But as much as I wanted to speak to him, my time was running out.I had to meet Oscar and hear what happened with my mother. Maybe she was back and asking for me. Impossible, with what Presley told me about her being in a coma, but I could only hope.“So, Mr Roberts—”“Rodrigo is fine.” He cut me off, and he was right. We were not pretending anymore.“Fine, Rodrigo, what can I do for you now? Because if you came for the contract, it’s going to be ready later today, and I really should be rushing out now.”“Oh, that’s okay. I… I want you to make a proper introduction of me and my daughter.”“Sure. How’s tomorrow?” I asked, preparing to leave.“Today is okay. I can’t wait that long.”“Fine, today then. I’ll text you when.” I stood up and walked toward the door, leaving him behind.I almost bumped into Tina, who had a tray of two cups of coffee.“Show Mr Roberts out, and thank you.” I took one cup and then proceeded out. I walked straight to my car, and after a sip, I started it and dro
I sat there, silently trying to think while Mr. Puckett blamed me. I couldn't even stop him; all I could tell him was that my firm had standards, and settling for the scraps his wife was going to give us would downgrade us.“See where your standards got me? To zero. You know what, I don’t even know why I’m still here wasting my breath. I fired you, and—”“You signed the contract. You can't fire me.” Yep, I make my clients sign contracts so they can’t back out when it gets tough.“So that’s what that document I signed was about.”“Why else would I pay for your hotel room if I wasn’t sure I would be getting my money back?”“Well, you obviously failed, so you must let me go.”“Not when my work is not done. Oh, and the good thing is, you can’t afford to fight me in court.”“I’ll have my wife help me. I know she wants to get rid of me, so—who are you guys?” He turned back as he was about to leave, when three guards came in.“Sit,” I instructed, but he hesitated. Then the guards snarled at
Okay, I must have heard wrong because– “How's three today?”“Sure, um, I’ll just settle a case and come down to your house,” I said, already putting on my boots.“Oh no, I’ll send you an address. We can't meet at the house today.”“Sure, anything you say, Mr. Wilson,” I said, and he wished me a good day before ending the call.I threw the phone on the bed and rushed to the bathroom. I was already half dressed, already in the office dress and boots I was wearing. I just needed to wash my face and mouth and then I’d be good to go. Yep, I guess no shower for me today.I got in the bathroom and did the quick way to get cleaned, only the vital parts, before stepping out.“Good morning, darling.” Carlos greeted.“Mommy!” Parker seemed excited, and I knew it was Carlos. I went ahead and gave both of them kisses before taking my glass of juice in my hands, telling Carlos I was late.“I have to settle a case.”“Completely understand.”“Thanks, baby. Please drop Parker at school for me and make
Oh God, when am I going to learn not to trust Rodrigo with my life? What made me believe he would keep my secret? He damn well knew I wasn’t going to send Anthony to jail. That boy was like a son to me.As for Aaliyah, and the Wilsons. Rodrigo probably wants to get rid of them now and is trying to use me.Alright, Valeria, play it cool. This is Aaliyah, the easily fooled Wilson.“Excuse me?” I asked, faking a smile and acting clueless. “Did you just call me Valeria?”“Yes.” She didn’t even try to deny it.“Why?” I kept up the act. Her smile told me something. A lawyer could tell what someone was thinking just from a smile, and right now I was almost sure Aaliyah had no idea what she was saying.“Well, number one, because you look like her. And second, because she’s invading my thoughts. My husband keeps mentioning her damn name, and it’s kind of stuck.” There it was. She had no idea.“Well, in that case, if it makes you feel better, you’re welcome to call me her name,” I said.“Oh no,
V A L E R I AI was back home. I had just finished speaking to Fiona. I’d been trying to reach Christian, but he wasn’t picking up.Yes, I had just confronted Rodrigo. I couldn’t actually believe his guts—he even suggested that we reconcile. Like I had forgotten all he had done to me.“Pick up, pick up.” I kept pacing, trying Christian’s number over and over again. I wanted to tell him about his boss, what he had done, and possibly get him to change his mind.Then suddenly I received a call. I immediately picked up, but it wasn’t Christian. It was Rodrigo.“Well, I’m not letting you into my apartment,” I said, walking to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I couldn’t have wine yet, as I was still preparing to get pregnant.“This is important, and besides, I’m coming with Christian.”“Christian works for you first, so it’s safe to say I don’t trust him.”“Alright, fine. I guess I’ll just say it here.”“I’m listening.” I sipped my water.“I will drop the charges, won’t force you to rec
Both Mom and Anthony were looking at me as I smiled, which I’m sure made me look like a fool in their eyes.“Okay, I’m out of here,” Anthony said, and Mom stopped him.“Leave the gun,” she told him. He rolled his eyes, reached behind his back, and slammed it on the table.“I can still get another one,” he said.“You’re not even eighteen yet. Why do you need a gun?” Mom asked him. I just listened. This wasn’t even the first gun.“It's Atlanta. A young man like me needs a gun around, plus it pays when your father knows a criminal.”“Christian is not a criminal. He’s security,” Mom explained.“Yeah, right. Alright, I’m going to Christian’s. I’m spending the night there.” He said and Mom just waved goodbye as he left.“Yeah, he’s matured, he should be allowed to live on his own. Did you see what your ‘matured’ grandson pulled?” I mocked. Mom always went along with whatever Anthony said.“You shouldn’t be talking. Jim, come here!” She called to her butler, then ran over to me. “Oh my god,