Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
“You’re worried that something you’re doing will push me away.”
“Yes. I am. Only time will tell.”
“You can’t push me away.”
“Challenge accepted.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Actually, I have to say it because if I can push you away, we weren’t real.”
Lauren’s words, which she has repeated every time she feels like I’m shutting down, come back to me. “Everyone wants to know love is real. I told Reese the same thing.”
“Reese—”
“I love you,” he says. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
He hangs up.
Chapter thirty-nine
Cat
Four weeks apart…
My Tuesday includes me sitting at the island of my kitchen writing a chapter of the book on Nelson Ward, while drinking insane amounts of coffee. The book is slow going as I type a few paragraphs here and start replaying that call with Reese on Thanksgiving, and how much he doubted me and us. He needs to know that we’re real. Me too, but I caution myself every time I start going down a rabbit hole of doubt, and decide he’s the one bailing. Distance creates insecurity.
This cycle continues until nearly two o’clock when the doorman buzzes my phone. “Your brother Gabe is here.”
Fabulous, I think. “Send him up,” I say ending the connection.
I then consider a drink and decide against it.
I might have ice cream.
I pace and I don’t know why. Oh yes. I do. He is probably going to tell me some news about the legal action against our family, which means, he will hint at what is happening with Reese. I walk to the front door and Gabe knocks. I yank it open and walk away. He follows me to the kitchen and we both sit down. “Why are you here?”
“We settled with Casey Allen. We made peace with Reese Summer. Get your book deal back.”
“When did you settle?”
“Yesterday.”
Yesterday and Reese didn’t call me. He was strange on the phone. “What does peace mean?” I ask, trying not to sound as anxious as I am right now.
“Reese got Casey Allen off with the Feds and then approached us about a truce.”
“Did he say why he would do that?”
“Because the publisher threatened to sue you and him,” Gabe says.
“Oh. Yes. I know.” It’s a lie, of course. It’s not true. I’d know if it were true.
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Would you care?”
“I care Cat,” he says. “Dad cares, too. Even Reid cares. I had to pry mom’s letter from his hands. He’s slow coming around but he will. And for the record, I read it to Dad when he wouldn’t read it.”
I lose patience. “What does truce mean? Damn it, just tell me.”
“Uncle Rudolf was behind everything. Reese helped him plea out a deal with a massive fucking fine of seven hundred million dollars, but it’s done and no one goes to jail.”
“The Reese Summer thing. Are you sure I can work with him without a conflict?”
“Oh yeah. Reese made sure.”
“What does sure mean? You’re killing me here.”
“The two law firms, ours and his, signed an agreement to work together.”
I blanch. “Your firm and Reese’s firm?”
“Yes. It’s not a merger but our criminal division is weak which is why Dad pushed to get you on board. But now, on a case-by-case basis Reese will represent our clients.” His phone buzzes. “Shit. I have a client freaking out over a merger. I gotta go. Go get that book deal.” He heads out of the kitchen and I puff out a breath.
Reese aligned with my family. I don’t know what to think. Is he one of them now? No. That’s silly but he didn’t come to me last night. The ink must not be dry. That’s it. I run after Gabe and catch him at the elevator. “Have you signed the contract with Reese yet? Is it safe to contact him?”
“Not yet. We’re meeting Friday but it’s done. We all agree.”
“Right. Thanks.”
He steps into the elevator and I head back to my apartment. It’s not done. I have to talk to him. I don’t want him to do something bad for his firm and career, for me. I run up the stairs to my bedroom, and grab my purse when it hits me that I’m wearing sweats. I rush into my closet and do a quick change into that pink dress that I deemed “lucky” and thigh-highs with black high heels. I fluff my hair, and actually put on make-up.
Once I’ve inspected myself in the mirror, I figure this will do. A few minutes later I’m in an Uber and pulling up to Reese’s building. I have a momentary second thought. Is my family setting me up, looking for a relationship between me and Reese? No. I rule that out. I have a book deal with Reese worth a lot of money. Of course, I’d rush here to save it. I exit the car and walk inside the building. I have never been so nervous in my life.