Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 154728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 619(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 619(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
My body stiffened.
Over a woman.
Dismissive. Almost derogatory. As if the woman in question wasn’t right beside him. As if the woman in question didn’t matter at all.
Victoria’s eyes hardened ever so slightly at Brax’s words, briefly sliding to me before refocusing on him. She didn’t like him. I could see that through her veneer. She was a senior partner at one of the top law firms in New York. I had the sense she might’ve encountered many men like Brax before.
“Well, let’s start off by saying the fight was not on account of any woman,” she said before turning her gaze back to me. “None of this was Avery’s doing. She did not ask for DuBois to assault her, nor did she ask for Kane to assault DuBois in return.”
The tips of Brax’s ears went pink. “Of course, not.”
She acted as if he didn’t speak.
“Secondly, although Mr. Rhodes does have considerable influence that comes with being a public persona, so does Mr. DuBois.”
“He’s a fucking chef,” Brax scoffed. “How much influence can you garner by grilling people some fucking steaks?”
My hands fisted on my knees.
“Shit, sorry, I didn’t mean…” Brax turned to me, and I waved him off despite having the urge to slap him.
“Mr. DuBois’s influence on the cultural world is a little more than grilling some steaks,” Victoria countered dryly. “Chefs who operate on the level that he and Ms. Hart operate on feed governors, presidential hopefuls, lawmakers, CEOs and … district attorneys.” She clasped her hands in her lap. “The kind of culinary experience provided by someone of that caliber creates a gravitas and a power that may not seem obvious to people like you, but is considerable, nonetheless.”
I bit back my smile. Yeah, I liked this lawyer.
Though Brax kept an easy expression on his face, I didn’t miss the way he moved his jaw, grinding his teeth. He did not like being talked to like that by a woman.
Go figure.
“Okay,” he replied through gritted teeth. “But again, the publicity around this… Kane is pretty beloved, and he has his share of powerful friends.”
Victoria nodded. “I’m aware. I’ve already spoken to some. But we have had a confluence of … bad luck, for lack of a better term when it comes to this situation and the timing. The D.A. is looking to make a name for herself. She’s new to the role and is trying to shed the office’s reputation for being ‘soft’ on people of influence. And the judge we’ve been assigned is somewhat known for carrying out sentences to teach privileged kids lessons.”
Brax dragged a hand down his face. “Kane is not a fucking kid.”
“Nor was he privileged,” I added. “He grew up in poverty, worked his ass off for everything he has, volunteers with what little free time he does have, and donates 40 percent of his paychecks to charity.”
Brax’s head snapped in my direction. I didn’t look at him, but I assumed he was surprised I was privy to that information. I was just the girlfriend after all.
Victoria nodded. “All relevant details that I will be using to argue on his behalf. And I’m great at what I do. The best. I’ll do everything in my considerable power to ensure he gets off with a slap on the wrist, a fine, some community service. I’ll do my best to push for DuBois getting charged with assault, both toward you and for stabbing Mr. Rhodes. I win cases. That’s why I’m here.” She held her hands out to gesture to the sleek corner office with views of the city.
“But I don’t do bullshit,” she continued, her focus back on me. “And I’d be bullshitting you if I said for sure that I could guarantee we’ll get out of this lightly. With Kane’s record, the judge, the D.A., there is a very real possibility that he could be facing prison time. Despite my best efforts. Mr. DuBois is not dead, which is our only saving grace in this situation. But he’s much older than Mr. Rhodes and is still in an induced coma.”
I wanted to vomit. Not at Gerald being in a coma. For all I cared, he could stay that way forever. But he needed to wake up. For Kane’s sake.
“Well,” Brax stood up after a few beats of silence. “We’ll go somewhere else to find someone who can win.”
Victoria didn’t look perturbed. In fact, she almost looked like she expected it.
“You can try,” she shrugged. “I’m the best. Which is why you’re here in the first place. Because I’m the best, my time is limited and expensive. I’m only doing this as a favor to Avery.”
I recoiled.
Her gaze softened somewhat as she gauged my obvious confusion. “I’ve had the pleasure of eating your food a handful of times,” she explained. “I have … wonderful memories connected to it. You gave me something special.”