Page 3 of Motion to Dismiss

“Then are you just now waking up from a coma?”

“If I say yes, would that make you consider dinner?”

“No.” She hisses. “Nothing you could ever say would make me reconsider wasting another second with you. I’ve moved on.”

“What?” My blood boils. “You’re with someone else?”

“That’s none of your business, Jameson.”

“It is…” I can’t believe this shit. “Tell me.”

“Don’t you have a huge case to work on for my father?” There’s venom in her voice. “Surely, you should be spending your time on your big, ‘eight-figure client,’ instead of on the person who wants nothing to do with you.”

“It’s only been a little over a month since I saw you,” I say. “Whatever you have with this new guy better not be serious.”

“And if it is?”

A heavy pang knocks against my chest before I can answer her question.

“He won’t measure up to me in any way,” I say, finally. “You’d be lowering your standards.”

“My only standard is that he’s not you.” She ends the call.

Before I can call her back, my door opens and Rachel pokes her head inside.

She gives me the “Your client is a fucking idiot” look, the look that lets me know I’m going to have to resort to drastic measures if I want to win at trial.

“I’ll handle it,” I say to her.

“Today?”

“Yes. Today, Rachel.” I nod. “I’ll make the call right now.”

“In that case, you won’t mind me watching.” She steps inside, her arms crossed. “You’re still off your A-game these days and I no longer trust you. No offense.”

“Fine.” I roll my eyes. “Make a note to fire yourself eight weeks from now.”

“Please.” She points to my phone. “Make the call.”

I consider sending Scarlett a text before dialing, but I hesitate.

It can wait for a couple minutes…

Scrolling down to Damien Carter’s name, I hold back a sigh and hit call.

“Hello, Jameson,” he answers before it can ring. “Are you calling to finally take me up on my offer to work at Hamilton & Associates?”

“No, never,” I say. “I need a favor.”

“Only if it’s one hundred percent legal, Mr. Tate.”

“Would I be calling you if it was legal?”

“Probably not.” He laughs. “What do you need?”

“An alternate defense for a penguin thief,” I say. “And by ‘alternate defense,’ I mean lots of dirt on the Aquarium owners—any violations they’ve ever had, camera footage of things behind the scenes, and anything that would make them drop the case before trial.”

“How devious of you.”