Her hand shot out, shoving the phone back into mine like it burned.
“What do you know?!You're nothing but a background filler, one that Chase forgot about the second he saw me.I'm the one who deserves this, not you!You had it all and you were throwing it away, and for what?A fucking degree?Rich people don't need degrees.”
“Again, reckless.And bragging about stealing someone's man is not the flex you think it is.”
“I could take Jaxon if I wanted to.”
I laughed.“Not likely, but let's check.Are you interested in my cousin, Jax?”
“You know I'm obsessed with you, trouble.She doesn't even scratch the surface.”
I didn’t even have to look at him, and the embarrassment on Lori's face competed with her anger.
“No one is going to believe you,” she spat.
“Yeah… about that.”Jaxon’s voice cut in, casual and amused.I glanced back briefly as he stood, stepping forward just enough to be fully in the conversation.
“Ignoring the fact that I'm right here…” He pulled out his phone, twirling it once before holding it up.“I've been recording this whole conversation.You know, better safe than sorry with the likes of you.Sorry, trouble, I know she's your cousin and all, but I really can't stand her.”
My lips curled up as I stared her down.“Join the club, babe.”
“Babe?Oh, are we at that point in our relationship where babe is okay?”He leaned in, voice low in a whisper but loud enough to taunt Lori, as he added, “Because I have hundreds of babe comments in me.”
Rolling my eyes at him, I elbowed him and watched as Lori’s expression twisted.
“So what?”she shot back, her tone turning nasty.“Now you’re blackmailing me?”
Tilting my head, I gave her a long and hard look.It was an intriguing idea, but…
“No, I'd never resort to blackmail,” I answered, shaking my head.“I’m not you.I’m a decent human being and a lawyer in the making.My ethics aren’t up for negotiation just because I have to deal with the shitty things you do.What others do, however...”
I trailed off after the door opened behind her—and right on time, too.My eyes trained on the man I once considered everything, and the anger on his face was one I knew all too well.
Chase.
“Tell me it's not true.”
All the color drained from Lori’s face so fast it was almost jarring.She didn't have to turn around to know it was him.Chase’s voice was low, controlled in a way that felt far more dangerous than if he came in here guns blazing.
Lori didn’t answer.
He let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh, dragging a hand down his face before the anger hit full force.He turned away for half a second, like he was going to walk out the door, but then he marched toward her and snapped.
“Are you fucking serious right now?”he demanded, his voice rising.“My father, Lori?Out of everyone in the world—my fucking father?”
“Honey, it's not what you think—”
“Don't fucking touch me!”Chase cut her off harshly, pointing at her like he couldn’t even stand to hear it.“Do you have any idea how this will make me look?Make my family look?”
Uh-huh, there's the narcissism.
“You were supposed to be the perfect trophy wife.How the fuck do you explain screwing my father behind my back?What, my money wasn't good enough for you?You had to have his, too?”
His anger filled it, sharp and unforgiving.
“How long?”he pressed.“How long have you been spreading your legs for him?”
She didn’t answer that, either.
