KEPT: A Second Chance Fairy Tale (12 page)

“Do you think he’ll ever get used to having me around?” I question, referring to Michael.

“I think he’s used to you already, Lucy. Michael needs time to adjust, that’s all. He’s not like Corbin.”

No, he’s not.

Corbin’s funny, easy to talk to, and doesn’t hesitate to pitch in and help. He stops by my desk every time he leaves his office to ensure I’m still doing okay. He takes his time to explain the things I haven’t learned, and I feel comfortable asking questions about things I don’t yet fully understand.

“Michael comes to terms with things in his own time and in his own way,” she adds. “But if you have patience, you’ll get to know him like I do.”

“And how is that?”

Lillie turns the car in the direction of the office and sighs. “He’s a man who doesn’t trust easily. It takes a person time to get into that head of his.”

“He ignores me. How am I supposed to be helping him if he won’t talk to me?”

If Lillie’s around, I’m invisible. If Amber’s available, I’m in the way. The last time he asked for help was the day we sat across from each other in uncomfortable conversation. I thought maybe he believed I was there to help, only to be insulted later by the realization that he was still shutting me out.

Lillie laughs. “Oh, Lucy. You’re imagining that,” she accuses. “He doesn’t ignore you. I think he’s more afraid of you than anything else.”

“Afraid of me?”

“Yes. Whether he chooses to admit it or not, you’ve changed him already. I’ve watched it happen with my own two eyes.”

Clearly, Lillie needs a stronger optic prescription.

“How’s he changed?”

Lillie laughs to herself. “He has, my dear. Trust me. You just don’t see it, but Corbin and I do.”

“What time is the party?” I question, fishing for a subject change.

“Right after the office closes. We’ll keep the big conference room door shut until the last client leaves.”

After we pull into the parking lot, Lillie parks and shuts off the car, but doesn’t make a move to get out. She sits for a second, then places her hands in her lap.

Her quiet voice is laced with both curiosity and concern. “Are you really okay, Lucy?”

Her question poses an opportunity to let someone with experience in law give me some type of advice. However, I’m unsure how I feel about her knowing my personal issues, even if she’ll no longer be in the office.

Rather than explain, I say. “I’m fine. Why?”

“You look distracted, and not because of what happened with your car,” she observes.

“Dillon starts school soon. He’s beginning to adjust to his new schedule. It wears us both out,” I use as an excuse.

Lillie doesn’t believe me. I know this by the look on her face. “As long as you’re okay,” she says, then adds, “You know, I’m leaving the office, but I’m never far away should you need anything.”

“Thank you, but I’m fine,” I lie and hold my purse tighter to my chest.

Without prodding further, she abruptly advises, “Well, let’s go inside then. We don’t want to be any later than we already are.”

Once we’re finally off the elevator, I notice an older woman sitting in the small chair outside Michael’s closed office door.

Lillie reaches over, squeezing my arm so my gaze follows hers. “That’s Jane Gilroy. I need to check on a few things this morning. You may want to introduce yourself. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Okay. No problem.”

Once I make my way to Jane, I greet her. A warm expression flashes across her face before she takes my hand.

“It’s good to finally meet you. When I spoke to Michael last week, he broke the news that Lillie was really leaving. I couldn’t believe it.”

“I’m sure Michael and Corbin will be lost without her. I’ll miss her, too.”

Jane nudges my elbow, rubbing it with hers. “You’ll be up and running just like Lillie in no time. Hang in there.”

“Thank you,” I reply.

Jane starts her first of many conversations centered around books, movies, the firm, and anything else that comes to mind as we stand outside Michael’s door. I’m not sure if he’s in his office or not, but knowing she’s here to see him, just as I will, causes instant anxiety.

The man is unnerving me and he’s not even in the room.

“Oh, Lucy,” she says. “You’re so sweet.”

She shakes my hand again. As I prepare to walk away, Michael opens his office door.

His eyes come to mine and I greet, “Good morning, Michael.”

