Chapter 4 – Meeting My Client, Carmilla

Natalie’s POV

“But of course there’s no other similarity. I mean, my ex-wife is not a big-time lawyer like you!” Brandon smiled in a friendly way.

He then continued casually, eyes on the road. “Same name, actually. Wild coincidence.”

I turned to the window.

Same name.

That wasn’t a coincidence.

That was me, I wanted to say. That was me, you idiot.

But I stayed quiet. Just listened.

“She wasn’t like this. Quiet. Stayed in the estate. Looked after my grandfather. Didn’t really… do anything.”

Didn’t do anything?

I nearly laughed out loud.

Three years of running that house, caring for an old man, pausing law school, doing everything no one saw. But sure. Let’s call it “doing nothing.”

“She was just… there. No presence. You-” he glanced at me “you’re sharp. Confident. Honestly, she didn’t leave much of an impression.”

I stayed quiet, I needed to know more. I needed to hear exactly how he saw the woman he left behind without even meeting.

Maybe I just needed confirmation that he really was that blind.

Eventually, we arrived.

The place was sterile, cold. One of those facilities where even the walls felt judgmental.

Carmilla came in like she owned it.

Blonde curls bouncing, even in detention center beige. She had that pout like she was waiting for a Vogue photographer to pop out from behind the glass.

“Bran,” she said, her voice sweet and sticky. “You finally came.”

She sat beside him and held his hand like they were on a dinner date, not in a detention room. 

So this is what Brandon meant when he said they weren’t in a relationship?

Because from where I was sitting, it sure looked like one.

And if that’s true, then it must’ve started while we were still married.

I don’t give a damn about Brandon, not like that... but still. The least he could’ve done was end things with me properly before getting cozy with someone else.

I know I shouldn’t care but I do. Not as his ex, but as a lawyer, because no matter how invisible our marriage was, it still counted.

That’s not just messy. It’s unprofessional and completely out of line—especially for someone in his position.

“You don’t know how miserable I’ve been here,” she said with a sigh that could’ve won an Oscar.

I didn’t say anything. Just watched.

Then she looked at me for a second and turned away like I didn’t matter.

Brandon cleared his throat. “This is the lawyer I mentioned. Best of the best.”

Carmilla turned fully to me then, eyes dragging from my head to my shoes.

“Oh,” she said, smile tight. “She’s… pretty.” Then a tiny smirk.

Oh? Nice.

I wanted to slap her right now. But I stayed professional and gave a nod. “And competent.”

She laughed. “Sure, sure. I’m sure you’re good. But this isn’t a basic case. It’s not just arguing in court. You need someone who understands high-stakes clients.”

“I do,” I said flatly.

She leaned forward, still looking at me but talking to Brandon. “I just don’t want you to get burned again. You already had a messy situation with your ex-wife. And now this? It just feels… familiar.”

Brandon frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” she waved a hand, “you just got out of a marriage with a woman who basically married into your money. And now you’re trusting another woman this quickly? Come on.”

“She wasn’t like that,” Brandon said with a soft chuckle. “My ex-wife didn’t even try. She stayed in the background. Completely uninvolved. Nothing like this.”

Carmilla rolled her eyes. “She didn’t even have a job, Bran. She sat in that house for three years. And now she’s trying to claw something from the will? Seriously?”

Brandon laughed again. “Yeah. She wanted gratitude just for existing. Meanwhile, this one—” he nodded at me “knows how to rip a courtroom apart.”

I froze for a second.

That’s the story?

That’s how they justify it?

Carmilla turned back to me. “I’m just saying… Be careful, Bran. There are women who say all the right things, but they’re just in it for the long game.”

I stayed calm.

“What kind of game do you think I’m playing?” I asked.

She smiled. “You’re clearly smart, Ms. Lawyer. But let’s not pretend power isn’t attractive. Especially when it’s sitting right next to you.”

I glanced at Brandon.

He didn’t react. No surprise, no discomfort. Just a small smile like he actually liked hearing it.

“She’s just being protective,” he said. “My ex-wife didn’t want to be part of my life. She took care of my grandfather, sure, but that was it. There was no love. No connection. She was just… there. A formality.”

Something in me cracked.

A formality?

I stood up slowly, folder still in my hand.

“I think we’re done here.”

Brandon stood too. “Ms. N—"

“I told you, it’s Natalie.” I turned to Carmilla. “And you don’t have to worry. I’m not here to seduce your CEO. I was asked to handle a case. Not compete in a reality show.”

Carmilla blinked. “I didn’t mean—”

“You did,” I said, “and it’s fine, I’ve worked with worse.”

I turned to Brandon. “But I don’t work with people who sit silently while their client insults women for sport. Especially not women they once married.”

He didn’t say anything. Mouth opened and closed again.

I walked out, heels echoing sharply on the floor.

They could insult me all they wanted. But to sit there and casually group me with some imagined gold digger version of myself? Like we’re all the same?

No thanks.

“Ms. N, wait!”