Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“I’d be glad to,” I assure her, then nod to her phone. “Want to give her a call right now?”
Juniper nods with a smile and dials the attorney. I rise from my desk and move over to the other chair angled by the window. Juniper puts the phone on speaker and sets it on the small table between us.
The lawyer answers with formality. “Julia Bend.”
“Hi… it’s Juniper Ryan.”
“Hey, Juniper.” Julia’s tone softens, exuding a warmth reserved for clients you can tell the woman truly likes. “How are you?”
“Settling in nicely. I’m sorry I missed your call. I’ve got Callum listening in.”
“I finally heard from Joshua today,” Julia says, and I can’t help but notice that Juniper’s fingers, which are laced together, turn white at the knuckles as she tightens her grip.
The asshole has been completely nonresponsive to Julia’s repeated requests to open discussions. Juniper doesn’t need his permission to file for divorce and all she has to show is they’re incompatible and the court will grant it, but there’s a lot of money to divide up.
“And what did he say?” Juniper asks, fingers twining nervously.
I can’t fucking help myself. I reach over and take her hands in mine, stilling the movement and grazing my thumbs over her skin soothingly.
Her eyes come to mine and we stare at each other as Julia fills us in. “He said he’s not going to cooperate. Says he doesn’t owe you anything.”
“And that’s it?” Juniper inquires.
“No, he said a lot more. A lot of assholish things I won’t bore you with. But none of it matters. This is a community property state and you’re entitled to half of what he has.”
“I don’t really want it,” Juniper says, her gaze dropping from me to the phone. “Just enough to take care of my dad.”
“While that’s admirable of you to say,” Julia says dryly, “for what this man put you through, you deserve so much more. And I’m going to get it for you.”
Julia has her fighting gloves on and I know we chose well in an attorney. My question is more direct. “What exactly will you have to do to finalize the divorce and get Juniper what she deserves?”
“I’ll file some papers with the court to start the action but if he fights us every step of the way, it will take months. I’d like Juniper’s permission to play a little hardball with him right now.”
“What would you do?” Juniper asks.
“I want to give him a deadline by which to provide me all the financial information I requested so I can evaluate the assets. If he doesn’t, I’ll make it clear that we’ll be making claims for spousal support based on physical abuse—”
“No,” Juniper exclaims, launching right out of the chair and tearing her hands free of mine. “I don’t want my business being splashed around.”
“Juniper,” Julia says, her tone conciliatory. “It’s merely a tactic to get him to comply. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”
“This is becoming too complicated,” she says. I hear the panic in her voice, so I stand and move straight into her. I pull her into my arms just like I did in the hotel room and hug her. She turns her head to the side so that she can still talk to Julia via the speakerphone. “Why does he have to make it so complicated?”
“Because he’s a narcissistic jackass,” I answer the question. Pulling back slightly, I tip Juniper’s chin up. “You need to hold him accountable, Juniper. You can’t let him get away with everything he’s done to you. With what he’s taken away from you.”
That last bit is a pointed reminder that Joshua took away her baby and it strikes hard. I see agony well up in Juniper’s eyes but she blinks only once, and fury is in its place.
She nods at me and then says to Julia, “Okay… you have my permission to play hardball with him. Make him give you what you need or take him down any way you deem feasible.”
“I’ll still consult you before I make any moves, but this gives me enough to get a letter off to him. I think I’ll have it served personally today. I’m going to give him a two-week deadline.”
“That’s a long time,” I muse as Juniper and I break apart. “Why so generous?”
“So he can’t go bitching to the court that I didn’t give him enough time. This way he can’t complain later.”
“Makes sense,” Juniper murmurs, then leans over to nab her phone. Holding it up, her voice sounds stronger. “Do what you need to and keep me updated.”
“I will,” Julia promises.
“And thank you for taking my case. I know this isn’t going to be easy.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
After Julia hangs up, Juniper turns to me. “Thank you again for hiring her. Once I get my divorce settlement, you know I’ll pay you ba—”