Forbidden Fate (Crowne Point 3)

He ended the call, and

though I was terrified, I was determined not to give up. Because for the first time, I wasn’t alone. I had someone else depending on me.

I googled big law firms and found most of them resided in New York. So I took the train, trying to come up with a plan of action. My chest ached, though. I wanted a happily ever after with Grayson. Not…this.

Parallel to me, two girls who looked about fifteen watched me.

“Excuse me,” the blonde one finally asked. “Is your name Story?”

My throat seized.

“No,” I lied.

They didn’t seem entirely convinced, watching me the entire ride there, and even held up their phone to—I swear—take a photo of me. I scrambled off the train as quickly as possible.

My first stop was a towering, silver skyscraper. A lawyer I’d read rarely lost a case.

“She doesn’t take walk-ins,” the receptionist said without looking up.

“I’m…Story Hale,” I said cautiously, wondering for the first time if my name would register with someone.

Her eyes lifted, narrowing in interest. She buzzed me in and escorted me to a large conference room that overlooked New York City. The people were ants beneath me. Again, that lung-shrinking fear overcame me.

I was fighting back.

I was using my name.

I wanted to hide.

“Ms. Hale?”

I turned, finding a woman in a sharp black suit and sharper eyes.

“Usually the mistress doesn’t come in person,” she said.

The word hit me like a stab in the chest, but I powered through it.

“I’m not a mistress. I need someone to help me fight Grayson Crowne. I can pay in cash.” I piled stack after stack on the table. “I have more of this.”

She eyed it and, without any emotion, met my eyes. “You want to retain me against the Crownes?”

I nodded.

She stood up, eyes cold, buttoning her suit.

“We’re done.”

“But—”

The door slammed.

And that was how every interaction went, up and down New York City, finally concluding with the last lawyer, who said, “Let me give you a piece of advice, Miss Hale. There isn’t a spot on this earth the Crowne hand doesn’t hold. Whatever fight you have with Mr. Grayson Crowne, give up the idea you can win.”

Despair and desperation tore seams inside me.

If you ever need a wish granted, use it.

My uncle’s last words rang in my head. I could really use a magic coin right now. I had over twenty million dollars, was the richest I’d ever been, but I’m still trapped, still under the Crowne thumb.