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‘He’s been with us a long time.’ Mr Camden hesitated, as if preparing to deliver bad news. ‘I’m sure your current attorney has pointed out that requests like this are highly unusual.’

‘Of course.’

‘And given that your father contested your grandmother’s will through documented channels, the risk to Camden, Horowitz and Snow can’t be ignored. The conflict of interests alone—’

Skye held up a hand. ‘Could we bring my father into the meeting?’ At Camden’s blank look, Skye affected a guileless tone. ‘After he contested the will, Dad and I agreed that this is the best way forward. And we’d like to present a united front.’

‘Of course.’ He picked up the phone and made a call.

Within two minutes, Holden knocked on the door and stepped into the office.

Skye would cherish the moment he saw her for the rest of her life. Holden’s perfect smile faltered, his face paled. Oh, he recovered quickly enough. ‘What a lovely surprise.’ He stepped into the room, bent over to kiss Skye’s cheek. But as he came close, he whispered, ‘Be very careful, little girl.’

Skye let the shiver of fear pass through her. But for the first time, she used it, hoarding the fear until it had built up to something reactive and predatory. Reckless. ‘As I was saying, my father contested the will because he didn’t believe that I was competent enough at twenty-five to manage such a large sum of money.’ She put a little tremble in her tone when she added, ‘I’ll admit, the task is quite daunting. And with Mr Simcock retiring soon, I’ve been forced to be realistic.’ She sent Holden a sickly-sweet smile. ‘My dad’ – she said the word even though it burned her tongue – ‘and I were able to agree on a compromise.’

‘Which would be engaging the services of Camden, Horowitz and Snow?’ Michael Camden supplied.

‘You’re a firm that my father trusts implicitly. Your reputation is above reproach. And Dad has assured me that, with standard measures to ensure no conflict of interest, the trust would be safest directly in your hands, Mr Camden. After all, you’re one of the most sought-after estate attorneys in the nation.’

Mr Camden looked to her father. ‘Holden?’

Holden’s voice when he spoke was tightly controlled. Skye wondered if anyone else could hear the restraint in it. She did. It was the tone he used when he asked a rhetorical question that led to a slap. Do you know how much you embarrassed me today? Do you know how many Bs you got on your report card? Do you know how much it hurts me to discipline you? Instead of saying any of that, Holden said, ‘If you don’t think it’s for the best, Mike …’

‘It’s a lot of money. It’s an account I’d personally love to oversee; Jolene MacDonald left behind quite a legacy in Dallas.’ Mr Camden leaned back in his chair. ‘If you trust me with it, Holden, if you can guarantee that the issues you had when you contested the will have been resolved …’

‘Yes. Yes, quite,’ Holden managed. Barely.

Skye saw how his hands shook with rage. And she rejoiced. ‘Due to my dad’s long-standing job here, his loyalty to the firm, he has also agreed to forgo my mother’s monthly allowance from the trust to remove any last hesitations you might have regarding conflicts of interest.’ Skye slid the revised documents, executed by Mr Simcock that morning, across the desk. ‘We’ve agreed that removing any and all conflicts would bring any chance of further disagreements or bar complaints to zero.’

Mr Camden looked at Holden one last time. ‘You realize, Holden, that by me taking this on, you would be completely removed from all firm access to the account? And that any issues arising between you and a client would put us in a completely compromising situation? One in which we’d be morally and legally obligated to side with the client?’

‘Of course.’ Holden’s hands were fisted on his lap. But when he spoke, his voice was calm. Smooth. ‘My daughter and I discussed the particulars.’

‘Very well.’ Mr Camden touched the fat file on his desk. ‘Despite my own excitement at the prospect of representing you, Miss Marchant, I was prepared to let you down. But given this new information, I believe we can work together. Let me review this and reach back out to you next week with the official paperwork.’ He stood up and came around the desk, took Skye’s hand in his. ‘But I hope it’s not too premature to say, welcome to Camden, Horowitz, and Snow.’

Skye’s entire system flooded with victory. She smiled brightly, and it was real. Victorious. ‘I’m thrilled to be here,’ she replied. And it was not a lie.

They left.

But outside, Skye took a seat on a nearby bench, and when TJ looked down at her, she said, ‘I’ll catch up with you in a minute.’

‘Remember: no heroics. No baiting him. Close it.’

‘Okay.’

When Holden stepped outside, TJ hesitated. Skye reached for his hand, gave it a squeeze. ‘I’ll be fine.’

‘I’ll be right over there, watching.’

The moment TJ was a safe distance, Holden sat down beside her. ‘I must say, Skye, this was all very unnecessary.’ His tone was sad, surprised. As if he couldn’t quite believe it.

‘The rent for the Highland Park house is due April first – to your boss.’

His downtrodden façade vanished instantly. ‘What do you want?’

‘I think I’ve gotten everything I want actually,’ she said coolly.

‘Your mother will pay for this,’ Holden threatened. He covered the threat smoothly with, ‘She’ll be forced to live in a manner far beneath what she’s used to. I’m sure you’d agree that it would be painful, cruel to subject her to such things.’