One Weekend with the Billionaire novel Chapter 62

"Kyle Warren?" I repeat, not that I’m not sure that I heard Jeff Thompson correctly, but I need a moment to consider what this means.

"That’s right," Thompson says, his head held high, his chin in the air. "The Kyle Warren--famous attorney who is known for being ruthless and rarely, if ever, losing a case. He’s agreed to take me on as a client."

I know Kyle Warren all too well. I don’t have a problem saying, "Oh, he’s lost a case or two." I know that he has because it is my head lawyer, Shawna Steel, that has defeated Kyle Warren in the courtroom twice on my behalf. It’s one of the reasons that Kyle Warren hates me, and I’m assuming, it’s why he’s agreed to take on Jeff Thompson’s case against me. I’m guessing Warren will even go so far as to wave his fees, at least unless he wins.

Thompson makes a cocky noise in the back of his throat. "Not often," he says of Warren’s record. "Anyway, he thinks I have a solid case against you. Enough to take everything from you. Then, you’ll find out what it is that my wife is really about." He shakes his head slightly. "You think she has feelings for you, don’t you?" he snarls. "She doesn’t. You may think that you know Julia, but you don’t. She is only after you for your money."

He is doing his best to try and intimidate me, or at the very least to make me feel bad or question what I have with Julia. It’s not working. I know better. I know that Julia isn’t just after me for my money. Even if it was possible for Thompson to take all of my money and leave me penniless and on the street, which I don’t think it is, Julia would still love me and want to be with me.

I consider the situation for a few moments and then ask Thompson, "What exactly is it that you are suing me for, Thompson? You can’t sue someone for taking your wife."

"No, but you can sue them for breach of contract. You and I had a contract that was to only last for the weekend. You’re trying to make it longer."

It is my turn to smirk at him. "Do you think my lawyers didn’t cover all of that when they drew up the document? All it says is that I have to return Julia to you after the weekend. It doesn’t say she has to stay. In fact, it says it is completely up to her whether or not the contract is extended." When I had Shawna Steel draw up the document, I had her write it as if Julia would decide to leave Jeff for me since that was my ultimate goal. Whatever Thompson’s angle was, whatever it was he planned on trying to get Warren to argue, I was certain I’d covered all of it. My people were not stupid.

"Perhaps. But that doesn’t mean there’s no room in your contract for me to be compensated. Maybe you don’t know what a wife is worth, Mr. Merriweather, but I do. Especially one like Julia. You’ll pay through the nose for a wife like her."

I glare at him. "Is it money you want, Thompson?" I ask him. "Is that what you’re looking for?"

Jeff Thompson begins to laugh. It is a low rumble that starts in the back of his throat and grows louder and deeper with every passing second until the urge to hit him in the face has me balling up my hands.

He must see it, see the way my muscles are flexing and barely releasing, a pulse in my fingers. "I just wanted to warn you, sir." He says sir like it is an expletive. "I’ll go ahead and get to my office now. I wouldn’t want to disappoint the boss." He moves toward the door, his stride showing he feels vindicated, and I realize he intends to continue to work here.

"Son of a bitch," I mumble beneath my breath as Thompson exits the office. I could fire him. I have plenty of reasons to do so that are not included in the contract I made him sign, but I won’t. It’s better he is here, as much as I hate seeing his face. At least, while Jeff Thompson is here, working for me, I can keep tabs on him and know exactly what he is doing.

The door opens again and Cindy walks in, an anxious look on her face. I know she is concerned about me. "Are you all right, sir?" she asks me. "Can I get you anything?"

"I’m fine," I tell her, finding a smile even though I don’t feel it. I know I will need to speak to Shawna Steel soon, but I can’t think of it right now. Right now, I need to throw myself into my work and forget about Jeff Thompson for a while, if that’s possible. He doesn’t deserve a single more moment of my time.