Page 25 of Contentious

Their own life experience gave the Remington siblings empathy for their clients that many other lawyers might not bring to the table. They knew what it was like to be a party to something over which you had no control, and their firm was known for pushing mediation over trial, even though trials were far more lucrative for the attorneys. Sometimes mediation didn’t work and the trial became inevitable, but they tried to avoid ending up in court whenever possible.

He pulled into the garage under the office building Spence had bought in 1966 and parked in the spot reserved for Carson Remington, Partner. While he wasn’t a lawyer, he’d been afforded partnership status because of his contributions to almost every case that came through the firm. He and his team often provided the information that made a case successful for their clients, and he appreciated being given the same status his brothers either currently enjoyed or were actively working toward.

In July, he’d take the California Bar Exam because he’d stupidly made an offhand comment once that he could pass it in his sleep. The others had pounced on the statement and issued the challenge. Roman had taken him aside over the holidays and suggested Carson sign up for the same prep class Roman would be taking so they could study together. While he’d planned to go in cold, Roman had urged him not to do that. “There’s no way you’ll pass unless you prepare.”

He wanted very much to pass, so he’d taken Roman’s advice and signed up for the prep class that started in March. Couldn’t wait for that. Not.

The elevator doors opened, and there stood his father.

Fuck.

Chapter Seven

As usual, Corbin was immaculately dressed in one of his many custom-made suits, with every silver hair perfectly combed into submission. Today, the suit was a light gray with a navy tie.

“Hey,” Carson said. “How’s it going?”

“Good. You?”

“Another day in paradise.”

“Can we talk?”

Carson shook his head. “I’ve got a client meeting in ten minutes.”

“Do you really?”

“Even if I didn’t, I don’t want to talk about the thing you want to talk about. Not now or ever.”

“I wish you could just give me a few minutes⁠—”

“I’m just coming from an NA meeting.”

Corbin’s expression registered surprise. “Oh. You still go to those?”

“Whenever I need one, and with all this coming up again, I needed it. While I was there, I was thinking about how I owe you and Mom everything. You saved my life once upon a time, and I’ll never forget that.”

“We did what parents do when a child is in crisis.”

“You know as well as I do that not all parents can or would do the things you did for me. I was one of the lucky ones, and I know it. That said… I want nothing to do with whatever’s going on with you and Mom. I’m sorry if that hurts your feelings, but that’s all I want to say about it. I’m fairly confident the others feel the same way, but I don’t speak for them.”

Corbin nodded, seeming resigned. “All right, then. Have a good day, son.”

“You, too.”

Carson stepped aside to let his father pass before he got into the elevator and pushed the button for the fourth floor, where the partner offices were located.

“Your father was looking for you,” Hector Cordeiro, their receptionist, said.

“He found me downstairs.”

“Oh.” Hector gave him a questioning look. “Everything okay?”

“Never been better,” he said with a hint of sarcasm that Hector would appreciate. “How about with you?”

“All good, boss.” He called all the Remingtons that, even though he reported only to Corbin’s team, which oversaw the administrative staff.

“Glad to hear it. Is Julian here?”