“I don’t know if I’d say that,” I replied and took a sip of my water.
“Happy is maybe overkill, but you seem less miserable,” he observed.
“I feel less miserable. Been sleeping better.”
“New woman in your life?” he joked. “Ah, hence the request for the meeting off site.”
Marius tilted his head.
“So you’re not denying it. Fascinating.” He leaned forward. “Do you like her?”
“Obviously, if I’m with her.”
Marius grinned at me.
“Good for you. We should all hang out. I’d like to meet her.”
Was this a trick? Marius was a good lawyer. You shouldn’t lie to your lawyer.
I leaned forward.
“You already met her.”
What I thought of as his lawyer mask dropped over his face.
“She doesn’t work for you, does she?”
“I’m going to find her another job. But I may not have to.”
“Holy shit.” He adjusted the strap of his watch, a tell when he was deeply annoyed with what was going on. “Please tell me she’s about to quit.”
“Not that she’s said,” I admitted.
“It’s not Anthym, is it?”
“No, of course not.”
Marius seemed like he was waiting for me to say something.
“It’s Lexi. Ms. Collins. But, don’t worry, I think she’s about to dump me. You know, like Sam. Lexi deserves better than me.”
Marius gave me a pitying look.
“You really like her, don’t you?”
“She’s pure sunshine,” I said, staring out the window. “She leaves me notes and gave me a pet rock and made popcorn, and she made me buy a rug.”
“Now I really need to meet her. A pet rock.” Marius wore a shit-eating grin. “Did you name it?”
“Not just named it, I even bought it a hat from Paris,” I said and took a sip of my drink.
Marius doubled over laughing and slapped his thigh.
“Okay, Lexi is officially my new favorite person.”
“She makes me so happy. I didn’t think it was possible to feel this way,” I admitted. “But it can’t last.”
“Or maybe it can, but you have to put in the work,” Marius argued.
