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Orion gives her a second to collect herself.
“Her name…” Mei’s tone is carefully controlled now. “Is Vanessa Lewis.”
“What do you know about her?” Orion asks.
“She has a studio apartment in Manhattan. She’s a model. A pretty country bumpkin from Iowa.” Mei presses her lips together to keep from saying more. She’s gorgeous herself, but one thing I’ve learned about men is that, most of the time, they don’t give a fuck.
There are a few good ones, like my best friend’s husband or my late father, but a lot of them let their dick lead them around.
I type the woman’s name and where she’s from. It’s not much to go on. “And what are we looking for?”
“Evidence of him with her?” Orion supplies.
“Yes, but I also know he’s been stealing from his clients.” Mei’s brown irises are alight with vengeance. “I want his company destroyed.”
“Fuck the patriarchy.” What’s the saying?Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
She nods, a vicious smile cutting across her face. “Something like that. I have the divorce papers ready. Once we get through that and I take half of everything, I’m going to burn the rest to the ground.”
“I’ll advise against arson,” Orion says.
“Figuratively,” Mei corrects. There’s a glint in her eyes that makes me wonder if she might actually take a torch to the place.
“What’s different about her?” I ask, unable to stop myself. “You said he’s been cheating for years...” I trail off and lift a shoulder. “What’s changed?”
“She comes to the tennis club. Sits with me and my friends. She’s taunting me, trying to rub the fact that she’s sleeping with my husband in my face.” Mei arches an eyebrow. “Larry’s kept her around longer than any other sidepiece, and I figure if she wants him so badly, she can have him, but only once he’s lost everything she wants.”
I can get on board with that plan. Men cheating is one thing, but being the other woman and gloating about it? That’s another level of disgusting. Orion glances at me and shakes his head, as if he can sense the suggestion of ruining Vanessa’s life while we’re at it on the tip of my tongue. I clamp my mouth closed. Fun sucker.
Rule number one of working with Orion isdon’t get emotionally involved. Rule number two isdon’t push the client down a path they might regret. We come. We listen. We ruin the lives of those who wronged our clients, but only to the extent that they ask us to. If Mei wants to let Vanessa off easy, that’s her prerogative.
“The pictures of them together won’t be hard,” Orion begins. “Cassia will need some time to gather the other evidence, but since you want the divorce finalized first, there’s plenty of time for that.”
“Perfect. How much is this going to cost me?”
Orion shifts in his seat. This is where we usually lose clients. “Ten thousand for the pictures, another twenty for the fraud evidence.” Six months of working with Orion and the prices still shock me.
Mei doesn’t even blink. It’s probably a drop in the bucket to her. After all, the newest Escalade model is parked in her driveway. Larry probably shits gold. “Cash or check?”
“Cash is preferred. If we’re in agreement, Cassia will fill in the contract details, and we can get started once you sign and make the first payment.”
Pulling up the file, I quickly type in the scope of services, Mei’s full legal name, mine and Orion’s, and other pertinent details. Mei goes to retrieve the papers from the printer in her husband’s office.
“The mistress is getting off easy,” I mutter.At the very least, Vanessa Lewis needs her eyebrows accidentally shaved off.
“It’s not your place,” Orion reminds me. “Mei decides the scope of work.”
I close my laptop. “I know.” That doesn’t mean I can’t picture a hundred ways Mei should make them both pay. There are a few pictures of Mei and Larry hanging on the wall, various photos from their years of living together. They’re both smiling from ear to ear. They look happy. The perfect suburban couple. “Do you think relationships are ever really like that?”
Orion follows my gaze. “I think most people fool themselves into believing they’re in love because they can’t cope with being alone.”
“That’s harsh.” The ache in my chest runs a little deeper. I’ve been on my own for so long. I’m not the type to jump into a relationship, and sometimes I’m my own worst enemy, but I don’t have to worry about my heart getting broken if I’m single. I’ve had more than enough of that to last a lifetime.
“Harsh but true.” Orion blows out a breath, running his hand through his graying hair. “Humans are hardwired to be with others.”
My forehead wrinkles. “As far as I can tell, love is more pain than happiness.”
Sighing, Orion shakes his head. “That’s the job talking, kid.”