Hard Hit (IceCats 3)
Fuck, that sucks. Kirby is going to be pissed. “Have you tried asking if she’ll just give up custody?”
“Yeah, I even sent the papers over, but she said she will sign when she gets a chance.”
I shake my head. “Well, isn’t she a piece of work.”
“That’s the nice way of putting it. I know we can win, but I have a feeling this might be drawn-out.”
I look over at her after putting my files and laptop in my work bag. “Are you preserving all the communication between you and her lawyer?”
Willa nods, and I can tell by the look on her face she is over this case. Some cases just take the joy out of you. Especially custody battles with a deadbeat parent. “I am.”
“Bring them and show them to the judge at the next court date. Present everything he has and motion for custody right there.”
“I am worried since she’s the mom, they’ll push for her to be present.”
“But if she won’t show up, what can be done?”
“I’ll try, but usually with mothers, it’s different.”
I shrug. “Yeah, because you don’t have mothers like this chick, who just abandon their child. With drug abuse, they want the parent to get help. But when it’s straight-up abandonment or neglect, a judge can’t turn their back on that. Especially with such a great father who just wants to protect his daughter.”
“Mr. Litman is a great dad, isn’t he?” she asks, and I can’t contain the grin that covers my lips.
“He is. A very good man.”
Silence fills my office, and I try so hard not to look at her, but I do, and I instantly regret it. Willa’s eyes are suspicious and intrusive as she says, “I saw you two kiss the other day.”
I look away, feeling not the least bit guilty but caught red-handed. I forgot that she could have seen that. I was hoping she had been in court or something. I direct my gaze to hers. “Okay?”
“Okay,” she repeats, her eyes hooded in a very judgmental way. “I have to say, I think that’s a very bad idea.”
I raise a brow. “That can be your opinion, but honestly, it’s none of your business.”
“You do realize he is in the middle of a custody battle and doesn’t need any distractions.”
“I am well aware of his situation, and he is too. What we are doing is our business.”
“I feel as though you are compromising my case.”
What the hell is she talking about? I look at her in complete confusion.
“And I take offense since you’re supposed to be not only my colleague, but my friend.”
“That’s not the situation at all. What I do outside of this office is my business.”
“True, when it’s not my client,” she insists. “He doesn’t need to be distracted. And then I’m worried he’s using you—”
I scoff at her claim, which makes her glare. “He is not using me.”
“He wants to keep his child, and it looks better if there is a female presence.”
“He doesn’t need anyone or anything to prove he is a wonderful dad. He is dating me because he wants to be with me.”
She shakes her head slowly. “So, you are dating?”
“Again, I feel like a broken record here, but it’s none of your business.”
“I feel like I need to go to Feliciana about this.”
I scrunch up my face. “You’re going to our boss because I am dating your client?”
“Yes. It’s against policy.”
“No. It’s against policy to date a client you are representing. I don’t represent him—you do.”
“But you counsel me, and I don’t need anything jeopardizing my case.”
Now, I’m getting pissed. “I counsel you because you are my friend. And may I remind you, you wouldn’t have him as a client if it weren’t for me. I knew him before this case, but if you feel you need to take this to Feliciana, please, be my guest. I’m doing nothing wrong, and I refuse to be accused of doing so when I’m not.”
“I shouldn’t be having this conversation with you at all. But it’s not only all the points I’ve already brought up. It also has to do with your race.”
What the hell? I’m so taken aback, my voice is squeaky. “My race?”
“Yes. Please hear me out,” she says, clasping her hands. “You are a black woman. He is a white man with a white child. What—”
“Let me stop you right there,” I announce, holding up my palm. “You will not bring that racist bullshit into my office.”
“I’m not being—”
“Then why are you bringing my race and his into this? It doesn’t matter what color either of us is. We are all the same, and you making that kind of comment is one of the biggest issues in this world.”
Her eyes are dark, anger swirling in them. “You won’t even let me finish my point.”
“Because I don’t want to hear it. It’s bullshit.”