Page 96 of Beautiful Betrayal

“I’m going to be frank. I’m trying to understand what to do with Grayson Bennett’s ex-fiancée.”

“I’m passionate about my job and if there was ever a time I needed to prove myself, it’s now. Give me a caseload and let me prove I exist outside of that relationship.”

He narrows his eyes on me. “You still love him.”

There’s a stab in my heart. “And I always will.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Sometimes love isn’t enough, but be clear on one thing: I’m not going to be distracted by a new man, or a man at all. I need to do me right now. I need to work and win my cases.”

He studies me a long beat before he says, “What’s between you and Ri?”

“He’s jealous of Grayson and hates him.”

“But you don’t hate Grayson?”

“No. No, I do not.”

“Then why are you here?”

I’m no longer trembling. I’m starting to get angry. I lean forward, my hands pressed to the table, acutely aware of my newly naked ring finger. “To do a job.”

“If you love him, working for his enemy hurts him. You must not love him.”

I’m on my feet in an instant. He’s right. God, he’s right. I reach down and grab my bag. “I need to leave.” I push my chair back. I walk to the door and just when I’m about to open the door he says, “Was this about revenge?”

I whirl on him. “Never. That’s not who I am.”

“Then why are you here?”

“My father has a gambling debt. Ri offered me a bonus.”

“Why not go to Grayson? He’s a billionaire.”

“Because I would never diminish him to a payday. Ever.”

I start to turn again and he says, “Stay. I have the perfect case for you.”

I turn to look at him. “What perfect case?”

“A woman who set her husband on fire. She says he abused her daily and it was self-defense. The DA says it’s calculated, cold blooded murder.”

I won that case for that woman, who’d been horribly abused by her husband, I recall as I approach the HR offices. And so, I’d become the voice of abused women. I peek my head into Sandy Miller’s office to find Kevin sitting in front of her desk and today he’s in a sharp blue suit with a blue tie. Sandy is presently fumbling with paperwork, nervously navigating Kevin’s good looks.

“Hello,” I greet.

Kevin turns and the minute he spots me, stands up. “Good to see you,” he says, and he means that literally. He and I are friends, just friends, and in that there is safety. There is never any hidden agenda and there certainly is not even an ounce of sexual tension.

Sandy, who’s a pretty brunette, stands herself. “We were just about to go to his new office.”

“I’ll take him,” I offer and motion with my head for him to follow. “Where are we going?”

“Corner blue.”

Corner blue meaning the office with the blue furniture, which I know because this was my world once before. “Got it.”

Meanwhile, Kevin wastes no time grabbing his briefcase and joining me in the hallway. “Thanks for the rescue.”