Cain’s a... lawyer? For influencers?
I shouldn’t be this surprised, really. I was the one who made it clear we weren’t swapping personal details. After our second night together, I still hadn’t learned his last name. I’d slipped out before he woke up. Again. The only difference was that this time it was his hotel room, not my best friend’s living room. And just like before, he was left with nothing more than my first name and no way to reach me.
The memories of our two nights together flood back fast. He’d mentioned knowing Vanessa Mayers, and he’d been on set working for Davey’s music video. Two things that I hadn’t thought much about again until now. Now I understand why he knows them.
He’s some sort of entertainment lawyer. The guy who represents people like Davey, Vanessa, and apparently, the people who are suing me: Madison and Matt.Live Like an Influencer.
Leo clears his throat beside me, his eyes narrowing as he tries to decipher why I’ve suddenly turned into a statue. It doesn’t take him long to connect the dots, his gaze pinging between me and Cain. When recognition finally dawns on him, instead of realizing this is ahorrible, awful, terrible situation, his lips twitch like he’s fighting a laugh.
He leans down, whispering softly, “Ah, what are the chances?”
Though I’d snuck out the morning after my birthday before either of them woke, Leo told me Cain had slept through him getting home from Chris’s place, and even through the noisy chaos of their coffee and breakfast routine.
He was out so cold Leo had considered checking his pulse to make sure I hadn’t killed him and dumped the body on his couch. When he confirmed that he was alive, he said mypussy had put him in a coma.
According to Leo, Cain had been confusedwhen he woke up alone and realized I’d left him without a goodbye abandoned in my friend’s apartment. I’m sure it didn’t help when he saw his boxers were missing while trying to get dressed.
And now, Leo looks like a kid who’s just uncovered the world’s juiciest secret, and despite his usual professionalism, I see the faintest glimmer of mischief in his expression. For a second, I think he’s going to crack, double over into laughter, but he reins it in, clears his throat, and steps toward the judge using the authoritative voice he pulls out only when he must.
“Excuse me, Judge Rander,” he begins smoothly, holding a crisp sheet of paper up in his hand. “I have a motion drafted to dismiss this case.”
“On what grounds?” the judge asks, hardly caring to look up.
“Lack of standing,” Leo replies confidently.
The judge nods, motioning for Leo to approach and hand it over. As Leo steps forward, Cain follows, moving into position beside him. The two exchange a brief glance, Leo looking unbothered and Cain completely unfazed, before turning their attention to the judge. From what I can tell, Cain has no idea who he is.
The next few minutes are a blur of legalese as the judge reviews the motion, and the two attorneys state their cases in hushed whispers back and forth.
I strain to listen in and at one point catch Cain saying, “Your honor, she’s just some random, bored, nobody attacking my client because she doesn’t have anything better to do with her time. You should make an example out of her. Her videos are poorly edited, tacky and she needs a better hobby.”
I hold back a huff, bewildered by the gall he has describing me like that. If that’s the type of guy that Cain really is, he may be the biggest mistake I’ve made in my life.
Of course, he’d be a total dick about a few social media pages and support his client suing me. I should have known the moment he told me how much his stupid suit pants cost he was into creating lawsuits without any grounds just to make his money.
My pulse thrums in my ears, and despite knowing I shouldn’t, I steal a glance across the aisle at my opponent. Madison’s icy glare is locked on me, her expression so venomous it could curdle milk. She doesn’t look happy to see me, and I guess that isn’t surprising.
So much for us becoming best friends and collaborators.
I swallow hard, forcing composure while mentally screaming an SOS at the back of Leo’s head to wrap this shit up so I can get out of this sweaty suit and into something more comfortable.
Leo’s still at the judge’s bench; their voices a dull murmur as they discuss earnestly. I attempt to read his lips, but my attention betrays me, dragging back to Cain’s side profile.
His straight nose, sharp jawline, and broad shoulders drag me right back to the last time I saw him.Damn him.He’s even wearing the same suit he had on the day of Davey’s shoot. But the worst part of it all is that he’s wearing those black glasses and grew out his beard.
It doesn’t matter that he’s still in a several thousand-dollar suit, an obnoxious expense that I’ll never understand. The beard and glasses do it for me. Not lumberjack-Santa Claus level, but no longer just mere scruff either. It makes him look a little less untouchable and a lot more like the guy I had fun with on my birthday.
Leo turns sharply, a smile on his face meant just for me as he heads toward our table. And in that moment, Cain’s gaze collides with mine for the first time since he walked in.
For someone who entered the courtroom exuding confidence and swagger, his composure stutters, his glare turns sharper, and his tough, unshakable façade slips. His eyes lock on mine so intensely, pinning me in place and punching the breath from my lungs. It’s like there’s no one else in the room but us.
Then Madison’s hand snakes around his bicep—much too familiar and way too possessive—tugging him closer. Her touch snaps me out of my daze, and clarity slaps me in the face.
Oh. These two aretogether.
I don’t know why that thought makes my stomach twist. Maybe it’s because despite knowing Cain worked in some sort of corporate type job that I didn’t want to ask about, I never imagined him dating a client. Especially one who looks and acts nothing like me.
Leo’s smooth voice breaks through my thoughts. He steps in front of me, waving a hand to get my attention and block the view, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips.
