Chapter One
HADLEY
“It’s too bad my client had to walk away from your attemptat fixing the contract,” a deep voice that has taunted me for five years saysfrom the edge of my office door.
Cayden. Fucking. Benson-Hennington.
The bane of my existence. It doesn’t matter that I am anassociate at my law firm. That I have more billable hours than any otherassociates—and probably more than him—even though he was hired at the firm weboth interned at while I was not. I swear, it’s his life’s mission to always beone step above me.
Not today, Satan.
“Well, your client is an idiot, and should take the deal Ipresented. Believe me, you won’t get a better chance to fix the mess you made.There won’t be another offer.”
His wide grin makes my stomach flip. “We’ll see.”
“Yes, I think we will. Was there something you needed?” Hesteps inside—uninvited I might add—and takes a seat. “By all means, makeyourself comfortable.”
“Look, Hadley, we both know that your client was asking forway too many concessions. To have two seats on the board would give themcontrolling votes. Come on, you know that was an error.”
“Maybe so, but it wasn’t my error, it was yours.”
To be fair, it wasn’t really his error. Cayden took overthis negotiation after his client used another firm who clearly botched thecontract. Still, it’s his issue at the very least.
“No, but it is my mess and I plan to clean it up. By the endof this, my beautiful nightmare, you will be walking out with less than youcame in with.”
He’s so arrogant, ugh, I want to kiss him. I mean punch him.Punch. Not kiss. No, no, been there and done that. Never again.
“So you want to rob these people of their entire life’swork?”
“I want my client to get what they deserve.”
I bet he does. This man has no soul. “Do you forget where youcome from?” I ask.
Cayden grew up in Tennessee. His family owns a horse ranchthat they have had for generations. Literally a blue collar, farming family.
The same as my clients. They were approached to sell theirland, giving up their legacy, all so his client’s company can dismantle it andmake it into a resort or a strip mall.
Therefore, I don’t think asking for something to helpsafeguard either of those from happening is a concession they shouldn’t askfor. It’s only fair that their children have at least a little left at the endof this.
“Of course, I know where I came from.”
“And if this were your parents, how would you advise them?”
He leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees. Hisgreen eyes fixed on me. “That’s where we differ, Arrowood…these aren’t myparents. They’re my clients and my goal is to get them everything they want.”
I get up and walk around the desk, resting my ass just onthe edge. His gaze moves down to my legs and up, lingering a bit on my chest. Iwatch as a flicker of desire flashes across his face, and I wonder if he’spicturing me naked. Remembering that stupid night we spent together in college.
Lord knows I am—not. Nope, I’m not. I won’t. Because it wasa mistake. Sure, I’ll go with that.
Good thing I have an incredible poker face.
“What are you thinking about?” his voice is low and husky.
You and me on the floor, ripping each other’s clothesoff. Or the desk, that would be equally fine.
“I’m thinking about how arrogant and ridiculous you are. Youcame to my office to what?” I keep my tone even.
“To talk some sense into you and tell you to have yourclients stop this bullshit and take the revision. It’s a good amount of moneyand it’s fair.”