Not offering a smile or greeting, he only nods, then looks at Jane. “Come in,” he tells her. “Hold my calls, Lucy.”

I say nothing, managing to keep my composure as I walk past Corbin’s open office door to my desk. This week, Lillie had been using a temporary space next to mine and before leaving last night, we took it down. Now it’s just me, sitting out in the open between Michael’s and Corbin’s offices.

“Ah, there you are,” Corbin greets, walking out and holding a few files in his hand.

“Good morning,” I reply.

“You okay?” His question comes gently. He must see the anxiety etched on my face, the same as Lillie did.

“I’m fine,” I reassure, grabbing my keyboard and logging in to avoid his invasive assessment. “Interesting morning,” I add when he doesn’t look away.

He lays the files on the high rise of my desk and rests his arms on top of them. “Has Michael upset you?”

“No,” I answer honestly. “I only saw him for a few seconds. Why?”

“He’s in a mood. Jane Gilroy. You remember me telling you about her?”

“I met her a few minutes ago. She was here waiting for Michael when Lillie and I got in.”

Lillie and Michael had lunch with her two weeks ago and whatever they discussed, she hadn’t gotten back to him as she’d promised. I recognize now that he’s been on edge, more so than usual, ever since.

Corbin doesn’t give me time to answer before stating, “I’m guessing things aren’t going well. I’m waiting around to find out what’s up.”

“Anything I can do?”

Thinking for a minute, Corbin steps back and places his hands in his suit pockets. “No. It’s probably better to leave you out of it. You’re stayin’ for Lil’s party, right?”

“She’s my ride,” I reply. “My car died this morning.”

“Not good,” he comments. “Want me to take a look at it?”

“A lawyer by day, mechanic by night?” I smile.

Corbin grins. “Funny girl. I know the basics. If you want me to take a look, I can stop over after work tonight.”

“No, but thank you. I’ll call around on my lunch hour.”

Corbin nods. “Steer clear of him today, Lucy. He’s not happy.”

“Compared to every other day when he’s all sunshine and rainbows?” I ask in jest, but not entirely without truth.

Corbin smiles and winks. Then he turns around, walks back into his office, and closes the door.

Michael

I
KNOW I DIDN’T JUST
hear her correctly. I couldn’t have. If I did, I’ll live and breathe if only to ensure that wretched woman’s life is made impossible. I’ll bury her in paperwork, filing motion after motion until she has no other choice but to give up and leave Lucy alone.

“Tell me again, Jane. This time, don’t be coy. You know I hate vague.”

When I opened my office door, I found Jane Gilroy talking to Lucy. No one would guess the two of them had just met. Jane was going on about something or other, and Lucy was smiling. I’ve known Jane a long time, and she’s not fooled by many. It was obvious Lucy left a good impression.

I had hoped Jane was here to discuss the deal Corbin offered on our behalf, but once she hit the office, her jovial exterior turned venomous before she started to tell me what she heard this morning.

“I told you.” She sighs. “I went to school with Margret Hollings, now Monroe. Margret’s not a good person. Don’t underestimate her.”

“Fuck that, and fuck her,” I state, watching as Jane’s mouth purses at my crass language. “Lucy’s more than capable of taking care of her son.”

“Is she? Then why are her parenting skills being questioned?” Jane pointedly states, pissing me off. She doesn’t mean any offense, of course. “I know I just met Lucy, but she seems like she takes care of herself. I would imagine she takes care of her son the same.”

“She does,” I answer.

I could expand, being that I know more about Lucy than I admit to myself. But that’s not something I choose to share with Jane.

“I didn’t mention anything to Lucy about her mother-in-law because I didn’t feel it was my place. But I’m bringing this to you as a friend and because Lucy works for you.”

“Thank you,” I express, genuinely relieved. “What else do you have?”

“Lucy’s scheduled to meet with them next month. I was at Margret’s lawyer’s firm, but I’m telling you I heard it straight from Margret herself.”

