Now, I didn’t go to law school, but I did watch all ofSuitson Netflix. Isn’t your lawyer supposed to answer questions on your behalf?
I wish I’d prepared better.
“No,” I stammer, hating how juvenile my voice sounds. “She’s my dog. She belongs to me, and the only reason she bit Jaxon the other week was because he assaulted me. He’s been stalking me.”
“So you do admit that the dog did bite Jaxon Pendleton.”
All the Clarke & Turner lawyers immediately scribble on their notepads.
“She was defending me,” I say.
“Incorrect. The dog bit Mr. Pendleton unprovoked. And it wasn’t just the other week. On Friday night, there was a second dog attack.”
“No, he definitely provoked her,” I argue. If my skirt wasn’t so tight, I would kick Randy.
“Did he touch the animal?”
“No, but he touchedme. He chased me and threatened me.”
“Mandy.” My lawyer dabs a handkerchief on his forehead. “You have to tell me these things.”
“I told you he chased me,” I hiss at my lawyer.
“You didn’t tell me about the second bite,” he complains.
“There was a lot going on.”
One of the Clarke & Turner lawyer lays out several photos of bite wounds.
“That looks pretty bad.” My lawyer’s head bobs.
“You should have seen what Jaxon did to me.” Is no one on my side?
Lawyers truly are the scum of the earth. How can they defend Jaxon?
“Our client did not chase you or assault you, and if you continue to assert that, we will go after you for slander,” the lone female Clarke & Turner employee says. “Do understand that part of this settlement is that you, Miss Miller, must publicly retract all claims that Jaxon is stalking or harassing you. He’s agreeing not to sue if you give up custody of the dog and write a public apology.”
“An apology,” I choke out. “I’m the victim.”
“If you were the victim, then why didn’t you call the police, Miss Miller?” The head lawyer draws out the “miss.”
“I’ve tried to call them before, and they didn’t do anything.” My palms are sweaty as I twist them in my lap. “But I have evidence. I have text messages.”
“The only thing we have evidence of is that the dog has bitten our client twice now,” the female lawyer replies, because apparently we’re just going to fuck the sisterhood. “If he reports it to the city, animal control will take possession of the dog and euthanize it.”
A small sob escapes my mouth.
Jaxon looks gleeful.
“Our client is offering that the dog be remanded to our legal team, and we will oversee its retraining. Of course, you will agree to pay for the costs of this program.”
“Costs?”
Next to his lawyer, Jaxon is smirking at me. Apparently when you’re rich, you don’t have to speak at your own legal meeting.
“These are the terms of the settlement Mr. Pendleton has generously agreed to.” Max blinks his reptilian eyes.
My lawyer is flipping through the settlement offer.
