Page 31 of Dial L for Lawyer (Curves & Capital #2)

“Sounds almost as busy as my day. Word on the street is they’re going to unveil the killer in the new season of Making a Monster ."

I laugh. "I'd cancel everything to watch it with you." I slide on my watch, the familiar weight a contrast to the new lightness in my chest. “Oh, my housekeeper will be here around ten. And my chef comes at noon to prep meals for the week. You can tell him if you want anything specific."

Her face does something complicated. "That's sweet, but I think I'll head back to mine for the day."

"You don't have to leave?—"

"My cat will be missing me."

I pause. "You have a cat?"

"No." She grins. "But if I did, it would be judging me right now. Truth is, I don't want to be here when your rich people staff show up. I'll feel weird and probably try to help them clean or cook."

"Serena—"

"I'm serious! Last time I was at a fancy party, I ended up helping the catering staff because I couldn't just stand there while they worked."

I chuckle, pulling her against me. "You're ridiculous."

"I am. And you love it."

"I love you," I correct, and watch her freeze slightly before relaxing.

"Caleb..."

"Still not asking you to say it back. Just stating facts." I kiss her forehead. "You have a key. Come and go as you please. My rich people staff won't judge you."

"Your rich people staff will definitely judge me."

"Maybe my housekeeper. But she judges everyone. It's her love language."

She laughs, walking me to the door. I'm putting on my jacket when she reaches up to straighten my tie, even though it's already perfect.

"Have a good day, counselor."

"You too. And Serena? Bring a bag of your things when you come back. I want you to feel comfortable here."

"One grand gesture at a time, Kingsley."

I kiss her once more and leave, texting Bennett that I'm on my way before I can decide to skip work entirely and convince her to move in permanently. Even I know that’s too fast.

When I arrive at Mercer Capital and head to the conference room, Logan is already there, looking like he hasn't slept in days. He's surrounded by his usual energy drink cans, three laptops running, and a mess of scribbled or crumpled notes torn from legal pads.

"Please tell me you went home at some point," I say, setting my briefcase on the table.

"Home is for people who haven't found evidence of corporate conspiracy." He spins a laptop toward me. "Look at this."

Before he can explain, Bennett walks in with coffee and an expression that means trouble.

"We have a problem," he says.

"Bigger than what we’re already facing?" I ask.

"Maya Bolton just announced she's joining Radiance as their new Senior Marketing Director."

Logan and I exchange looks.

"When?"

"Twenty minutes ago. Press release and everything. She's claiming she left Luminous because of 'ethical differences with her mentor.'"

"That little bitch," Logan says, which is shocking because Logan never swears.

"It gets better," Bennett continues. "She's giving an interview to Business Weekly next Thursday. Want to guess what about?"

"How Serena supposedly orchestrated the whole thing?" I guess, my jaw clenching.

"Bingo. She's painting herself as the whistleblower who discovered her mentor's betrayal."

I want to punch something. Preferably Maya's face.

"What did you find?" I ask Logan.

"Maya's been accessing restricted files for months. But here's the interesting part—she hasn’t done this alone. There's no video footage of her entering the building during the ghost badge times. Someone's helping her, someone with serious cash and technical skills."

"Who?"

"Still working on it. But my guess? Radiance. They're the only ones who benefit from this."

"But how are they benefiting from ruining Serena?" Logan asks.

“It’s a hostile takeover," Bennett says. "They're not just stealing trade secrets; they're stealing the narrative. They discredit Serena, Luminous loses its creative engine, and Radiance scoops up the market share."

I think of Maya consoling Serena, trying to make her feel like she still had a friend through all of this when she was actively stabbing her in the back. The audacity of it makes my blood run cold.

"We need to get ahead of that interview," Bennett says, already pacing.

"Logan," I say, my voice tight. "Find her accomplice. There has to be a mole inside Luminous."

Logan's fingers fly across the keyboard. "I'm running badge-outs versus VPN logins. If I can cross-reference network pings with access card anomalies, maybe we catch the ghost in action."

"How long?" I ask.

"Maybe today, maybe tomorrow. Depends on?—"

My phone rings. Serena.

"Hey—"

"Caleb, something's wrong." Her voice is tight with panic. "There are reporters outside my building. They're saying Maya's given them proof that I sold out Luminous." Fuck. We’re already too late.

My hand clenches around the phone so hard the case creaks. "Don't go outside. I'm coming to get you."

"Caleb—"

"Pack a bag. You're staying with me until this is sorted."

"I can't just?—"

"Yes, you can. We're going to war, and I need you where I can protect you."

Bennett raises an eyebrow at my tone, but I don't care.

"Find me something to bury Maya with," I tell Logan. "I want her destroyed by end of day."

"On it," he says, but I’m already moving. If Maya thinks she can characterize the woman I love as the villain, she’s about to learn what a real narrative looks like.