“Actually, it was nice. Andrew wished me a merry Christmas.”
Before Rennie could respond, Andrew and his lawyer, Thomas Krouse, entered. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.” Rennie hated that term because these two were nothing close to gentlemen. They sat down across from Rennie and her client, and Ester sat at the end of the table with her pen poised and the tape recorder ready.
“Are you ready to start?” Rennie asked. She opened her binder and waited.
“Our settlement option remains the same,” Krouse said.
“Which is fine.” Rennie pulled a sheet of paper out of her folder and slid it across the table to Andrew. “Mr. Soto, can you please tell me what this is?”
Before Andrew could read it, his attorney took the document from his hand. His eyes went wide, and he leaned in to confer with his client. Kelly looked at Rennie with confusion written all over her face. Rennie waved her hand a little and hoped Kelly understood that what was happening before them needed to play out.
Thomas Krouse cleared his throat. “My client is willing to negotiate a twenty-five percent stake of Ms. Soto’s current and future royalties. Same conditions as before—gross wages, of course.”
“Of course, Mr. Krouse. But I would like for you to turn to page three of our already agreed-to stipulations and look at item five. I’ll read aloud for your benefit. ‘If at any time Mr. Soto, during the five years this stipulation is in effect, is to marry or father a child, he will forfeit his right to royalties.’ Your words, Mr. Krouse.”
“You got someone pregnant?” Kelly blurted out. She reached forward and took the paper from the lawyer’s hand and read the results of an amniocentesis done on Andrew’s behalf. “Wow, Andrew. Doesn’t she live in the apartment next to you?”
The next stack of papers Rennie pushed across the table was the original divorce settlement assuring that Kelly retained 100 percent of her company and royalties. “Let’s go ahead and sign these so my client can move on with her life, and yours can build a crib.”
“I still want money,” Andrew yelled. “I’m entitled.”
Rennie wanted to laugh, but she kept things professional. “I’m sorry, Andrew. You already agreed to the stipulation, and we’re not willing to change it. You can sign the papers, or we can go to court.”
Thomas leaned over again and whispered in his client’s ear. Andrew grabbed the pen hastily and signed where he needed to sign. Once he signed, he abruptly left the room.
“I’ll have your copy sent over later today after we file,” Ester said as she gathered the documents.
“That was shady, Renee. Even for you,” Thomas said as he packed his briefcase.
“I’m not the one who asked for the clause. That’s all on your client.”
As soon as Thomas left, Kelly tackled Rennie in a fierce hug. “How did you find this out?”
“I didn’t. As part of the divorce proceedings, we requested medical records. I had to see if he was ill or needed treatment for anything that you’d normally provide for. Because of this, when he had the test done, everything was sent to us.”
“Freaking brilliant. I’m going to use this in a book someday. How am I ever going to thank you?”
Rennie didn’t have an answer. “Keep in touch, Kelly. I’m interested in your career.”
“I will. Thank you, Ms. Wallace.”
“Congratulations. You’ll be a free woman soon. Now, go sign that contract.”
Rennie bid her client farewell, dropped her files off on her desk, and decided she needed some fresh air. She grabbed her purse, made sure she had her phone, and checked messages on her ride down to the lobby. She was in the midst of texting Graham, telling him about Jefferson taking over his case, when she heard her name. She stopped and looked around and saw a woman approaching her.
“Are you Renee Wallace?”
Rennie froze. She’d seen one too many movies where someone answered yes, and they ended up with a shotgun hole in their chest. She remained quiet, her mouth and brain unable to work properly.
“I’m Angela Wright. Do you have a place where we can talk?”
“I have nothing to say to you.” Rennie sidestepped, but the woman grabbed her arm.
“Please.”
Rennie could see the desperation in her eyes. They were crystal blue but lacked life. She gave the woman in front of her a good hard look. Her hair was limp, and her clothes looked frumpy. Theo had done this to her, his wife. Reluctantly, she nodded and told Angela to follow her. Rennie led them to a restaurant attached to her building. It was late enough that they missed the lunch rush and were able to get a booth in the back, which gave them some privacy.
“Did you bring my husband here?”
With that question, Rennie reached for the strap on her purse and started to leave, but once again, Angela held on to her arm. “I’m sorry. That was rude. I’m just . . . I’m lost, and everything hurts.”