Page 34

THIRTY-FOUR

Maverick

Well, I massively fucked that up.

Touching Kinsley at work is a huge no, no, and here I am walking out of the elevator, holding a bright pink lunchbox like a dick. Not only did I touch her at work, but I tried to kiss her. What the hell was I thinking?

Newsflash—I wasn’t.

At least one of us has a few working brain cells, and it sure as hell isn’t me.

Perfect timing too. We’re about to go into this meeting with Ember Lynn where everything turns into a battle, and I really need to be on my game. But I’m not. I’m distracted, and if I was a smart man, I’d make sure Kinsley stayed in her office, far away from me, but we all know I’m not going to do that.

“Mr. Wallace.” James, our receptionist, greets me with a curt nod, his eyes cold, detached. Oh, good. He’s pissed too. I have no doubt he saw me trying to kiss Kinsley—Miss Rhodes—and I’m sure he’s disappointed in me and my professionalism.

He can join the club; I’m disappointed too.

I nod back, making no attempt to hide the pink bag dangling from my fingers. There’s no point in trying to conceal it now, and a move like that will only make me look guilty. “James, please get everyone set up in conference room one. Make sure there’s plenty of water and for the love of god, remove any alcohol. I don’t need Mrs. Lynn using our meeting as an excuse to pregame for whatever event she’s going to tonight.”

“Yes, sir.”

I’m off down the hallway, intent on apologizing to Kinsley when Brantley catches me in the hall. His brows shoot up toward his hairline, and I could’ve sworn I saw a hint of a smile as he takes me in. “Packing your own lunch?”

“I thought I’d watch the carbs. This body is a temple after all.”

He laughs and eyes me skeptically. “Maybe one of those old temples, one that’s falling apart and in desperate need of repair. Probably haunted.”

“Ouch.” I hold a hand over my wounded heart and shake my head. “And here I was thinking you were my favorite Ellis.”

He grunts and shifts his laptop bag to his other hand. “Don’t be ridiculous; I know Wyatt is your favorite.”

“I know I’m someone’s favorite.” I hold up the lunchbox, knowing it’ll only piss him off, remind him of the thing, or rather the person, he passed up on.

But, of course, that’s when Kinsley stomps out of her office, snatching it out of my hand and tossing it in behind her. “You’re not mine.”

Her face is stony, unreadable, and I hate it. She should be softening toward me. She should be thinking back to last weekend. She should be wishing it could happen again. But no, I fucked all that.

Before I have a chance to apologize, to try to make things right, she’s off down the hall, her laptop and a notepad clutched to her chest.

Brantley watches her go, but as soon as she turns the corner, his eyes are back on me, and the look he’s giving me is one I don’t appreciate. He’s amused. Fucker. “What did you do to piss her off?”

I bristle, smoothing down my tie and fiddling with the buttons on my jacket. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I’m sure you didn’t try to do something stupid at work.” His tone is dripping with sarcasm, and I really don’t like how right he is. “I do believe I warned you about something like this when you first mentioned bringing Miss Rhodes up from the nineteenth floor. You said she’s no different from any other employee.”

“Fuck off,” I grumble, grabbing my laptop and a few notes from my desk. “You like her too.”

He huffs and looks down his nose at me. Something that is quite a feat considering I’m an inch taller. “I’m not the one she’s mad at. And I know how to contain myself in public.”

“Yeah, well, that just makes you boring at parties.”

My words fall on deaf ears, and he brushes past me without acknowledgment because he can contain himself in public . Dick. And since this is my meeting with my difficult as fuck client, I have no choice but to follow.

Unfortunately for all of us, Ember is already in the conference room, digging through the cabinets, while Kinsley and Ember’s publicist—who I should note is completely incompetent—stare at her from the corner of the room. Removing the liquor was the only smart thing I did today. The more Ember drinks, the more despondent and unruly she becomes, and I need her to hear me. She’s done nothing but fuck up since we took her on as a client, and if she’s not careful, she’s going to go down in flames.

