Jemma rolled her head, the movement pleasurably rhythmic on Hamish’s arm. ‘I’m choosing to think he didn’t have a clue. Rohan lived interstate until a few months ago, so it’s plausible.’ She raised an eyebrow at him. ‘Told you that long-distance relationships are all the rage.’
‘You’re not selling it.’
She grinned, caressed his arm, then continued. ‘When Rohan realised that I’d spotted him at the beach he would have known it was only a matter of time until he was outed, so he came clean to his uncle. Rohan’s an idiot; no one can hide anything in a city the size of Adelaide.’
Hamish laughed, his breath stirring her tousled hair. ‘If you think you’ve got only a few degrees of separation there, wait until you get to know Settlers Bridge.’
Jemma’s phone vibrated and she lurched up to grab it from the coffee table. ‘It’s Tien.’
‘Your non-stalker?’
‘Yeah. I’ve still got to work that one out,’ she said with a scowl that made it clear how little she cared for not having everything sorted.
She swiped the phone and turned the volume down, although in the quiet of the lounge room, Tien’s voice was still audible.
‘I already know, Tien. Celine went to UNSW, right?’
‘Yes. But that’s not that I’m calling about,’ Tien’s voice was hollow, as though he’d cupped a hand over the mouthpiece. ‘Jemma, we’ve got your stalker.’
‘What?’ Jemma sat bolt upright and Hamish grabbed for the phone, afraid she’d drop it and lose the call.
‘Gerard called Rohan and me into the office to announce that you’ve refused the partnership. Jemma, is that true? I thought we were going to look for somewhere else together—’ ‘Focus, Tien!’ Jemma snapped. ‘And I’m not alone, so keep any clients’ names out of the conversation, okay?’
‘Where are you?’ Tien said sharply.
Hamish lifted one eyebrow. No wonder Jemma felt the other lawyer was overinvested in her private life.
‘With my partner,’ Jemma said, giving him a smile.
He slid an arm around her, trying to play it cool, rather than reveal the surge of happiness her words sparked.
‘Right,’ Tien said, sounding miffed. ‘Okay. Well, Rohan insisted that you didn’t refuse the partnership because of anything he’s done—?’ He paused, obviously hoping Jemma would fill him in, but she remained silent. Tien huffed. ‘He said you’re out because of the stalker. Gerard said if that’s the case, he could get it sorted inside a day—you know what he’s like, his lips to all the right ears. But then Rohan said that would put GB&A in an awkward position.’
‘Tien,’ Jemma growled as the lawyer either paused for breath or deliberately spun out the reveal. ‘Why?’
‘Because he had just discovered that the stalker was aclient’sstepson.’
His emphasis on ‘client’ made it clear he resented Hamish’spresence … and Hamish felt he’d won a tiny victory over one of the other men in Jemma’s life.
‘Stepson? You’re talking about Rohan and my joint client, aren’t you?’ She sounded shocked but certain. ‘So you mean … Jacob? That doesn’t make any sense.’
‘Oh, it does, though. It seems Jacob was dead against his mum’s divorce.’
‘Not particularly surprising. But Rohan was handling the divorce, not me, so why would I be targeted?’
‘This is where it gets juicy.’ Tien was obviously relishing having her attention. ‘Seems that not only has Jacob inherited some decent brains, but he’s come to expect a certain standard of living over the last decade or so. He figured that if his stepfather went to jail, his mother would have unfettered access toallthe money, rather than just a divorce settlement. So he needed you off the case and stepdaddy dearest in the lock-up.’
‘Wow.’ Jemma was as close to speechless as Hamish had ever seen her. ‘That’s one smart kid.’
‘I’m not even up to the good bit yet,’ Tien crowed. ‘Gerard said that he didn’t care about the firm’s reputation—I kid you not, that’s verbatim—and he was taking the info straight to the cops.’
‘Okay. That’s interesting.’ Jemma sounded quietly chuffed that her boss obviously held her in high regard, and Hamish had to swallow his urge to remind her of Gerard’s recent actions. No good would ever come of telling Jemma what to do.
‘Then Rohan lost it,’ Tien said, his voice rising with excitement. ‘I mean, the guy was begging.’
‘Rohan?’ Jemma snorted. ‘You reckon I’m hard? That man is cement. Not a human emotion. I can’t believe he’d care that much about the firm’s reputation.’
‘That’s the thing: he doesn’t. Because then he says that Gerard can’t go to the police because he’d be turning in …’ Tien dared to pause for dramatic effect. ‘His own great-nephew.’
