Page 126 of Getting Down to Business

“Doug, this is my father, Thomas Donavan. Dad, this is Doug, the man I told you about.”

Shit. This was not exactly the time and place to meet her father. Doug wasn’t prepared. Not that he would ever be prepared to meet a woman’s father.

He was certain he’d pummel any guy who showed up on his doorstep for Lucy. Though from this side, he hoped Chanda’s father wasn’t as protective as he was.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Doug offered his hand making sure he seemed respectful. Had he been staring at Chanda’s breasts when he saw her? Her blouse was cut low and—yes, no doubt he had been looking. This guy was going to kill him, and Doug couldn’t blame him one bit.

“Chanda’s told me about you.” Okay, so that wasn’t the best greeting, but it was better than getting a fist in mouth right before he went into an important meeting.

The man’s bushy gray eyebrows pulled together when Chanda squeezed her father’s arm. Chanda told him her father was an American who met her mother in Cambodia when he was there on business. He’d pictured the man being small like his daughter.

He wasn’t. Instead, he was tall and looked quite capable of handling Doug whom Chanda was now hugging. While he didn’t want to push her away, he worried about poking a stick at the bear.

“My father is an attorney. He’s going to be your attorney.”

It took a second for the words to make sense.

“He’s coming inside for the meeting?”

“I will be handling the meeting. You will sit there and be quiet while I take care of this mess.” Chanda’s father straightened his jacket and began walking.

Doug had never been able to afford an attorney. He’d just gone into the hearings hoping for the best. The best being that the judge would see he was a good father, despite the spin Julie put on things.

The man headed for the door to the building and Chanda moved to follow him.

“Is he any good?” Doug worried. Chanda just laughed and nodded.

“He’s the best there is.”

* * * *

Chanda tugged nervously on the dress she’d put on. No ripped jeans or T-shirt with a snarky logo today. This was important. She’d even taken out her lip ring.

Doug noticed when he kissed her.

“You look so normal,” he commented with a frown. “I don’t like it.”

The sweater covered her tattoos and her make-up was less… scary. She hoped it helped their case.

Since these weren’t formal proceedings, everyone gathered in a small room filled with a large conference table.

Chanda smiled at the look on Julie’s face when they walked in. Her father looked quite formidable in his suit. And despite not feeling comfortable, Chanda knew she played the part of sophisticated girlfriend quite well.

The caseworker looked bored as she straightened a stack of papers and turned to the group.

“According to Ms. Phillips’ attorney, we are here to determine if Mr. Phillips should be granted visitation. I’m told there was an incident at the home of the child.” She turned expectantly to Doug.

Chanda’s father interceded.

“I spoke with a witness to the said incident and I wish to provide this affidavit from the neighbors. They both stated the incident was clearly escalating due to the actions of the mother. They also stated the father said he would leave even though the child cried for him to come back. At that time, the father bent down to talk to the girl, telling her he would see her as soon as he could, but that right now he had made her mother mad and didn’t want her to be upset.”

Chanda pressed her lips together as her heart broke for the man next to her. She took his hand and gave it a little squeeze.

“I ask the court to dismiss this allegation entirely. As no law enforcement was called to take a formal complaint, the only recourse we have is to take the word of the witnesses.”

The woman in charge took a moment to read over the document and then handed it to the other attorney who frowned before leaning over to whisper to Julie.

Since they were only sitting across the table, Chanda heard the other woman say, “I think it would be best to let it go.”