Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
So I worked. I researched and observed Timothy and Tricia deposing experts and witnesses. The trial came and went. I felt history being made and witnessed justice at its finest. A win for our clients. A win for us. A win for the environment.
Life should have been good, but it wasn’t.
I broke up with my boyfriend. It didn’t feel right after what happened with Wylder.
I joined a gym since my escapes to the beach were rare occasions instead of my usual form of exercise.
I went out with people from work to make friends, celebrate wins, and not think about him.
Yet, nothing worked. I thought about Wylder all the time.
“Haven’t seen Floyd Wright around here lately,” I said, casually sipping my tea in the break room while making small talk with Timothy as he waited for the espresso machine to disperse another dose of caffeine. It had been nearly four months since I’d seen Floyd or Wylder.
My dad said to move on. So … I tried to move on.
“I referred him to another firm.”
“Oh?” My head jerked back a bit.
“We were up to our ears in the Solis case, and it deserved this firm’s full attention. And Floyd’s issues require someone with honed skills in international law. I dabble, but it’s not my area of expertise. Wealthy men like Floyd should and usually do have a whole team of lawyers to meet specific needs. I was a little surprised he didn’t already have someone else.” Tim shrugged, lifting his cup to his mouth.
“That …”
Is crushing. Heartbreaking.
How was I supposed to ever see Wylder again? I had no contact information for him, not even his new last name. Maybe it was a sign. Time to let go again. Not just again … forever.
I cleared my throat. “That makes total sense. It is surprising a man like him wouldn’t already have someone who specialized in international law.”
Tim nodded and smiled before slipping around the corner toward his office.
“You look like you’ve lost weight,” Meghan, Tricia’s secretary, eyed me as she walked toward the fridge.
I shrugged. “What can I say? They’ve been riding me hard. I’ve had very little sleep.”
“Hope you’re going home for Thanksgiving so your family can put some meat back on those bones.”
On a chuckle, I shook my head. “We’re a pretty athletic family. My workouts are intensive. It’s hard to keep weight on that’s not muscle.”
“Now you’re just bragging.” She rolled her eyes at me, just before I winked and headed to my office.
“Call on line two, Livy.” Dani smiled at me as I walked by her desk. “An Aunt Jessica.”
I slid my cell phone out of my pocket, looking for a missed call. There wasn’t one. Sitting at my desk, I picked up the receiver. “Jess?”
“Hi, Livy.”
“Why are you calling my work number? Is my phone not working?”
“Your dad monitors your cell phone.”
“He does what?”
“It’s not important. We need to—”
“No. I’m pretty sure my dad violating my privacy is very important and illegal.”
“Your dad has made a living doing illegal stuff. That’s not why I called. I need you to listen. He’ll be out of the shower soon.”
“Where are you at?”
“His place. We sparred and now we’re going out for dinner since Luke is out of town for a conference. Just. Listen!”
I narrowed my eyes. “Okay. I’m listening.”
“I was using your dad’s computer to check on something at work, and he had a notification pop up. A notification about you. I managed to erase it to buy you some time, but he’ll eventually come across the information.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He gets notifications about your medical records and the—”
“He’s hacked into my medical records?” My face soured as anger climbed up my neck. He knew no boundaries.
“Livy! I don’t have much time. I heard the shower go off. You’re pregnant. Please tell me it’s Darren’s baby.”
I said nothing because I knew I didn’t hear her correctly.
“Livy?”
“I … I’m not pregnant.”
“The blood test you had two days ago says otherwise.”
“Then it’s the wrong person’s records. I’m on the pill. I haven’t had sex in four months.”
“Have you had your period in the past four months?”
“Of course.”
Wait …
I had no fucking clue. I didn’t have regular periods. And when I started training so intensely with Jessica and my dad after the Abe incident, I would often skip periods, sometimes several months.
“You’re sure?”
“Pretty sure.”
“You don’t keep track?”
I rubbed my temples. “No … I … they’re irregular and all over the place. But I promise you, I’m not pregnant. I broke up with Darren. I haven’t seen him since I moved here.”
“To be clear, because I’m going to have to hang up in less than a minute, you haven’t had unprotected sex since you moved to Sacramento. Correct?”
“I’m. On. The. Pill.”
“Condom, Livy! Did you have sex without a condom?”
I swallowed hard. “Yes.”
The line went dead, and I assumed my dad had emerged from the bathroom and she had to disconnect the call. It was a routine physical. I had no complaints. They were going to run an STD test after I confessed I’d had sex without a condom with someone who wasn’t my partner. The doctor said a pregnancy test would be a good idea, but I’m pretty sure I declined it.