Page 41 of By Invitation Only

“All right,” he replied.

“Want a cup of coffee? Tea?”

“No, I’m good. Thanks.”

I gestured for him to take a seat in front of my desk. A Case Management Conference, where the judge helps decide a good process to try to settle a case, was scheduled in a little over a month. If an agreement couldn’t be reached, the judge would schedule a trial, but I didn’t want to wait a month to see Peyton again. I needed to convince her to come to Sensation in less than two weeks.

“So, Ava’s all moved out?” I asked as we both sat.

He sighed. “Yeah, she moved all of her stuff this past weekend.”

“Did you two discuss who’s keeping which houses?”

He shook his head. “No. As far as I’m concerned, I get to keep them all, remember?”

I laughed. “That’s not really how it works.”

“So I fight her for them.”

Usually I would be all for fighting, but not now. I wanted Trent to agree to settle everything because of Peyton, but also because I was friends with Ava. “Even if you fight for it, the judge won’t give you a house unless you paid for it with only your money. Did you?” I knew the answer but asked anyway to prove my point.

“No. We bought the Montauk property, the villa in Lake Como and the Beverly Hills home together. Ava already left the house here. She gave up her stake on that one.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “Again, not how it works.”

“I don’t care how it works, Booker. I hired you to get me what I want. Ava has embarrassed me by doing all of this, and I’m not backing down easily.”

Ah, so there it was. The real reason he was pissed off. It wasn’t because the love of his life left him. It was because she bruised his ego.

I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my desk. “Listen, mate. Any judge will make things fair for both parties. If you want to keep the houses, you need to buy Ava out. No one needs to know. You can tell people you bloody took her for all she’s worth. No one will know the truth unless they go to the courthouse and pull your records.”

“My luck they would. Some jackass paparazzi trying to make money off of my divorce will do it in a heartbeat,” he groaned.

“Then you need to just let it go. We can fight this all you want and set a trial that will cost you more money. More time. Time I know you don’t have because you’re filming. Then you still might not like what the judge orders.”

“I can’t go down without a fight.”

“I understand, mate. But is it worth it?”

“She’s worth it.” I stared at him, and he continued. “I mean… Fine. What do you suggest?”

I’d been dealing with divorces for a long time. I knew when one still loved the other, and this was one of those times. Trent was still in love with Ava, and he felt that the more he fought, the longer they would stay married. Even though they weren’t together, it was a reason for them to stay in contact. Even if it was through their attorneys.

“Well, I suggest you keep the Hamptons, she gets the villa in Lake Como, and you buy her out of the Beverly Hills home.” I leaned back in my chair. “Or you fight for her.”

He laughed. “Fight for her?”

“I’ve known you two for a long time. You were great together. Maybe it’s time you realize the same and fight for her. Prove she’s the one you want, and not those birds you screw when you’re away shooting.”

“It’s too late for that.”

I shook my head. “It’s never too late. Tell me what you want to do, and I’ll talk to her attorney.”

I strolled through the double doors of Chandler and Patterson unannounced.

Again.

I hadn’t heard from Peyton, and I knew she wouldn’t take my call or schedule a meeting with me. If I were at her office, she’d have to see me, even if she made me wait all day. I wouldn’t leave.