“I remember when my kids were that age,” Jonathan offered.“You both look fantastic, considering.”
I giggled.“Um…sure.”
“Soon this will all be a vague memory, and you’ll be packing them off to grad school.”Jonathan shook his head.“I won’t tell you to enjoy this.But try.”
“Thanks,” I said.I was surprised to find I liked this guy.I’d initially pinned Gunnar Evaldson as cut from the same asshole cloth as my father—but Jonathan seemed decent right off the bat.
“I’m assuming she’ll need to eat soon, so let’s get down to business.”He pulled out a thick sheaf of papers identical to the stack I’d set on the table in the murky hours of the night.“Your father is suing for custody of your child, through the paperwork he’d already started on the conservatorship.”Jonathan met my gaze.“He’ll never win either of those cases, by the way.”
My worry deflated, and my leaky eyes turned to actual tears.I covered my face with my free hand as I tried to steady my emotions.Luka rose quickly, grabbed a couple of paper towels, and offered them to me.I shoved them against my face and continued to breathe.This was a business meeting.Now wasn’t the time to lose it.
Seemingly unperturbed by convention, Luka picked me up and put me in his lap, still holding the baby.I rested my head against his shoulder.
“That’s a tremendous relief,” I said.
Jonathan nodded, his face stern.“You can sue your father in civil court for infringing on your right to privacy with those videos of you that he’s threatened to expose.”
Luka stiffened again.“You mean the sex tapes?”
“The very ones,” Jonathan said.He wrinkled his nose, breaking his professional demeanor.“Taking your mother’s money is the better option, though.”
I sucked in a breath.“At the time of her death, it was two hundred million dollars.That’s pocket change compared to my father’s current wealth.”
Jonathan smiled, and it was sharp, predatory.“This is where it gets fun.”
The attorney outlined my options, which ranged from requesting the money my mother had left me to a full civil suit to shoot for all my father’s wealth, which he’d built off the lies he’d told me—which had been documented by house staff and my friends, including Ida Jane—and the money that was rightfully mine.
Let me say this: Jonathan Dresden came prepared.
I looked up at Luka, seeking his counsel.And I did really want it.We were a team—a partnership.Resolve formed in my gut, like something sliding into place.Thanks to Luka, I felt grounded in a way I hadn’t realized I’d been missing.
“What do you think Millie has the best chance of winning?”Luka asked.He stroked my back, and as much as I wanted to relax against him, I just couldn’t.I had to be ready for whatever came next.
“Clearly she has a right to the money her mother left her,” Johnathan said.“And we have a strong case to take it all, if that’s what you want to do.”
“Why?”I asked.
Jonathan smiled.“There’s a reason Gunnar sent you to me.I was your mother’s counsel.”
I sucked in a breath.“You drew up her will.”
“I did.”
“So you know my father’s a liar.”
“I do.”
I nodded.That would help this process.Some of my irritation toward Gunnar melted away.“First, I need that paternity test so I can have you draw up my will,” I said.
Luka shifted, probably unsettled by my continued mention of confirming Bree’s father.I ignored him and focused on Jonathan and what needed to happen.I’d done some reading of my own while Luka was in Detroit, and I needed to be methodical—and smart—about inheriting vast sums of money.“That takes three to five days, right?”
“I’ll expedite for three at most,” Jonathan said.
“Once we have that in place, we can file a motion to take back what my mother left me…” I sucked in a breath.“…and the rest of Chasten’s money.If he’d shown even an ounce of caring for me back then, I wouldn’t want him to suffer now.”
Johnathan just nodded.“I’ll contact the paternity-testing laboratory as soon as I leave and make sure they stop by to get the necessary DNA today.”
I rose on shaking legs and offered Jonathan my hand.“Pleasure to meet you, and I look forward to working with you.If you don’t mind, I’ll have Luka show you out so I can get Bree changed and fed.”
