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It looked all sorts of wrong, I knew that.Juliette and I met under circumstances that some people would not understand, and then instead of firing her when she came to my house, I let her stay on as the nanny.To top it off, I was now in a relationship with her.
My mother was planning to go in front of a judge and tell them how worried she was about Bella and what mylifestylemight mean for her safety and upbringing.
And while I knew that was bullshit and that no one would love Bella as much as Juliette and I did, I also knew how it would be perceived.
“What can I do?”I asked, lowering my voice.Even though the door was closed, I was afraid Bella might still hear me.
Laura set the papers down with a sigh and slowly took off her glasses and folded them.I knew that sigh.It was one I used too, especially when things were not about to go my way.
“Honestly?You need to get her to drop it.We could take this to court, but listen, your best shot is to handle it outside it if you want a chance at keeping her.”
I took a big swig of alcohol and placed the glass on the table a little harder than I meant to.Laura gave me a pitiful look.
“I know,” she said as she got up.Her phone had been buzzing for the last five minutes in her purse.“None of this is ideal.But… Off the record?”
I nodded.
“Dig up some shit on her and blackmail her back.I know people who can get you the things you need.Obviously, this is not my advice as alawyer, but there is not one person in this world that is squeaky clean.And once you have that?It's in the bag.”
“You're willing to help me if I get it?”
“Willing?”She laughed.“I will be happy to.Let’s call it my specialty.”
A burst of confidence sprouted in me.“Perfect.But I don't need anyone.I have an information broker, and she’s dangerous enough as it is.I don't need more of them hanging around.”
Laura's lips twitched as if she wanted to smile, but instead, she just nodded and headed to the door, her heels clicking against the floor as she went.
Once the door was shut behind her, I let myself unravel.Groaning, I placed my head in my hands.
I didn't want things to go this far, but I would not allow Bella to spend time in my mother's house if I could help it.Not only did Bella obviously hate and fear her, but I knew what my mom would do to her behind closed doors.
She was never physical, but damn, was she able to inflict some emotional wounds.
I allowed myself a few minutes to breathe.To take in everything and make sure that what I wanted to do was get that crazy bitch involved.
There was only one possible answer.
I picked up my phone, clicking on her contact, and she picked up on the second ring.
“I need you to get me all the blackmail you can on my mother,” I said, not even wasting time on a hello.“The worse, the better, and I need it all within a day or two.As fast as you can get it.Hell, if you can get it today, I'll pay you triple.”
There was a little chuckle on the other end.
“What makes you think I haven't been preparing for this very moment since I met you?”
Her response struck me, and I sat up straight.
“Do you collect blackmail on all your clients’ families?”
“No.”Her voice sounded amused.“Only the crazy ones.But I'm busy today.I'll be over tomorrow morning.”
Before I could say anything else, she hung up, and I was stuck there trying to figure out if the can of worms I just opened would be worth it.
Chapter27
Juliette
“There's no way this is real,” Lux said, staring down at the petite woman who sat on the other end of the table.Bella was due to be at her mother's house in less than an hour, and somehow the girl in front of us was going to save her.