Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
As the pleasure I’d missed all too much began building, building, building, the words “I love you,” made their way to the tip of my tongue.
I fought hard to keep them inside, unable to deal with the fact that he’d never say them back.
“Come with me, Elizabeth…” He stiffened as I neared the edge, and we both dissolved into utter bliss.
Panting uncontrollably, I held onto him as tears welled in my eyes.
This is goodbye.
When he was certain I was fine, he slid me off him and onto the floor.
We stood staring at each other, both struggling to catch our breath, both fighting to get the first and last word.
With my legs still slightly trembling, I leaned against the wall.
Damien grabbed my hand, gently pulling me forward. “Come inside with me, Elizabeth.”
“No…” I shook my head, pulling away from him. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Goodbye, Damien.” I headed to the elevator and slammed the ‘door close’ button as hard as I could.
As the car descended, my phone vibrated in my purse with calls from him.
I didn’t bother looking at the screen.
I just cried.
RECIPROCITY (N.)
MUTUAL EXCHANGE OF PRIVILEGES BETWEEN STATES, NATIONS, BUSINESSES OR INDIVIDUALS
DAMIEN
Ashton Apt. Manager (Evicting Tenants for $)
Is there a reason why you’re no longer interested in helping me with my case?
Last year, you said this would be an easy side project for you…
Mr. Carter?
“Idon’t understand why we need to go to the client’s house instead of them coming to us.” My newest partner, Veronica, whined. “Isn’t that the entire reason you all spend so much money making the firm look nice?”
“For the umpteenth time,” I said, “I do things a bit differently.”
“Well, I like the way Mr. Early and Mrs. Thompson do things,” she said.
“After today, I’ll make sure you return to that.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” I handed her a pair of gloves. “Put these on before we go inside.”
“Good call,” she said. “I’ve heard diseases run rampant in places like this. You never know what’s crawling up the walls.”
I stared at her, wondering if I should just drop her off at the firm and come back alone, but I was running low on time.
Getting out of the car, I motioned for her to follow me inside and up to the second floor.
I stopped in front of apartment 2C and knocked.
No answer.
I knocked again.
Nothing.
“Okay, he’s not home so we can leave now.” Veronica took out a business card. “What do you want me to write on the back of this before I slide it under the door?”
“Nothing.” I pulled out my lock kit. “We don’t need that.”
She gasped. “You’re breaking and entering?”
“No, I’m accidentally unlocking the door at a place I need to see for myself,” I said. “Think like a lawyer.”
“I think you mean criminal.”
“Sometimes they’re the same thing.”
Her jaw dropped as I pushed the door open, and I practically had to pull her inside before shutting the door.
Despite it being immaculate, it smelled of mold and mildew, and the tell-tale sign of black mold was forming in all the corners.
“Go look in the bathroom and take pictures of the pipes, Veronica,” I said. “If you see any mail, bring it out here to me.”
“I don’t want to go to jail.”
Jesus Christ. I walked past her and took the photos myself. When I returned to the living room, I flipped through the envelopes on the coffee table.
“What the hell are you doing in my apartment?” A gruff man suddenly stepped inside, glaring at us.
I ignored him, continuing to look through his mail.
“You two don’t look like cops, and I know damn sure you don’t have a warrant.” He picked up a gun.
“There’s no bullets in that,” I said calmly. “I checked when we first got here.”
The guy aimed for Veronica anyway, and she ran away screaming.
Unflinching, I found the exact piece I needed.
“Okay, Mr. Jensen,” I said. “I don’t typically take on cases like this, especially when I was about to be on the other side, but I’m about to make one hell of an exception for you.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I haven’t contacted anyone about any cases and I hate lawyers.”
“Me, too.” I walked over to him, and took the gun from his hands. “Your apartment manager is offering you two million dollars to move out of this place by the end of the year, right?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re not going to do that.”
“Like hell I’m not.”
“You’re going to let me sue the hell out of them for you and you’re going to get at least eighteen million for decades of negligence and terrible health code violations. And because I’m a changed man, you’re only going to owe me thirty percent of that. Deal?”
The guy blinked, and then he extended his hand.
“You’re welcome.”
REDEEM (V.)
TO BUY BACK, AS WHEN AN OWNER WHO HAD MORTGAGED HIS/HER REAL PROPERTY PAYS OFF THE DEBT
ELIZABETH
“What do you mean, you want to focus on his grey parts, Miss Tanner?” Mr. Pennington leaned back in his office chair, puffing a cigar.