Page 76 of Trials of a One Night Stand
For now.
“Thanks for waiting.” I walk toward the table. “How is Dr. Waxx?”
Lucas frowns. “The imbecile will be updating his résumé.”
Both Oliver and I look at each other. “Did you fire him?” I ask.
“Of course.” Lucas’s brows furrow. “He completely messed up his testimony. There’s no way we’ll get everything we want from Zentello.”
“You may not get anything unless Dr. Waxx lied on the stand.”
“Oh, he told the truth, but he should’ve lied. I should’ve known not to trust Nigel Carrington.”
“So Zentello’s telling the truth,” Oliver says, to my surprise. I honestly didn’t think he had it in him.
“Open your eyes, kid.” Lucas snickers. “There’s money to be made the way we operate.”
Everything Nate told me was true. I need a shower, and not just from throwing up. Working with Sugar Valley Drugs makes me feel dirty. “You’re lying in court, breaking the law so you can steal the hard work of other companies.”
“It might not be a perfect business plan, but it works.” He sneers. “And neither of you should act all high and mighty. Your firm knows exactly how we operate. That’s why you were picked for this case. All of you are expendable if things go south, as they unfortunately have.”
“My stepfather would never fire me.” Oliver’s jaw hardens. “Wait and see.”
“Oh, I will.” Lucas eyes me. “Sleeping with the enemy, Jayne. I thought you were better than that. Though I must admit, I’m jealous Nate Lowe got to fuck you.”
I choose not to answer. Instead, I cross my arms over my chest.
“Though you appear to be right about us settling without asking for more.” He shakes his head. “I should’ve listened and followed your counsel so we wouldn’t walk away empty-handed.”
Yes, he should have listened to me. “You got greedy.”
He shrugs. “Shit happens. So how much did you share about the case with Lowe?”
“I didn’t share anything,” I admit honestly.
“Come on.” Lucas half laughs. The guy is evil. My first impression of him was spot-on, but sometimes we don’t like our clients. That’s one thing about working for a firm. Cases are assigned much of the time. Unless you’re a partner, there isn’t much choice. “I don’t believe you.”
“Me either,” Oliver chimes in.
Traitor, I want to say, but I don’t want to stoop to my client’s level. I don’t like Oliver, but I hope his stepfather doesn’t fire him. That would make for awkward family holidays.
“It’s true whether or not you believe me. Want me to see if they’re willing to settle? I know a guy…”
“You deserve better than what you’re getting from your firm, Jayne.” Lucas sounds sincere for once. “I’ll give you that.”
My cell phone buzzes. I glance at the screen, hoping it’s Nate, but it’s Jason, asking me to come into the office tomorrow morning.
“Is that lover boy?” Lucas teases. “Or rather, baby daddy?”
Oliver laughs. Jerk.
“No, it’s my boss.” I have no reason to lie. I also need the answer to the question I wanted this meeting for. “I need to know if you want to drop the case.”
“Do you really think Jason will let you remain in the lead chair?”
No, but I’ll die before I admit that to either one of the men in here. “As of now, I’m still the lead, so I’ll ask again. Do you want to continue the case or drop it?”
“I want you to tell Judge Grierson about your relationship with the defendant so we get a mistrial.”
