Page 20 of Crazy Thing

I sigh. “With or without you, I can’t let this happen. I can’t let Edison win.” I quickly rifle through my wallet, handing her a business card with my contact information. “But here’s my phone number. In case you change your mind.”

She takes the card from me. She doesn’t rip it into pieces. That’s promising…right?

Not so fast.

“I’m not working with you, Darius,” Ziggy says, resigned.

She’s already climbing up the bus’s steps.And I know she has zero intention of taking me up on my offer.

Fuck. I give up. I don’t know what else to do. I don’t know what else to offer. “Fine.”

“Fine. Bye,” she mutters in response.

And the door closes in my face, leaving me staring at a multi-colored peace sign.

9

ZIGGY

“Look on the bright side—if the whole legal thing goes south, I know a guy who can make this Edison fella disappear.Poof!Hypothetically speaking, of course." The sleazy lawyer throws his head back, cackling at his own joke.

My eyes dart around the dingy conference room. Aunt Rainbow and a handful of other women from Starlight Falls exchange uncomfortable looks and belt out a chorus of forced chuckles.

The man takes their laughter as encouragement, carrying on like a standup comedian with his own Netflix special.

Me? I’m starting to wonder if this lawyer is actually serious underneath all the cringeworthy jokes. Because throughout this meeting, I’ve been getting major bad vibes from him.

To go along with his massive creep factor, he’s been making all sorts of big promises. He has all but guaranteed that he will ‘absolutely’block the sale of the waterfall. It almost sounds too good to be true.

He adjusts his tie, smoothing down the fabric and growing somber. “Alright, ladies. Let’s get down to business about this lake—”

“Waterfall,” I correct him.

“Right,” he says dismissively. “Let’s get down to business about thiswaterfall. I just need a retainer fee of two big ones today, and then I can get right to work.”

Aunt Rainbow blinks. “Two…big ones?”

“That’s right. Just two grand to make your worries go away. Oh, plus a twenty percent fee at the end of the case when we nail that guy. And this is my friends and family discount, because I know you ladies are some fine folks.” The lawyer winks and shoots finger-guns.

The women are all either frowning or blushing. But no one is making a move toward their purse. And they all seem to be trying to avoid eye contact with each other.

Great.No one can afford the lawyer’s upfront fee.

My mind drifts to Darius…and his offer to help…and his big, fat billionaire bank account. Shit. He actuallycouldmake all our worries go away. Too bad he’s practically an evil supervillain.

He’s the type of man who would throw his values and morals out the window in a heartbeat if the right opportunity presented itself.

Still…should I consider working with him?I spent half the night staring at his business card and repeating that question over and over in my head.

At least his deal doesn’t cost thousands of dollars. Plus, if I were to work with Darius, I could keep an eye on him. I’d be able to make sure that he doesn’t try to double-cross my friends…Right?

I quickly brush the idea away.

Nah. Nope. Too risky. I can’t trust that man.

When I check back into the conversation taking place here in the lawyer’s conference room, the ladies are swapping their own special waterfall stories.

“It’s where I met my husband,” one of them is saying through her sniffles. “It’s where we spend our anniversary every year. This year is going to be our twenty-fifth, and it just won’t be the same if we can’t spend it by the water.”

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