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He responds almost immediately.
Alex:Right outside.
I practically fly out of the restaurant, looking down the street to see Alex’s black Dodge Charger. I clutch my purse, walking quickly until I reach it, pulling open the passenger door.
“Hey, everything okay?” I must be white as a ghost, because the look on his face is shocked.
“I got another call. In the restaurant, on their phone. The person said he was you.”
“He told you that?”
I shake my head. “The manager. She came to get me and said there was a call from an Alex Rockwell. When I picked up the receiver, he said in that same dull, cold voice he previously threatened me in that he was watching me, then he hung up before I could say anything.” My body begins to shake. “Chloe . . . I don’t want her home with just Zara.”
“Hey, hey.” Alex grabs me and pulls me toward him, wrapping his arms around me. “It’s going be okay. I told you before, I’m here.” He rubs my back. “I’ll text Luka and have him sit outside your house until you’re off work.”
“What am I going to do?” I feel the tears start to build and I swallow, clenching my jaw, trying to hold them back.
“I’m going to go into your office with you.”
“No, no way,” I say, pulling back. “I have a meeting today with Prince, Dune & Bellows to discuss negotiations, so I can’t have you in there. Can’t you just stay outside in your car?”
“I could, but that’s not what I’m going to do. We both know these fuckers are the ones threatening you or know who’s threatening you, so we’re going to send a message loud and clear. You can draft an NDA that I’ll sign in their presence, but I’m not leaving you in a conference room with them.”
“And how do you expect me to explain this to my boss?”
“I’ll explain it to them.”
“No, not a chance. I can’t have them finding out about any threats toward me, or they’ll pull me off the case.”
“Maybe that’s what needs to happen.”
I rub my temples. “That isnotwhat needs to happen, and I’ve worked too damn hard for that to happen.” I think for a second. “Okay, fine, you can come into my office but you cannot come into the meeting or tell my bosses who you are. Just pretend like you’re there because we have a meeting or something, okay?”
“Fine,” he agrees, “but this isn’t a long-term solution, and while we’re talking about me being closer, I think we need to discuss moving you and Chloe to a safe house,” he says, pulling into traffic.
“A what? You’ve got to be kidding me. No, absolutely not. This is going too far.” I reach for the handle of the door when he slows in front of my office, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back toward him.
“This isn’t a negotiation, Juliette, and the sooner you accept that, the better. I won’t keep having this argument with you about letting me do my job.” His eyes drop from mine down to my lips for a brief second before letting go of my arm.
I don’t respond. I step out of the car and head upstairs to my office to get ready for my meeting.
* * *
“You hadto know we wouldn’t accept this offer,” I say, sliding it back across the table. “In fact, it would be laughable if it wasn’t such an insult to your victims.”
“Victims,” Terry Dune laughs as he shakes his head. “They’re leeches and we both know it. They’re perfectly capable of working, and this settlement would more than cover their medical expenses.”
“I’m not going to dignify that statement with a response, because we both know it wouldn’t. Now, if you don’t plan on actually bringing us a respectable offer, I’m going to excuse myself from this meeting and you gentlemen are free to leave.” I stand up, my boss, Joseph Steinberg, giving me a nod of approval at putting my foot down.
“Really, Joe?” Terry says as he stands, buttoning his suit coat. “You’re going to let her throw this deal down the toilet and do this the hard way?”
“The hard way meaning going to trial?” I ask. “Because for you, it will absolutely be the hard way. I can’t imagine any jury not having a sympathetic response to hearing the extreme physical pain and anguish your client has caused them, along with the emotional turmoil of losing their homes and belongings.”
“Oh, please, you think a jury will listen to you once they learn you turned down a $50 million deal? Come on now, we both know they’ll just think you’re being greedy.”
“Maybe,” I shrug, “but that’s a risk we’re willing to take. And from my personal experience and dozens and dozens of other cases throughout history, most juries don’t ever feel sympathy for multi-billion-dollar companies. We’ve outlined our terms,” I say, nodding toward the file on the table. “If you want to take it to your client and renegotiate, then great. Otherwise, we’ll see you in court.”
I keep my head held high as I exit the conference room. I turn to walk down the hall toward my office when I see Alex, dressed in a slim black suit. He looks like 6’3” of temptation.
