Page 52 of Paradise West
Jack hummed. “No, not at all.” He leaned down to kiss her shoulder, his lips moving slowly to her neck. “But we do need to get started on the house today. Gus texted me last night that he has a team starting on the flooring on first floor and another that will work on the foundation.”
Charli sighed and laid her head on his chest. “I guess we need to get to work then.”
Jack nodded, his hands roaming up and down her back, loving the feel of her soft skin. “We do.” He grinned at her, a mischievous thought playing through his head.
She tilted her head. “What?”
He pressed his hips into hers. “We can always come back here for a nooner.” He wiggled his eyebrows as he leered down at her.
“So your guys can snicker about it for weeks?” She snorted. “I’ll pass.”
Jack’s brow dropped. “Anyone who says anything to you, or even makes you uncomfortable in the slightest, is out of here.”
Charli smiled and hummed, dropping her head back down on his chest.
She jolted in his arms as a sudden ringing cut through the silence of the room. He looked over her shoulder and she followed his gaze. “That’s your phone, baby.”
Charli sighed and turned resignedly to answer it. She picked it up and stared at the screen, grimacing at what she saw. “Hello?” she answered and listened to the voice on the other end. “Hi Alan, how are you?” she asked and then blinked at the shouted response.
From across the room, Jack could hear the voice on the other end. Charli’s face dropped into a frown as she listened to him and then gave her head a quick shake. “I’m sorry, Alan, I really am. But there’s nothing I can do. Your cases are managed by the firm and if they want to switch attorneys, that’s their prerogative.”
Her frown deepened even further as she listened to his rebuttal. “Yes, I know we had it all wrapped up. I’m as shocked as you are at the direction they’ve taken.” She listened again, then sighed. “That’s definitely a measure for you to take, but you could always cancel your case or go with another firm.”
Charli winced and Jack’s brows shot up as the voice on the other end got even louder. “Okay, okay. I understand, Alan. Let me see if I can talk some sense into Evan. Does he know that you plan to have him disbarred if you lose?”
She listened further and then nodded. “Okay, good. Maybe he’ll listen to me then.” She nodded again. “Yes, I’ll get back with you. Goodbye, Alan.”
Charli dropped the phone onto the bed and released a deep breath, closing her eyes.
“Is everything okay?” Jack asked tentatively, almost afraid to hear the answer.
She rubbed her forehead and released a derisive snort. “No, not really.” She gestured to the phone. “That was one of my best clients—whose case was stripped from me—and he’s begging me to take the case back.” She met Jack’s gaze. “He’s threatening to disbar Evan and his entire team if he loses when the case goes to trial.”
Jack shrugged and walked to her, pulling her into his arms. “Let them all get disbarred. Why should that bother you? They deserve what they get after what they’ve done.”
Charli’s face twisted. “Alan Parker doesn’t deserve this. He’s not just a client—he’s a friend. His entire company is on the line because of a stupid political move within the firm.”
Jack was quiet for a moment, his gut clenching at the path his thoughts were taking.
She can’t leave me...I can’t lose her, now...
“What are you going to do?” he asked softly as he watched her pace around the room.
Charli rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know.” She stared at the floor, her eyes unfocused as she walked back and forth. “I have to call Evan, but I know that idiot won’t listen to me,” she muttered to herself. “I may need to go back to Boston for a while to take care of this.”
Jack felt like an elephant had dropped on his chest and couldn’t breathe for a moment. He knew if she went back to Boston, she’d probably never come back. “Can’t they handle this without you?”
She stopped and looked up at him. “Huh?” she asked, her voice distracted as her eyes lost focus again. She jumped as her phone began to ring.
Charli looked at the screen and scowled, her face twisting with rage. She picked up the phone and pushed the accept button.
“Evan,” she snarled. “I just got off the phone with Alan Parker. You’ve really screwed the pooch this time, asshole.” Her upper lip curled and her eyes narrowed as she listened to the reply. “That’s really pathetic,” she scoffed. “You’re trying to blame this on me? That’ll fly about as well asa pig in tights.”
Jack watched, fascinated, as her mouth stretched in an evil grin.
“Everything’s documented on my end and I have copies of it all, so I can shoot that down with no problem. Besides, Alan would testify on my behalf. You went against the client’s wishes and pushed for a trial that puts his entire company at risk. Alan won’t be satisfied until your legal career is destroyed, and that’s just the start of your problems,” she sneered.
Jack tilted his head and cringed when he heard the loud whining from the other end.
