Making His Baby(105)
“What do you want for me?” I ask softly.
Again, the words stop up behind his lips. I can’t bring myself to say them either. I kiss him instead.
We have time to figure it out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
ERIC
“Mr. Stevens?” Sophie’s face is taut when she steps into my office, which is never a good sign.
“This can’t be good.” I close the file laid out before me and recline in my chair. “Is it Williams?”
She shakes her head.
“Vivica Gattis?” Another shake. Shit. I stack my files together and toss them into a desk drawer. “All right. Send the asshole in.”
“Asshole? I knew we’d be friends.” David McArthur quips, letting himself in with a wink. “You’re my brand of man, Eric.”
“Glad to hear it.” Years in a courtroom keep my jaw from clenching. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Updates. I know you met with Kate’s lawyer recently.”
“Correct. I told you no headway was made and we are going to court.”
“That’s what I don’t like.” David clicks his tongue and shakes his head. “I don’t want this to go to court and create a bigger circus than it is already. I need you to get her to back down.”
“Unfortunately, your whoring about Hollywood has given them an extra boost of fight. I warned you to keep it low-key when this whole thing started, David. There’s a reason why I tell you to do something. I’m the expert here, remember?”
“It’s not whoring. I’m just enjoying myself. Though, this past weekend could probably cross the line.” David grins widely at me. “Tom Watts threw a killer party at his mansion. Girls everywhere. God bless the bikini, am I right?”
“David.” I seethe quietly and struggle to keep my voice level. At the rate this guy is going, I’m going to be the laughing stock of the courthouse. No one in their right mind would continue to deal with this bullshit. “If you can’t stop your fucking antics, I’m going to have to drop your case.”
“Excuse me?” The smile drops and something I’m sure he meant to be sinister surfaces. How adorable. I could beat the mouth of this guy in two seconds. “You can’t do that.”
“The hell I can’t. You have repeatedly ignored every direct instruction on how to handle this case. Blatant disobedience every time. I know you don’t give a shit about your reputation, but I have a damn good one. I am not going to represent a sinking ship.”
“This isn’t a goddamn sinking ship.” David jabs his finger against my desk. “I endured a hellish relationship with that woman for years. I’m entitled to have fun.”
“You’re entitled to do whatever you want. Unless you want to win complete rights to your assets. If that’s the case, you keep your fucking pants on and don’t look at one more pair of tits for the next couple of weeks.”
David stares at me for a minute. My fingers itch to throw a right hook and watch him sail across my office floor. He laughs and shakes his finger at me. I’m going to need intensive boxing therapy tonight so I don’t lose my mind.
“I see what this is. A scare-him-straight technique. I got you, man. I know there’s no way you’d give up the money I’m paying you.”
“Contrary to apparent belief, I don’t need your fucking money. I do, however, need my reputation. I’m not going to have you ruin me in your quest to ruin yourself.”
“This is bullshit,” David spits. “I could just fire you, you know.”
“By all means.” I raise my hands in the air. “I’ll have Sophie send you a final bill.”
“If you think I’d pay—”
“You signed a contract, David.” I pull his file out of the case behind me and flip to our initial agreement he signed weeks ago. “It says here either party can terminate at any time, but a final bill will be sent regardless, and you are obligated to pay. You happily signed. Need to read it again?”
“No. I remember.” David’s mouth is thin but he shakes his head as if it’s water under the bridge. “I know lawyers have very stressful jobs. I’m sure you just need a vacation. Yeah, I can keep my dick to myself for a few more weeks if it means we can get this done quick.”
“Good.”
Inside, I am raging. I know I should just cut him loose, but that means delaying the trial and extending the headache for Kate. If I can do anything for her, it’s ensuring she’s not fucked in this process. If I develop six ulcers, but she gets what’s fair, then I’ll call it worth it.