Page 2 of Lies You Told
“Nothing. This is everything I’ve been told.”
“Do you think your staff is keeping something from you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Has she ever worked for you personally?” I’m trying to gauge if I’m going to need to do damage control down the road.
Greyson is never not sure of anything. He knows everything that goes on in every department of his company. He’s completely anal that way. It’s why we get on. I’m the same way.
“I need to ask,” I say, choosing my words carefully. “Was her department head sleeping with her?”
“Not a chance in hell.” He says, looking at me head-on.
I make a note on my notepad to investigate with HR to check through everything.
“We could have done this over the phone, Greyson. I know how busy you are.” I say, softening my voice. He’s become a friend over the years. But when I’m lawyer Chloe, sometimes I need to ask the hard questions. Friend-of-the-family Chloe can use a softer touch.
“We could have, but I wanted to do this face-to-face.” His phone buzzes on the table in front of him. “I have a lunch meeting I need to get to.”
“No problem. I’ll get the ball rolling on this straight away.”
“Who has she hired?”
He winces. “That’s why I wanted to tell you face-to-face.”
That doesn’t look good.
“Jaxson Hill, he’s at Oakes and Parker.”
I put the mug down hard on the table. Jaxson-fucking-Hill. I’ve not heard that name in years.
Adam pops his head into my office, and I turn to see the darkening sky. I have a great view of the Hudson out of my corner-office window. It’s late spring, and the nights are getting shorter. They’ll get even shorter if I stay in the office longer.
“Chloe, I’m leaving for the day.”
“Okay. I’m leaving soon, anyway. See you tomorrow.” I’m distracted, but as I look up, I see Adam walk away from his desk. A couple of associates are scattered around heads with concentrated looks on their faces. I make a mental note to see who’s working late. They’re my people. It’s not expected, but it doesn’t go unnoticed.
I’ve avoided looking him up all day. In college, we spent all our time competing with each other. I look at the notes I made earlier, and I can’t believe he’s taken on this case. I can’t help but worry that there’s more to this. Jaxson wouldn't have taken it on if he didn’t think he could win. Not against a billion-dollar company like Huntington Media Corp.
My phone buzzes on my desk, and I see it’s Franchesca, Greyson’s daughter. I hit enter on my search for Jaxson as I pick up my phone.
Franchesca: Dad just told me about the lawsuit.
Chloe: You know I can’t talk about it.
Franchesca: He told me about Jaxson.
I can’t get sucked into this with her. She always got on with Jaxson. Her husband was one of his roommates. Maybe Jaxson is doing this because of some grudge against Franchesca’s family. No, that can’t be it. By all accounts, he was loved by everyone. Everyone except me, that is. That also has a lot to do with the fact that I was on the receiving end of his jabs.
Franchesca: You know, everyone thought you guys were destined to be together.
I roll my eyes. No way in hell. He hated me in college. Everyone knew it.
Franchesca: He’s gotten better looking with age too.
Franchesca: He’s like TV and movie hot now.
I’m refusing to answer her. I don’t care what he looks like. He could look like Chris Evans for all I care because I seem to be one of the few women on the planet who doesn't find him attractive.
