Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 52643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
“Okay.” Mr. Carter nods. “I guess we’ll have to consider that deal.”
I look over at him. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“Mr. Donovan or Peterson, whatever, just needs to allocute for his crimes in open court and we can bypass the stressful drama of a trial.” Brett smiles. “Let me know what day this week you want him picked up for booking. I’m willing to let him get his affairs in order before he goes away.”
“Well, before we do that,” Mr. Carter says, “I think we should do a practice allocution to make sure we’re all on the same page here.”
“Mr. Carter, you’re fired if you think I’m going to plead guilty,” I say.
“Let your lawyer do the talking, Mr. Donovan.” Brett clicks his pen. “He’s the best in the country for a reason. What do you have in mind for the points we need to make, Mr. Carter?”
“You’re upset because my client slept with your now ex-girlfriend.”
“No, that’s not—”
“And you can’t stop wondering about how if any time she was with you, she might’ve been thinking about him.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re pissed and want to punish my client for having a bigger dick and leaving memories she just can’t forget.”
Brett narrows his eyes.
“Onto the legal shit, though…” He clears his throat. “Vendettas are unconstitutional, and this case is a waste of our time since the student in question was at the age of consent at the time, but I’m sure once the court hears about all the media harassment you’ve done over the past few weeks, they’ll take your side in this.”
He shrugs. “Not to mention the fact that this is an abuse of your position and millions of taxpayer dollars, but hey, thank you for that amazing offer that any judge in his right mind will reject. Do we still need have a deal?”
The suit at Brett’s side rips up the papers and stands to his feet.
“We’ll drop the charges within twenty four hours,” he says.
“You’ll do it within one hour,” Mr. Carter says. “One second past that and I’ll be filing a charge against Mr. Brett here. Oh, and in exchange for me not discussing Mr. Brett’s transgressions with the media who are conveniently outside, I expect to be reimbursed for my five-star hotel room. I’m staying in the presidential suite at the Waldorf for the rest of the week.”
“Are you threatening us, Mr. Carter?”
“Of course not.” He smiles. “I’m telling you exactly what’s going to happen if you don’t meet my demands. My tone is very friendly.”
Brett rolls his eyes and stands, following the suit out of the room.
I stare at him, unsure of what the hell to say.
“You’re welcome,” Mr. Carter says, holding out a business card. “If you need anything else, feel free to call my secretary.”
“You mean, call you, correct?”
“No, I try to stay out of the office as much as possible. I hate being around lawyers.”
Right… “See you around, Mr. Carter.”
“I hope not.” He leaves without another word and I take out my phone to call Genevieve.
She doesn’t answer and I check her texts.
Holy fucking shit…
14
GENEVIEVE
I’ve called you five times today. I won’t tell anyone about us, and I won’t testify. I promise.
Here are my resting coordinates.
I love you.
Ihave nothing left to live for.
Everything I’ve worked hard to attain is being ripped away, and no amount of positive thinking can convince me otherwise.
Brett is determined to ruin every facet of my life, and after watching him dismantle opponents he hardly ever knew, I know he’ll work overtime on destroying me.
Letting go on the count of three.
One, two…
I let go of the railing and steal one last glance at this city before my body hits the ice-cold water.
Water rushes my lungs, and although my mind begs me to fight for survival and claw my way back to the surface, I don’t.
I give in.
I’m gone.
15
GENEVIEVE
Heaven is a lot brighter and colder than I was expecting.
Or, maybe this is hell, and the flames are coming next…
“Patient was rescued from the The Charles River and is experiencing severe hypothermia and seizures.”
“She also experienced cardiac arrest during the ambulance ride,” another voice said. “Someone get Doctor Hudson up here now!”
So, that Good Samaritan fucked me over again?
I can’t feel my arms or my legs, so I open my mouth in an attempt to speak. To tell them to throw me back where I was.
Suddenly, I can no longer hear anything.
And the bright lights dim to blackness.
16
LIAM
“Why is he here?” Genevieve’s mother screeches when I step into the room. “Security! Security!”
“This man abused my daughter!” her father calls out. “He shouldn’t be on the approved visitors’ list!”
I ignore them and walk over to Genevieve’s side. Grabbing her bandaged hand, I shake my head in utter disgust.
I will never ignore one of your phone calls again…
“What the hell were you thinking?” I lay my head against her chest. “You’re so dramatic, I swear.”