I heard the snap of a camera and jerked my head up in time to see Todd lowering his phone. He closed his screen and winked at me. “Picture couldn’t have come out more perfect if I tried,” he said. “You’re a regular fairy tale princess.” Arch’s cell vibrated before he could comment on the photo taking.
Grabbing his phone, Arch glanced down at the screen before placing it in his jacket pocket. “The guys are downstairs having some difficulties getting in. The codes don’t seem to be working again. I’m going to run down there and get them. Meet us down there?” I nodded, and with a wink in my direction, he turned and headed out of the apartment.
I took a few steps to test my stability, growing used to wearing heels; I didn’t totter once. I couldn’t wait to show off my dancing skills. “Okay, let’s go boogie! Finals are over!” I skipped to the front door and flung it open, ready to get the other guys and go to the club.
Stepping into the hallway, I was greeted with a sight I wasn’t prepared for. My stepmother found a way around the security again. She stepped off the elevator as Todd came up behind me and put a hand on my waist before he realized who stood in front of me. “Hello, Raquel.”
“Ellie.” She stared at the hand on my waist. Todd squeezed and gave Raquel a nasty smile.
He spoke for me. “What the hell do you want, Raquel? Why are you here? And how the hell did you get in here,again?
If Raquel noticed Todd’s emphasis on the last word, she didn’t show it.
“I’m here to give you the chance to give up before you ruin your precious lawyers’ reputations.” Her upper lip curled as she peered past me into my apartment.
“What’re you talking about?” Todd was getting angry. I could tell because his hand dug painfully into my side.
“Either you drop your case, or I’ll turn you in for the dates you’ve had with your lawyers, and the time you’ve spent in their apartments and cars and most likely, their beds. I have photos. I hired a PI.” She had an awfully smug expression on her face for someone with a slew of misinformation. I placed my hand on Todd’s arm to silence him.
I had an idea, but didn’t know if I was brave enough to say it. When her face turned triumphant at my silence, however, I pictured of the guys and what they’d done for me. I found the courage to blurt it out. “That’ll be fine. You turn in your photos, and I’ll turn in the video I have of you trying to get into my apartment, and the video from the lobby, super’s office, elevator, and hallway.” Then, remembering what I’d said to the super, “Including today’s meeting, as I know you didn’t find your way in here with permission.”
She blinked at me several times, mulling over my words. “You’re bluffing.” Her face was impassive, but I knew her mind was in overtime.
“Let’s find out.” I’d already double checked with Charles—as long as Arch, Wes, and Gray stayed away from my case, we could date. She didn’t know it, but she had no leg to stand on.
“Fine. I won’t say another word about it. I want you to know you can’t win this lawsuit. And I won’t destroy my pictures. I’ll have them in case I need them.”
“We’ll see. Now please leave and don’t return.” Raquel gave me one more ice-bitch glare before whirling and stomping down the hall. I let out the breath I held, and my body relaxed.
Once the elevator doors closed behind her, Todd leaned in to whisper in my ear. “You don’t have any video evidence. Your camera system was turned off. And the hallway cameras didn’t get a clear shot because of the hat she wore.”
“Yes, dear, butshedoesn’t know that. I’m thankful she bought it. We aren’t breaking any laws or ethics, but what a pain in the butt it would be if she released her pictures.”
“Don’t you still need to contact the police department and cancel the charges? They were waiting on video evidence to issue a warrant.”
“Hmmm? What did you say?” I asked distractedly. I was celebrating my small victory in my head. I reveled in finally taking the upper hand. “Yeah, I’ll do it tomorrow.”
I turned to face Todd. He was dashing in a gray, slim-cut suit. I twirled to make my skirt fly and headed for the hallway, grabbing my purse on the way. Todd used his key to lock up behind us, and we went to pick up Rick.
Once there, Todd rapped three times and stood with one hand on his lapel. “You’re so debonair,” I whispered as the door cracked open. Rick stepped out with a grin on his face. The love between the two of them shone as they greeted each other with a hug and an intimate kiss. As we walked to the elevator, I trailed behind and watched fondly as they talked quietly, their interlocked hands swinging between them.
When the elevator stopped at the lobby, the doors opened to a smiling Arch. Everyone stepped out and Rick reluctantly released Todd, who exchanged a hearty handshake with Arch. Immediately after releasing their hands, Rick flung his arm around Todd and turned to us. “I’m ready to go, but let me say this now, Cynthia Eleanor Asche, you better let me dance with my husband tonight.”
Arch laughed, and his arm encircled my shoulders, mimicking Rick. “We’ll likely be fighting over who gets to dance with her. Although, I do want to watch them in action once. I hear it’s a sight to see.” He laughed and smirked at me. “One more thing… Eleanor?”
I gasped in mock outrage. “It’s a family name! Besides, I figured you saw it in my file.”
“Besides the initial signing, I’ve had nothing to do with your case, so I haven’t studied your file. I didn’t even draft the original document for signing. Meaning Eleanor is abigsurprise to me.” His eyes filled with mirth.
Rick broke out in chuckles. He spared my embarrassment by taking the conversation back to the dancing. “They are impressive. Most likely, we’ll end up drinking at a table while they dance. At least until we force them to leave.”
I started to argue with him, but bit my tongue—he was right. Grabbing Arch’s hand on my shoulder, I pulled him down the hall. “Dance, dance, dance!” I chanted my way to the garage, swaying my hips to my own beat.
As we waited for the others to pull up, I caught Todd staring at my feet. “What?” I asked with a touch of snark.
“I’m excited I got you in heels.”
“Heels aren’t a totally new thing for me, Todd.”