It seems Jane ran into Lucy’s mother-in-law while she was visiting Wills, Jacobs, and Associates. Jane was there to catch up with a few of her old colleagues. Margret was there as a client. It’s obvious now that Margret ran her mouth without realizing Corbin’s or my relationship with Jane.

“Does Lucy have representation?” she inquires, peering over her bifocals. “She could use someone who knows how Jackson Wills thinks. He’s greedy when he considers someone easy prey.”

“Lucy hasn’t mentioned any of this to me. If she said something to Corbin, I’m sure he would’ve passed it on. This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“I can help,” Jane supplies, and I know she’s sincere in her offer. Jane’s been known to bully her way into winning cases for single mothers just like Lucy. “I have no active clients right now. I can prep her. I just need–”

Lifting my finger in the air, I quiet Jane while grabbing my phone.

Of course, Corbin’s line goes directly to voicemail. He’s only around when I
don’t
need him.

Lucy, however, picks hers up on the first ring. Rather than hearing Lillie’s always professional response, I fight a smile when I hear this one. “What now
,
boss? I’m a little busy.”

Over the past few weeks, I haven’t had much to say to Lucy, other than discussing a few work-related topics. Now that this one is in regards to her, I’m more aware of her presence than ever before.

“Lucy, I need Corbin in here.”

There’s a brief pause. I’m sure Lucy’s looking behind her at his office. “His door is closed. Can’t you call him? You have a phone, right?”

Twisting my neck to shake off her smartass response, I tell her, “Open his door. He’s not taking calls, and it’s important. I need him in my office.”

“You want me to walk over, knowing he’s probably
busy
, and open Corbin’s door?” she questions. I hear the nervousness in her voice. “He’ll get pissed.”

“Not at you, sweetheart.” The endearment slips out without intention, and there’s no pulling it back. Jane looks up from digging in her purse, her eyes slightly wide, maybe a little shocked. “Just get him in here.”

Once I hang up the phone, I turn my gaze to Jane and see she’s smirking.

Shit.

“You’re not going to do very well without Lillie around to help, are you?”

“Life here will probably be a slight shade easier than a day in hell, Jane,” I admit with sincerity. “I’m going to miss her.”

She smirks at my misery. “Lillie never cared for me.”

“It’s because you two are so much alike.”

She scoffs. “No, it’s because she’s always been so protective of you. She thought I was out to get you in my bed.”

As soon as I start to defend Lillie, Corbin opens my office door. He doesn’t look happy, until he spots Jane at my desk, assuming she’s here to talk about what we’d offered her weeks ago.

Reaching for her hand, he shakes it, then leans in to kiss her cheek. She smiles carefully while pulling back.

“I hope we didn’t take you away from anything important,” she tells him.

Corbin moves to sit in the one beside hers. “You didn’t. How are you, Jane?”

Jane’s gaze comes to mine and her lips tighten. Corbin senses this, so his eyes follow hers to mine and I state, “There’s an issue I want your thoughts on.”

“Okay,” he draws out slowly, sitting back and crossing his ankle over his knee. “Let’s hear it.”

Jane fills Corbin in on what she knows about Lucy. I watch as his jaw ticks after each scheming statement. He and Lucy are friends. From what I gather after seeing the two of them together, they’ve gradually become too close for comfort. This news is affecting him. His usual transparent and casual demeanor is waning.

Jane finishes, telling him the same she told me. “I want to represent her.”

“Fuckin’ hell,” Corbin spits. “Lucy know anything about this?”

“She does. Margret warned her, but she’s also most likely received the notice.”

“And she’s done nothing?” he follows up. He’s pissed. Lucy obviously didn’t tell him about any of this, and he’s taking it personally. This solidifies that there’s a friendship growing between them.

Why do I hate that so much?

Jane answers, “Not to my knowledge. She needs help and, as I told Michael, I’m willing to take this on. I’ll do it pro bono.”

My eyebrows lift, and Corbin’s mouth drops open.

“Jane Gilroy has a heart,” he breathes out.