“You’d think these expensive ass lawyers would have some of the good stuff hiding in here. Stingy little fuckers. Like I want to drink water.” She closes the door with more force than necessary and when she stands, she makes direct eye contact. “I’m not a pedestrian.”

She doesn’t apologize or even look remotely ashamed. Not Ember Lynn, queen of country music.

And I sincerely doubt she knows what a pedestrian is.

She props her hands on her jean-clad hips, sticking out her surgically enhanced chest, and raises her perfect blonde eyebrows. “I’d prefer to have this discussion over drinks.”

“Sure thing.” I shrug, take a seat across the table, and pour her a glass of water. After sliding it her way, I gesture to the chair across from me. “Now, please have a seat.”

Her eyes move between me and the very offensive water, but she doesn't move.

Typical.

At least her publicist has the sense to take a seat. If she wants to do this standing, that’s fine with me, but I’m not going to waste my afternoon.

Brantley clears his throat, and while he usually sits next to me, he moves down a chair and pulls out the one between us for Kinsley. This oughta be interesting. “I think it’s best that everyone here maintains a level head.”

He sets up his laptop, folds his hands in front of him, and waits.

Kinsley slips in beside me, careful not to touch me in any way, and eventually Ember sits with a huff. A loud one. I’m about to let her have it for her latest post which is the worst by far, whena petite blonde woman in a pink dress runs in, her face flush, her ponytail swishing behind her.

“Sorry I’m late. I must’ve been told the wrong date.” She closes the door, shoots Ember a glare, and meets us with a cool smile, one that instantly warms up when she sees Kinsley. “I’m Daisy Calloway. The record label hired me to help with Ms. Lynn’s public image during this divorce. I understand she’s been a bit of a wild card lately.”

Ember snorts, crossing her arms, and sinks down in her chair. “You’re not needed.”

“Well, Bluebird Ridge disagrees.”

While I haven’t had the pleasure of working with Daisy, I have heard of her, and I’m not really surprised the record label is taking more involvement in this case. Ember may be one of their best selling artists, but I’m sure her recent behavior is costing them and her money. If she doesn’t get it together, she may lose more than her marriage.

“Miss Rhodes, can you read Ember Lynn’s last Instagram post?” I’m sure everyone in this room has seen the post, but I think our country music star needs to hear her words out loud. Not only did she give her husband’s attorney ammunition he needs to get what he wants out of this divorce, but with Daisy’s sudden appearance, I’d say her entire career is in jeopardy.

It’s about time this princess realizes what consequences are.

Kinsley shifts, her knee brushing mine quickly before she pulls away like I have the plague. “Sure.” She pulls out her phone, and after a few seconds looks my way and I nod. “Five orgasms later and I’m a mess. My lying piece of shit husband only cared about himself. Good luck, Courtney. Hope you have a good vibrator.”

“It’s also important to note that you tagged your husband and his girlfriend in the post.” I point down at the transcript from our first meeting. “Last month I told you to stay off social media. You’ve been posting several times a week, vilifying your husband who, by the way, most of the world loves. I told you everything you did would only hurt our case, not his. You are going to be torn apart in court. Is that what you want? Do you want to lose custody of your children? Your home? Your money?”

Ember only sticks her nose further in the air and sniffs. “I’m not going to lose my children. It’s not possible.”

“Except, it is.” Brantley raps his knuckles on the table and sighs. “Look, I know finding out your significant other is moving on sucks, but you were unfaithful first. What’s done is done. For you, for your children, it’s time to stop and start acting like an adult.”

“The social media accounts won’t be a problem moving forward.” Daisy takes a seat beside Ember and gives her a patronizing smile. “I’m taking over all of them today, including any backups Ms. Lynn may have.”

Ember’s face turns a shade of crimson, but before she can explode, there’s a knock on the conference room door, and James sticks his head in. “Excuse me, but Daniel Cade’s new attorney is here.”

Perfect. I wasn’t aware he had a new attorney, and if he’s taking time out of his day to come here and gloat, it can’t be good. Not only because it’s rude, but it’s not common practice.

Something tells me we’re about to be fucked.