“Robert, what are you doing here?”
“Hello to you too.” His voice was full of condescension as he entered and sat in the chair across from me.
My frown deepened.
“I don’t remember inviting you in.” I folded my arms across my chest, sitting back in my chair. I’d met Robert a couple of times since moving back to Houston, and we’d never hit it off. I’d always felt an odd sense of jealousy coming from him.
“Your assistant wasn’t at her desk,” he said by way of explanation.
I cut my eyes to the computer screen on my desk, noting the time. “She’s at lunch. But that still doesn’t mean you can just walk into someone’s office.” I made a mental note to remind Liza to get someone to cover her lunch shift while she was away from her desk.
“Well, seeing as we have business to discuss, I thought you’d be up for an impromptu meeting. I was already in the office for another matter.” He gave me a grin that, on the surface, looked as if it was supposed to be smooth, but it just grated on my nerves.
Robert wasn’t unattractive by any means. With skin the color of almonds, eyes to match, a muscular frame, and strong jawline, he could pass for cute. The expensive tailored suits spoke to his attention to appearance. But regardless of what I saw on the surface, it always felt like he was hiding something. He felt sneaky, and given our chosen professions, I could understand why. I’d met a ton of lawyers who gave off that same vibe. I didn’t like him much.
“What business do you and I have?”
“Michele and Jacob Wyatt.”
I sat up. “You’re Jacob’s attorney, I presume?”
“You presume correctly,” he stated with all the confidence in the world, as he adjusted the lapel of his suit jacket. “And I have a response from my client.”
“Go ahead,” I urged when he paused.
“No divorce.”
I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling. Of course, his client was going to make this as difficult as possible, and Robert had come in here to gloat.
“You both want to play this the hard way?”
“No hard way. My client doesn’t want a divorce. He loves his wife and children dearly, and wants to work it out.”
“No, your client wants to control his wife and children in order to continue masquerading for the public as a loving family man while he sticks his dick into anything in a skirt,” I stated bluntly. I had to tell myself to inhale and exhale as Robert sat across from me with that smug look plastered on his face. I’d known this was coming, and I’d even prepared for it, having gotten started on the necessary paperwork with the courts.
“Now Chanel, is that the type of language a professional should be using in their workplace?” he asked, straightening his tie.
“Probably not, but here’s some language thatisappropriate for my workplace. You can go back and tell your client that Michele is adamant about getting a divorce, and has been generous enough to only ask for the main house, alimony over the next ten years, and child support until they’re eighteen. These are extremely reasonable terms, considering your client's long-term career as a professional quarterback and numerous endorsement deals. You can either sign the papers and agree or we can go to court.”
Robert finally stood, still smirking. “I’ll tell my client—”
“The paperwork should already be sitting on your desk, as I filed with the court this week,” I informed him, cutting him off.
“Like I said, I’ll take it to my client, but I highly doubt he’ll be agreeable to those terms. Mr. Wyatt is a family man, and the last thing he wants is to have his family torn apart. I will be in touch.”
I watched his back as he strode out of my office, full of arrogance. Neither Robert Lang nor his client had a clue who they were fucking with. But they’d find out soon enough.
I picked up the phone to give Michele an update on what had happened. After telling her what Robert had said, I questioned whether she truly wanted to move along with the divorce. Knowing it could be dragged out for months and possibly years, I felt it my duty to inform her of the possible scenarios. When she agreed that she wanted out of her marriage and didn’t care how long it took, I again assured her that I was with her every step of the way, and told her the next steps in this journey known as divorce.
My cell buzzed as soon as I hung up with Michele.
You still ignoring my calls?
A small grin hit my lips when I saw who it was from. It’d been nearly two weeks since Xavier had left town. He’d called a few times, but I always let it go to voicemail. Not because I didn’t want to talk to him, but because Ididwant to talk to him. Too much.
My life already felt too jam-packed. Work was crazy, and I still felt like I was just getting settled back in Houston. Way too much going on to fall for and eventually get my feelings hurt by a man. And not just any man, but Xavier ‘Goddamn’ Grant.
Despite my instinct to not answer, I didn’t want to be rude.
