I sigh. Of course. I shouldn’t be surprised. At the rate this is going, it’s going to take the full two years in probate before everything gets resolved.
“Was the accountant I sent your way helpful?” Paul asks, leaning over the table.
Staring at my ex brings up too many emotions. This is the only time I’ve spent with him in the last year—in lawyers’ offices.
“As I explained to your assistant, Mr. Leith, we have our own in-house accountants. They are working with King Properties to ensure the value of all assets is recorded correctly.”
“Do you know how much longer this is going to take?” Mom asks.
“Mrs. King, it’s unknown how long this will take. Your husband’s company has a high value with several arms that need to be reviewed. We do not want to make any judgments based on information provided at the time of his will review two years ago.”
Paul scoffs. “Unbelievable.”
“What’s wrong, Paul?” I ask.
I shouldn’t egg him on, but I do.
He turns his ire to me. With slicked back brown hair and dark eyes, I don’t know why I ever found him attractive. Not when his personality is the same as a slimy snake.
“The company should be mine,” he hisses, stabbing a finger on the table. “Your father wanted me to have it.”
“But he didn’t,” I state calmly. “He left it to me.”
“Why do you want it so badly?” he asks. “You don’t want it. You hated your dad.”
“So that makes it okay for you to take everything from me?”
“You’re the one that’s taking everything from me, Presley. Grow up and be an adult about this.”
Fire blazes through me. “Iambeing an adult, Paul. I’m doing what’s best for me and my daughter.”
“Ms. King.” The attorney looks to me. “As we’ve discussed, you can sign over King Properties to Mr. Leith.”
“So he can take everything I have?”
“I want what I want, Presley. You know my terms,” he says again.
I hate this man. I don’t know how I ever tried to make things work with him. He wants the company and to leave me with nothing. But if I don’t give it to him? He’s going to try and get joint custody of Poppy, wanting to poison her against me.
I’m between a rock and a hard place. Because until everything gets cleared with my father’s estate, I’m in limbo. I’m working at the diner to make ends meet because even with the distributions from the company, it’s hard. And my soon-to-be ex isn’t doing anything to help.
“And I’m not doing anything until the estate is settled.”
“Presley, enough of this,” Mom snaps. “Stop acting like a child and go home to your husband. Let Paul run the company and take care of you.”
“Take care of me? You mean stay in a loveless marriage?”
Mom waves me off. “You want to be taken care of. Paul will do that.”
“I’m doing just fine taking care of myself and Poppy.”
“At a diner? Please, Presley.” Mom narrows her gaze at me. “That is not suitable for a King.”
“It works for me.” I turn my attention to the lawyer before standing. “Mr. Tartt. Please don’t call me unless the estate is settled. If you need to pass along updates, email me.”
I give one last look to my mom and Paul before storming out.
I can’t handle the person the two of them turn me into.
