Page 14

Story: Overruled

“Cut the shit, Ezra,” he huffs. “Did you go over Lorenzo’s financial records yet?”

“I’ve been going over them all week. You already know this.”

“I heard Bianca hired Danica Pierce.”

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

Then I heard Dani moaning on my couch,I don’t say.

“Best news we’ve got this week,” my father chortles. “She’ll make it an easy win.”

I bristle at that. “Don’t be too sure. She’s won against me before.”

“Only because you got sloppy.”

I feel hot anger bloom in my chest, but I tamp it down. I learned early in life that you don’t talk back to Alexander Hart.

“Is there any other reason you called so late?”

“We’re holding mediation next week,” he tells me.

“Does Dani—” I hesitate, correcting myself from calling her so casually. “Has Danica’s firm cleared this?”

“No, but you’re going to make sure they do. Lorenzo wants this taken care of quickly. He’s already got a settlement plan laid out that you can offer Bianca. She’s got her own money. She shouldn’t put up much of a fight.”

She might since her husband is a cheating bastard,I don’t say.

“I’ll reach out to their office and set a meeting on Monday.”

“Good.” I can hear my father settling into the large leather wingback in his study, hear the strike of a match as he most likely lights up a cigar. “You know how important it is that we take care of this for Lorenzo. He’s an old friend of mine.”

Like I care.

“I don’t need the reminder,” I scoff. “I can handle it.”

“Don’t get smart. I can still give the case to your brother. At least I know he won’t fuck anything up.”

My teeth grind together at the thought of Eli, my older brother and Alexander’s perfect, asshole firstborn, in the courtroom with Dani.

“I said I’ll handle it,” I answer tightly.

“See that you do. Don’t get sloppy.” There’s a brief pause before he continues. “Your mother wants you to come to dinner this week.”

I grip the phone a little tighter, the mention of my mother always setting off waves of sadness that I can barely swallow. “I’ll try to come by.”

He hangs up without so much as a goodbye, and I angrily toss my phone back on the side table as I fall back against the pillows. I tell myself that at least I’ll get to annoy Dani first thing Monday morning.

It’s that thought that has me smiling as I drift off to sleep.

Four

Dani

“Bill isn’t coming?”

My mother makes a disgruntled sound, rolling her eyes in my father’s direction. Her black hair, which looks so much like mine save for the slight streaks of gray, is pulled into a high ponytail, her perfectly tailored brow tilted high. “He’s playing golf with a client.”

“Oh?” Dad gives her a look over the brunch menu. “Did he ever snag the Feinstein account?”