The cop picks up the handset and gives it to me. I punch in the private number, holding the phone to my ear as I wait for him to answer.
“Simon Lancaster,” he drawls, arrogance dripping from his tone.
“I’ll sign it on two conditions,” I say, knowing he already knows who I am. “I want five million dollars, and I need your help to extract me from a situation.”
PART III
POST VIVIEN
44
AGE 20
“Follow me,” a tall, thin man with cropped gray hair says after the cops release me into his care at the station.
“Who are you?” I’m not budging an inch until he explains who he is and why exactly he’s here.
Removing a business card from inside his suit jacket, he hands it to me. “Gregory Lucas. I’m a colleague of Carson Park.”
Flipping the card between my fingers without looking at it, I stare blankly at him, having no clue who that is.
“Mr. Park is Mr. Lancaster’s attorney. Carson is out of state on business, so he asked me to look after this situation on his behalf.”
Figures my sperm donor would send the hired help to deal with me. Not sure why that makes me so mad. It’s not like I ever want to see that prick again. “What’s the plan?” I’m not going anywhere until I understand how this will play out.
“I have a car outside. We’ll go to my office to sign the paperwork. My assistant is booking your flight home as we speak. She’s also smoothed things over at the hotel, paid the bill, and covered the damages. The cops won’t press charges againstyou, and all record of your arrest has been wiped as if it never happened.”
A shudder works its way through me. I always assumed Simon Lancaster was powerful, but the fact he can do all this tells me I was right not to challenge him. To let his offer sit until I needed it for leverage. I refuse to be grateful to the asshole, but I’m relieved my fuckup won’t impact Toxic Gods’ future. Right now, that’s all I’ve got in my life, and I need it.
“Okay.”
He arches a brow, but if he expects me to thank him, he can think again. He’s being paid to do this, and I’m selling my soul in exchange for making this go away.
I’m thanking no one for shit.
The ride to the prestigious office building in downtown L.A. is long only because traffic is at a virtual standstill. I don’t know how anyone lives in this city, though I expect I’m about to find out. My mind is tossing ideas about how to use the five million and how to explain it when I return home. I’m purposely not thinking about Viv because it’ll only piss me off all over again. Betrayal is like a dagger gliding between my ribs, embedding deep inside, the blade piercing my heart, causing me to slowly bleed out. As I stare out the window, suffocating inside, I try to round up all my feelings for Vivien Grace Mills, toss them in a lockbox, and throw away the key.
At the office, I accept the offer of coffee and settle down to read the contract pushed across the desk to me. “You are free to seek your own counsel,” Mr. Lucas says. “In fact, I highly advise it. While the paperwork has been drafted with your specifications in mind and it’s a standard NDA in all other regards, it’s wise to have a legal professional review them on your behalf. I can recommend a couple of people if you like.”
It's probably smart, but I’d be an idiot to take his recommendation. No doubt the people he’s referring to arefriends, and they won’t be acting in my best interests. I could find someone myself with a bit of internet research, but it’ll delay things, and I want to get the fuck out of here ASAP. I’m desperate to get home so I can lick my wounds in private. “I appreciate the advice, but I’ll pass. I want time to read this thoroughly.” I’m no legal expert, but I’m not a dumbass. I’m not signing shit without reading it fully.
“Of course. Take as much time as you need. Let me know if you have any questions.”
He works away on his desktop computer as I take my time reading over the document. A lot of it is legal jargon, but with the help of Google, I decipher it. Everything I’ve asked for is included, but there’s one thing I hadn’t thought to specify. “This needs to come out.” With my finger, I underline a part at the end of the document. “I didn’t agree to never step foot in L.A., and it’s not something I can concede.”
He schools his face into a neutral expression as he looks at it. “I’m not authorized to make changes. I’ll need to contact Mr. Park.”
“Then contact him.”
His pretty assistant escorts me out of his office and into a small meeting room, flashing me flirty looks the whole time. “Can I get you anything, Mr. O’Donoghue?” Licking her lips and eye fucking me from head to toe, she’s not disguising her interest.
“Another coffee would be good.”
“Are you sure that’s all?” Her eyes zoom in on my mouth, and wow, are all the women in L.A. this forthright?
I quirk a brow and stare at her without replying.
“I can order some food for you if you’re hungry.” She’s quick to backtrack at the expression on my face.
