Page 74 of Escape Girl

I pushed my reading glasses on my head. “I was at Stanley & Fern for five years,” I said truthfully, enjoying the name-drop of the country’s number-two IP firm. “I’ve just left Coonley Taft in New York.” The number-one firm.

Hill’s upper lip was shiny. If I breathed deeply, I could smell his body odor. “I need a minute with my client,” he said, pushing his chair away from the table. “Cole, come back to my office.”

“Smart,” I agreed. “Mr. Taggert, you’re going to need a new lawyer.” I flicked a disdainful look at Hill. “I’m sure Hiltan James has been a worthy ally until this point.”

Both men started at the sound of Mr. Sweaty’s former name. I just offered a bland smile. “But you’re going to need an actual IP attorney to guide you to either court or settlement.”

Taggert’s eyes blazed, and he shoved a finger at my face. “Settlement,” he sneered. “That’s why they’re here. They just want money.”

“Incorrect,” I said, completely unfazed. “Ms. Bradley will require both the return of her intellectual propertyandmoney.” I’d spoken with the rest of my clients, and they’d all accept a monetary amount in return for SideDoor continuing to own and use the products they’d designed. But Bella’s project was her baby. It was huge and complex and impressive; she deserved for the world to know it was hers.

“Cole, my office.” Hill stood and waited.

“Piss off, Hilt.” Taggert leaned back in his chair to show that he wasn’t going anywhere. He stared me down across the table, and I let him, meeting his gaze and raising my eyebrows.

“What firm are you with now?” he demanded.

“I’m starting my own,” I announced, smiling at Bella. “This will be my first solo case.”

Taggert let out an incredulous laugh, with no small amount of relief in it. “Ha.”

Hill fidgeted with the back of his chair, like he didn’t know whether to rejoin the table or drag his friend physically from the room. He had a better radar than his friend, which made sense. He’d done bad stuff and he’d been caught. He knew it was possible. Taggert, on the other hand, had been stealing for years, and aside from Max trumping him with the release of GuardTower to the public, he’d never faced any repercussions.

Taggert snorted. “Hilt, sit down. She’s bluffing.” He shook his head, pretending disappointment. “You had me for a minute, Emily Whatever. But I’m not fucking settling, so you girls can just run along home.”

He folded his arms over his chest, and Hill picked up the thread. “Lawsuits move very slowly. Even the simplest and most straightforward of cases can take over a year to get through court. They move much more slowly for someone like Mr. Taggert, who can afford to file motion after motion after motion to delay.”

The sneer on Taggert’s face was stomach-curdling. He glared at Bella. “I know all about you, remember.” He jabbed at the paperwork all over the table. “I know about everyone here. You can’t afford to go to litigation.”

Well, ring-a-ding-ding. I couldn’t ask for an easier opening than that. “You don’t know me, Mr. Taggert. I can certainly afford to go through litigation.”

He snorted. “Just because you have a good résumé? Please. It’s sweet that you’re so eager, Emily. I’m sure helping these poor suckers seems like a heroic way to start your own little firm. But when you see the court costs pile up and you need to dedicate all your timefor yearsto fend off the team of lawyers I will hire, I imagine you’ll change your mind. Of course, by that time, you’ll be hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt.” He lifted a lavender shoulder. “Maybe more.”

I giggled. Honestly giggled. Damn, this was fun.

His eyes narrowed to slits. “Again, very sweet. Very sweet to think you could bluff your way through this.”

It was hard to contain my laughter, but I managed to stifle it in. “Oh, Mr. Taggert. As my ex-husband could tell you, the one thing I’ve never been is sweet.”

I did that smirk now, the one Bobby called terrifying. “I realize you didn’t think it was important to get my name, but I’ll go ahead and introduce myself now.”

I stood and offered a hand. “I’m Emily Austin.”

They gave me blank stares of scorn.

“Saturn,” I finished. “Emily Austin Saturn.”

They just sat, ignoring my outstretched hand, and it was beautiful to watch comprehension dawn across their stupid faces. I’d use my entire name from now on, I decided on the spot. I never wanted to before, because the name recognition had seemed unearned. But it wouldn’t be unearned if I worked toward earning it every day.

It was a silly sort of power, but awful men are often impressed by the silliest of things.

“I see you recognize my last name,” I said calmly, reclaiming my seat. For once, I was thrilled about the cutthroat reputation my father had spent a lifetime building. For the right opponents, I would proudly contribute to that lineage. “You’ve probably also realized that I could litigate this for the rest of my life and it would barely scratch the interest on my inheritance.

“So obviously, I’m not bluffing.”

Of course I was. None of my clients wanted to be dragged through the time, embarrassment, and emotions of a long trial. But Taggert and Hill would focus only on the money. That’s who they were.

“Jesus. Fuck.” Taggert put his face in his hands.

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