Page 130 of Masters of Control

“Good for you. Though I hope you’ll occasionally send me an email to let me know how you’re doing.” Freddy always said that to his clients. Some of them did, some of them didn’t, but he loved hearing the good updates.

“Of course, I will. Thank you again.” She released him for a second time, and he could tell this was the final time. “Have a good one.”

“You, too.” He waved, watching her get into her car and head off before walking to the corner to grab a taxi and head back to work.

It had been a good morning. Even better now that Camille would be free to see him… he hoped. There was always the chance Mr. Alexander might change his mind about today. He couldn’t see her tolerating that, but on the other hand, she might not have a choice.

Restraining the impulse to call her and find out how she was doing, Freddy sent a text. After a few minutes of waiting for a response, he tucked his phone into his pocket with a sigh. She’d get back to him when she could.

Camille

“If Mr. Alexander tries to claim that he was coerced or otherwise pressured, I will not only have to recuse myself from taking his case. I will stand in court and testify that he signed of his own free will.” She’d even enjoy it. Though, of course, she didn’t say that part out loud.

She was so sick of Alexander Assholery. It was a damn good deal. He’d gotten more than he’d deserved. Then the second he signed it over, he started having second thoughts, maligning her in the process.

“Now, Camille⁠—”

“No.” She shook her head. “I will not support his claim, not in any way. He and I had multiple long discussions about what he was and wasn’t willing to concede. He ended up with quite a bit more than he would have if we’d had to take it to court for a judge to decide. Mrs. Alexander wanted to be done with him. All he wants to do is drag it out because he’s upset that she dared to initiate the divorce. I am not going to perjure myself because of his pride. If he wants to fight it, you’ll need to find someone else at the firm to represent him because I got him the best deal possible.”

There was a long moment of silence, and Donaldson Senior seemed to be at a bit of a loss. He’d come in expecting her to bow down to whatever he said. Camille knew she would have never lied for Mr. Alexander, but she also knew that a year ago, heck even two months ago, she would have been much more circumspect in how she was speaking to Donaldson Sr. Not anymore. She didn’t care enough to keep herself in line.

Behold my field of fucks, for it is barren.

“Well, I’ll have to talk to Nicholas.” Donaldson Sr. sighed. “If you say he made the decision on his own, then I have to believe you. He’s been known to go back and forth on decisions. I know he can be a lot to handle, but he’s a good guy.”

“I’m sure he is.”

Sure, he was, but she didn’t contradict Donaldson Senior. People like him were always full of excuses for their friends, no matter how badly behaved. It didn’t seem to occur to them that making those excuses only enabled the bad behavior.

Not my circus, not my monkeys.

She was very hopeful to never have to deal with Nicholas Alexander III again other than if he visited the partners here at the firm. He’d never done so before, so she couldn’t see why that would change now.

“Okay, well. I’ll go let him know that we won’t be pursuing the matter further.” Donaldson Senior paused as if waiting for her to refute him, then let out another sigh when she didn’t. He hung up the phone without saying goodbye.

“Thank you for all your hard work, Camille,” she muttered, setting the phone down on its cradle. “Thank you for putting up with my asshole friend, Camille, and doing your best for him, despite him being a complete asshole.”

The urge to leave this job was growing stronger with every passing hour. At least it was almost the weekend. Sighing, she checked her cell phone on impulse, anything to distract her from her actual job, and was startled to see a text from Freddy.

Freddy: Is the Alexander case considered over enough for us to go to Happy Hour? Or maybe dinner?

Her sheer relief and sense of anticipation told her what her answer had to be.

Camille: Absolutely. Let’s do Happy Hour. Marquis at five?

After dealing with Nicholas Alexander III and Jared Donaldson Sr, she deserved a Happy Hour drink. Besides, she’d cleared her afternoon in case things went sideways with the Alexanders, which meant she didn’t have anything left to do.

Freddy: See you there.

It would be like a little celebration. Suddenly, feeling much better, Camille unlocked her computer. Since she’d cleared her afternoon, she now had a chance to get ahead on some of her caseload. Despite Donaldson’s reputation for the kind of clientele they took on, they also had completely normal people who came without the entitlement, who were going through one of the hardest things in their lives and needed help.

Camille didn’t mind helping them. Having the Alexanders finished was like having a massive weight lifted off her shoulders. Now she and Freddy were free to see each other socially. If the issue came up again, she could let the partners know, and they would decide whether she would continue representing that client.

Too bad she couldn’t arrange that he’d be on the other side of the table every time she got a client like Mr. Alexander. That would be like a Get Out of Jail Free card, and she would use it so fast…

If wishes were fishes.

Chapter Eighteen