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“Then I’ll leave it up to you to handle him in whatever manner you choose,” I concede. “I don’t need to know the details.”
Arsen’s eyes sharpen fiercely. “I’ll handle it,roza.I’ll protect you. Always.”
18
ARSEN
“The meeting went well, don’t you think? I thought it went well.” Laila drums her fingers against her thigh. She kept her nerves hidden during the meeting with her lawyer, but they’re out in full force now that we’re back in my car. “She seems really competent. You said she went to Yale?”
“I didn’t hire her because of her pedigree,” I reply. “I hired her because she’s a shark. She’ll take care of you.”
Laila turns to me, her eyes still searching. “She said they could throw out the case before it even sees a courtroom.”
“She did say that.”
She allows herself a little smile. “That’s good news. I hate courtrooms.”
I peek over at her as we drive away from the lawyer’s office. She’s in a simple red sundress, face barely touched with makeup, but something about her is so beautiful it hurts.
“Mom used to bring me to court for the divorce,” she explains, gazing out the window. “I used to sit there for hours, watchingpeople come and go, waiting for our turn in front of the judge. It wasn’t exactly a highlight of my youth.”
“If I get my way, you’ll never have to endure a single second more in the same room as Charles.”
She inclines her head in silent thanks. “We should probably set up another meeting, huh? Just to go over the history of the house, ownership records, that kind of thing.”
She asks me like I might know. Like my usual method of dealing with this kind of thing doesn’t involve my fists and a shallow grave.
But it’s important to Laila to do this the right way, slow and ineffective as it might be, so I can do my best.
“I can arrange that.” I point to the clock on the dash. “You hungry? We can grab lunch while we’re out.”
I say it casually. Because I am casual. I have Laila all to myself for the first time in months, and I’m the picture of cool, collected calm.
Her smile falters. “That’s okay. I ate before we left for the meeting.”
“That was hours ago. You must be hungry.”
“No,” she insists too quickly. “I’m fine. I’d rather just go home.”
“Meaning you’d rather starve than share a meal with me.” I don’t mean to push her, but I can’t stop myself.
Her hands tighten in her lap, and she doesn’t deny it. “I appreciate that you’re helping me with this lawsuit, but nothing has changed between us.”
Nothing has changed.
Yes, Laila needed help, and yes, I jumped in to save her without hesitation.
Still, nothing has changed.
All the times Marie told me to open up and be honest and vulnerable with Laila echo in the back of my head. I’m sure the woman is shaking her head from the other side of the veil, disappointed in my pitiful attempts to make things right.
Maybe that’s why I blurt, “I hate courtrooms, too.”
Laila’s head swivels towards me. She doesn’t say a word, but I’ve got her attention.
“I remember the first time I was marched into one. Handcuffs on my feet and bailiffs holding either arm, just licking their chops for the chance to beat my head in with batons… The judge looked at me like I was trash at his feet. I knew I was a goner.”
“I can’t believe you couldn’t charm him,” she murmurs, almost unwillingly. “You charm everyone.”
