Page 33 of By Invitation Only

She was right, but it was still brilliant to think it in the heat of the moment. We could get a divorce, but that might turn into a nightmare for me, so it was better to stay married. We’d been married long enough that I could become a citizen, but there just wasn’t a need for it right now. Plus, I didn’t have time to go to all the appointments and study for the tests I needed to take to become one.

“You’re my best mate, but seriously, you have a big fucking mouth. We agreed no one was toeverknow.” Okay, that wasn’t true. Only the people whoneededto know knew we were married.

“Who cares? It was a chick from Sensation. You know nothing gets talked about that happens there. It’s in the rules.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “That’s where you’re wrong. Peyton’s a colleague.”

“She works at your firm?”

I shook my head. “No. We have cases against each other, though.”

Carrie shrugged. “So what? She knows you’re married. Big deal.”

“We know we’re married,” I said, motioning my hand between us. “Now Peyton knows, and if she tells someone, then shit could come back on us.”

“Why would she tell someone? Being married isn’t a crime.”

“I don’t know,love. You bints love to run your fucking mouths off.” I was mad. Yes, Carrie could be a bitch, but I’d never called her that before.

Carrie rolled her eyes. “But she knows the rules, doesn’t she?”

I sighed. “Yes, I assume she does. I’m just saying that you shouldn’t have even opened your mouth no matter where we were.”

“All right, fine. It’s our dirty little secret.” She smirked.

I groaned. “I’ll catch you later.” I grabbed my protein shake sans water and left.

After the gym, I grabbed a giant cup of coffee before heading into the office. I’d showered and changed after my workout, and then put on my backup suit that I’d left in the locker at the gym. In my rush, I’d forgotten to grab a suit from home.

I’d been working for Lee & Thompson, LLP since I graduated from law school. I’d come to the States to attend the University of California Los Angeles. While attending UCLA, I worked for a law firm as a file clerk to make money so I could survive. That was when I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.

I obtained my law degree from the UCLA School of Law. My initial plan was to return to Leeds after I graduated from UCLA. However, since I decided I wanted to become a lawyer, I wanted to stay in the States. If I returned to England after I obtained my law degree, it would have been pointless because the law is completely different. But how could I stay in the States after my student VISA expired? I hadn’t found a job to sponsor me, and I needed something within thirty days or I’d be sent back to Leeds, so to make a long story short, my best mate and I came up with a plan so that I could stay in the States after graduation.

“I can’t believe we’re finally graduating in a week,” Carrie said, sitting on our sofa in the apartment we shared off campus.

“It’s going to be brill.”

“I’m not looking forward to the bar exam, though.”

I looked away from the TV. “We’ll get through it. We always do.” That was, of course, if I was still in the States.

She was silent for a bit. “I’m going to miss you.”

“You’ll come visit me.” It wasn’t a question. I knew she would.

“Yeah, but I wish there was something we could do so you could stay.”

“I’m looking for a job that will sponsor me for a work VISA.”

“I know, but if you don’t find one, then you’ll leave me.”

“We’ll visit each other, sweetheart.”

“What if…” she started then stopped.

“What if what?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

“Nothing. It’s stupid.”