to me. I’ll take care of it. Have her call the office and set up an appointment to come see me Monday morning, first thing. Tell her to tell Lana I said to fit her in immediately.”
“I’ll make the appointment for her.”
“Oh, she’s one of those?” he frowned.
“No. She’s capable. But she’s a nice person, and this Jack guy has really intimidated her. He sent her to the emergency room not that long ago.”
Marcus sneered. “Dirtbag. It will be my pleasure to take half of his paycheck. Or more if I can manage it.” He stood. “And now, my dear, I must depart. I have things to do, people to see. All manner of important goings on in my life right now.”
“You’re going to watch Glee on your DVR aren’t you?”
“Like I said … important things.” He leaned in to kiss her cheeks. “Kiss, kiss. Loves ya.”
Elizabeth followed him to the front door.
“Will you be joining the little missus Monday?” he asked.
“Maybe. Should I?”
“Are you her financial advisor?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said without hesitation.
“Then I will see you there. Toodles!” He stepped down to the sidewalk and sauntered over to his convertible M.G. He never walked fast anywhere.
“Bye, Marky Mark!” she yelled.
He waved his hand out of the convertible top, driving away with a muffled putt-putt-putting.