Page 42 of Breaking All The Rules

Me: When are you guys doing the mediation?

Lucy: Tuesday at 1:00 in Jeremy’s office.

Me: Seriously? Did he push to have it at his office?

Lucy: I didn’t ask how they came to an agreement. I’m just going where I’m told to go and praying that Art is as good as your boyfriend says that he is.

Me: He’s not my boyfriend.

Lucy: I’m not going to call him the other word. Gabi and Brit can keep that for themselves.

I raised my eyebrows, wondering what they were calling him behind my back.

Me: What do they call him?

The screen started bouncing with dots again, my foot tapping impatiently as I waited.

Lucy: Your f*&@ buddy. That’s the best I can do.

I rolled my eyes and let out a chuckle. Movement across the hall caught my eye and I found Brent getting up to shake Ethan’s hand as they all said their goodbyes.

“Hey, are you almost ready to go?” Brittany said as she popped into my office, startling me. Had it already been ten minutes?

“Yeah, just give me a second.” I sent a quick message back to Lucy, letting her know that I had to go, but we would talk this weekend. I turned off my computer and pulled my purse from the bottom drawer before getting up and walking over to Brittany, who was staring—no, gawking, at Ethan.

“Is thathim?” she whispered, her eyes wide as if she had just seen a million dollars.

“Yes,” I snapped, gently pushing her into the hallway as I pulled my door shut behind me. If we hurried, we could get out of there before Ethan walked out with Brent and the woman he was with.

“You dirty little liar,” she hissed, refusing to move as I tried to nudge her down the hallway.

“What did I lie about?” I asked with a high level of annoyance in my tone.

“You said he was attractive, but you failed to mention that he was panty-dropping gorgeous,” she scolded, still looking past me. “I can’t say that I blame you. I would jump on that every opportunity I had as well.”

“Okay, nowyou’rebeing ridiculous. Let’s go before they come out, or I’m not taking you for tacos,” I warned. I knew that was the keyword to get her ass moving.

“Fine.” She sighed heavily and turned to walk with me right as Ethan’s door opened and voices carried out.

Shit. We were so close to being able to get out before they saw us.

“Eva, it’s nice to see you again,” Brent said, stopping me in my tracks.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before I turned around to look at him. I shot a quick warning glare at Brittany for her to be on her best behavior as I plastered on the professional smile I had mastered in my first year of law school.

“Brent, it’s nice to see you as well. How are you?”

“I’m well, thank you. This is my girlfriend, Chasity.” He wrapped a protective arm around her waist as she looked up and gave him a quick smile.

“You must be Eva,” she said before giving Ethan a smug smile. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I replied as we shook hands.

I looked up at Ethan, wondering what she meant and justhowmuch she had heard about me. Ethan scrubbed a hand down the side of his neck as if attempting to wipe away the blush that was creeping up it.

“Well, we were just on our way out,” I said politely, smiling as I looked between the three of them. “Have a wonderful evening.”

I turned to walk away, thankful for the opportunity to get the hell out of there, when I felt a hand grab my arm and stop me.

---