lawyer? Why would he need a lawyer? Chad is turning out to be more mysterious and more full of secrets, the good and bad, then I originally thought.
I’m about to pull open the heavy glass door, when someone clears their throat behind me. I feel a tap on my shoulder.
“Miss?”
I turn and squint into the sun. A casually dressed man with silver tinting the stubble on his face gives me a curt nod. “Could I talk with you?”
“Um, yeah, I guess so.” I glance through the glass doors into the fancy lobby, then step away. “What? I don’t have a lot of time.”
“Follow me.”
Seriously? Does he think I’m an idiot? I don’t move.
He turns around. “We are aware of your threatening experience with a certain someone this afternoon and would like to offer you protection.”
What? I step closer. “I’m not going to go anywhere with you until you give me more details.”
He fidgets like he wants to get away from the front of the office. After spotting my coffee cup, he says, “How about the coffee shop across the road.”
“Fine.”
He leads the way across the street. A bad feeling settles into my stomach. For some reason, I feel like I’m in a movie and the audience is screaming at me again to run away.
Inside the shop, we take a seat in the corner. He slides a thick envelope across the table. I don’t even have to look but see the edges of a stack of green. Money?
“Who are you and what do you want?” I spit out. Tears prick my eyes. Right there in front of me would be more than enough to help my dad. But this amount of cash is never given without strings attached.
“It’s simple. We’d like you to date young Chadwick. Encourage him to take the internship at his father’s law offices. This is the first half. You will receive the second half of the payment, once Chadwick finishes the internship.” He places his hand on the envelope. “And we’ll take care of the young man who bothered you this afternoon.”
“I…” I can’t speak. Everything I need is right here. Practically free. But at what price? I barely know Chad, but he likes me. He trusts me. And I like him too. He’d never expect me to betray him like this.
“I know you’ll make the right choice.” His eyes are cold, calculating, and he continues with instructions like I’m just going to accept the money. “You can’t tell the young man. If you do, our agreement is null and void.” Then after another curt nod, he walks out, leaving the money on the table.
I’m still in shock. He’s gone before I can shove it all back at him, making sure he knows I don’t need a handout. The nerve of the guy. I didn’t even agree and he left. I stuff it into my purse. Chad’s definitely more than I thought at first sight. I understand a small part of why he needs a friend. Someone is pulling the strings in his life. I understand why he got tattoos. Why he rides a bike. Why he’s a rebel.
And I’m more certain that he needs me just as much as I need him.
Chad
I park outside the law offices of Blake and Seymour, then brush through the lobby, ignoring the secretary.
“Mr. Seymour! Your father is in the middle of a conference call.” She stammers a bit. “If you’d take a seat…”
She gives up because I completely ignore her. I don’t even knock but burst into my father’s private office. A hulking man, one I haven’t seen before, grabs my arms. His biceps are the size of my legs. He stares straight ahead, his crooked nose and a two-inch scar above his eye meant to intimidate. His grip tightens like a vice as he waits for my father’s command.
Dad’s eyes flick up from his conference call. He waves us away. The guy tries to push me out the door, but I swing my free hand and catch him in the side of the face.
In two seconds, he slams me to the ground. My arm is twisted so far behind my back it feels like it might break any second. Just completely snap off. I can’t help the tiny grunting sounds
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