Cole Cameron's Revenge

Faith tried to smile in return. "I promise you, I'm not. But you don't understand. He'll pursue the case no matter what you tell him. He'd do anything to hurt me."

"Because?"

"Because ... because he thinks I denied my husband..." She colored. "That I denied him intimacy. And and-

"And?" Bookman prompted.

"And we were-we were lovers, years ago." "You and your brother-in-law?"

"Cole and I. Yes. But we were very young, and-" "Cole?" Bookman sat up straight in his chair. "Surely you don't mean Cole Cameron? The Cole Cameron, of Cameron

Oil?"

Faith nodded. The attorney had gone from looking polite to amazed. Her heart sank. That couldn't be a good sign.

"Well! That does put a twist on things."

"Does that mean you won't represent me?"

Elmore Bookman chuckled. "I'd be delighted to represent you, my dear. There's nothing I like better than doing legal battle with the best hired guns around." His smile faded and became a thoughtful frown. "As your counselor, however, I'm obligated to point out several things."

"Such as?"

"Cost, for one. If Mr. Cameron is committed to fight you to the bitter end, the costs would be high."

"How high?"

Bookman shrugged. "Six figures."

"Six...?" She put her hand to her throat. "Are you serious?"

"I'm afraid I am."

"Don't you do pro bono work, Mr. Bookman? You said yourself, you'd love to take on the best-"

"Our firm sets priorities." He spoke gently but firmly. "I'm afraid the senior partners have agreed on the cases we'll try, free of charge, for the next several months."

"Then I'll pay you. Not all at once but so much per month."

"Mrs. Cameron, there's another factor involved you need to be aware of." The lawyer pursed his lips. "I get the feeling there are things you haven't told me about this situation. No." He held up his hand. "No, don't divulge anything more. It's true, whatever you'd say would be covered by attorney-client privilege but if you're not going to go ahead with this case..."

"I haven't said that."

"You were uncomfortable telling me about your prior relationship with Mr. Cameron, and about his charges concerning your intimate relations with your husband."

Faith blushed. "Yes but surely you can understand-"

"Indeed I can, but it's only fair to warn you that such things would come under close scrutiny. Mr. Cameron's attorneys would delve deep into your life. It's the way this kind of action develops. The other side learns all your secrets." Bookman's voice gentled. "All of them, my dear, I can promise you that. A man like Cole Cameron has the resources to do it."

All her secrets. Faith began to tremble. The truth about Ted, which she had sworn never to reveal. The truth about Peter, which she didn't dare reveal because then she would lose her son...

She rose swiftly to her feet and held out her hand. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Bookman. I'm sorry if I've wasted it." "You're not going to go ahead with this, then?" "I-I can't."

"If you wish, I'll be happy to write that letter for you, free of charge. I doubt it will change Mr. Cameron's mind, but-"

Faith shook her head. "It won't. And-and I have another option."

"What?

She hesitated, knowing how it might sound. "Mr. Cameron has-he's asked me to marry him."

Elmore Bookman started, then began to laugh. "Well, that's the most unusual quid pro quo I've ever heard of. Legal lingo that means `this for that,' Mrs. Cameron. A trade-off, if you will. So, if you marry the gentleman he won't sue for custody?,

"Exactly."

"In that case, what you really need is a prenuptial agreement. You know, a document that will guarantee you certain things if the marriage should fail."

If it should fail, Faith thought, and almost laughed. It was doomed to fail but then, it wouldn't really be a marriage.

"I suspect Mr. Cameron will want you to sign one, also. Men of his wealth generally do and in a case such as this..."

Bookman's words trailed away but Faith knew what he meant. Cole didn't love her, didn't trust her, didn't like her. He'd surely want her to sign a document that would keep her from getting her hands on anything that was his.

"Still," the lawyer continued, "you're entitled to safeguard yourself."

"Ask for money, you mean?" Faith shook her head. "I don't want anything of Cole's. Not one penny."

"Well, then, consider the matter in reverse. Is there anything of yours you'd want to keep from Mr. Cameron? We could draw up a prenup that would protect you."