She got into her car and let her head sink against the seatback. He’d been under so much pressure his entire life, from the world, his parents, himself…it was almost a miracle that he was only half the jerk everyone believed he was. She just wished he’d show the world his softer or humorous side more often. He had so much more to offer than he thought.
Her phone rang and she jumped.
She felt like she’d just been caught thinking a forbidden thought. And it wasn’t even a dirty one!
Shaking her head, she answered. “Hello?”
“Hello dear. I know it’s late, but I just arrived home and had a chance to look through my mail…and I received a letter from that lawyer. I found the letter Gareth wrote incredibly convincing, but I think your old school friend Kosianos took it as a declaration of war.” She cleared her throat. “He says there’s no longer a reason to negotiate; he’s filing the lawsuit the week after next. If we haven’t agreed to pay the damages by then, we’ll lose a lot more money in court.”
Hazel’s heart sank, while at the same time, hot anger blazed inside her. Oh, that asshole! He was practically blackmailing her with fear.
“Darling, shouldn’t I just pay? I hit the car, it’s my fault that the dog…”
“No, Mom. That’s bullshit!” she said loudly. “I know Kosianos. The dog thing is utter nonsense. He’s using it to get his client more money. We won’t pay!”
“But if he sues me…”
“Then we’ll sue back!”
“I don’t want a fight, honey.”
“That’s exactly what he’s counting on. Mom, please, let us come over tomorrow. We’ll look at the letter and help you, okay?”
She sighed heavily. “Okay. But I don’t want to go to court.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Good. See you tomorrow. At eight?”
“Okay. Love you, Mom. Don’t worry too much, okay?”
“Of course not,” she lied loudly. “See you tomorrow.”
Shit.
Hazel hung up, squeezed her eyes shut, and took a deep breath. She had always wanted to be the best, the most ridiculously successful, to repay her mother for what she had sacrificed her entire life. It had been her damned duty to graduate from Harvard at the top of her class so she could cherry-pick the best job. She’d always believed that after that, everything would be better and easier, that her guilt would dissipate, and she’d have the rest of her life to properly thank her mother for her faith in her.
Instead, Kosianos had his hands around her throat.
God, she hated it. She could handle stress well, but not with her mom being intimidated. Her mother would stay up all night worrying, just like Kosianos wanted.
Angrily, she typed on her phone:I know you have that meeting with Leon’s agent at 8:00 tomorrow morning, but could you come see my mom instead? Kosianos wrote her another nice letter.
She was about to put the phone away in her center console when she saw three dots flashing next to Gareth’s name.
I’ll be there. And you could have said goodbye.
She grinned. Despite everything. Because…was the great Gareth Clark offended?I only have to be polite around others.
Just say goodbye next time, Hazel!
Okay, she wrote.Sleep tight, Gareth.
Likewise…and stop worrying about your mother. We’ll take care of it. Everything will be fine.
She sighed heavily. How did he know…
She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. It didn’t matter. She stowed the phone and rolled her neck. Kosianos was threatening the wrong people!
