I didn’t mind. “I’ll text you.” I smiled at him. “Any time you need anything, let me know, neighbor.” He gave me more warm fuzzies than a typical neighbor should. I sent the text off to him immediately.
He left, and I, of course, immediately called Todd to relay the hilarity of my morning. He enjoyed listening to Satan’s antics and laughed along with me at Arch’s embarrassment at his power outage dilemma.
“He should’ve knocked on the door when he realized his power was out. It might’ve woken you up before Satan did so you wouldn’t have had to call the cops!” I laughed along with him because he was right.
I spent the rest of the day with Todd and Rick. We planned a nice dinner at their place, but I didn’t want to leave Satan alone all evening. They came to my place instead. Unfortunately, my cupboards were bare. They brought all the food with them.
Sunday, I shopped. I stopped at the bulk warehouse store, the grocery store, the market, the pet store, and the drug store. By the time I made it home, it took four trips all the way upstairs to haul in my shopping.
After all the shopping, I rested. Reading time had been scarce the past several weeks. I curled up in my comfy window chair and lost myself in an epic fantasy novel. I jerked out of my fantasy world by the pinging of my phone.
Wes again. He sent me another picture of his Lemmy. After the picture, he asked when he could see me. I replied with a picture of Satan with a particularly evil expression and said, “I’ll be in your office next week, then the holiday. Let’s make plans later. I definitely want another date.”
We texted back and forth for a few minutes about trivial things before promising we’d make plans the next week.
On Monday, I got a surprise text from Gray.
Unknown Number: Ellie?
Ellie: Maybe. Who’s this?
Unknown Number: It’s Gray.
Ellie: Well, hey! What’s up? (and how’d you get my number?)
Gray: I snuck on Arch’s phone while he was showering.
Ellie: So what’s up?
Gray: I’ve had you on my mind since the party. Would you like to go listen to some music sometime?
Ellie: I’d love to! I’ll see you this week; I have an appointment at your office, Wednesday.
Gray: Awesome. Talk to you soon. :)
Wednesday couldn’t come fast enough. Excited to meet Wes again, I was also becoming intrigued by Gray. Arch, sneaky Arch, kept finding reasons to be in the hall or knock on my door—cup of sugar, cup of coffee. I knew he was making excuses to run into me when he knocked to ask if I knew the answer to his crossword puzzle clue.
“You could’ve texted me, Arch,” I teased. I wasn’t angry with him; it was kind of cute.
“I know, but then I wouldn’t have gotten to pet Satan.” As soon as Arch sat down on the couch, Satan jumped into his lap.
“You only like me for my cat, don’t you?” I laughed at Satan’s contented purr. He certainly liked Arch and Wes. I couldn’t wait to introduce him to Gray.
“You figured me out. I’m head over heels in love with your pretty kitty.”
The innuendo struck me, and I tried not to die laughing. At first, I was embarrassed and didn’t want him to know my mind could be that dirty. But when his eyes widened and he realized what he said, I couldn’t help myself.
“Oh, my god, you walked into that!” I chortled as his face burned brightly.
Finally, Tuesday night arrived, and I lay in bed, too wired to go to sleep. I called Todd. “Hey, best friend.”
“Hey, Ells. What’s up?” he sounded bored.
“Wanna go with me to pay the retainer tomorrow and meet these guys for yourself?”
He sucked in a breath. “On one condition. You let me dress you first. And do your makeup.” His voice turned triumphant, boredom gone.
I rolled my head back. “Urrrgh. Fine. You win. I’ll let you make me pretty. The appointment is at eight.”
“You’re always pretty, darling. I’ll make you gorgeous.” He never failed to remind me I was beautiful.
It took me another hour after I said goodbye to Todd to fall asleep. I couldn’t wait to encounter the intriguing men again.
I kicked at the tickling on my feet. Why were my feet tickly? I didn’t want to open my eyes to see since I’d only closed them a few seconds before. There it was again, a tickle. I groaned my protest over being woken up. I didn’t even care if it was a robber, as long as they let me sleep. Another tickle on my feet. “Stooooop it!!”
“Not today, sleeping beauty. Up and at ’em. You said I could do what I wanted to you this morning, and here I am.”
“Todd Pate! What time is it? I need beauty sleep. And I didn’t say you could do whatever you wanted. I said makeup.”
“And hair.”
“Fine.” I pulled the comforter over my head, which Todd, in turn, jerked completely off me. Satan ran growling out of the room. He didn’t like being woken up either.
“Up!” Todd’s voice grated that early in the morning.
I squinted one sleep-crusted eye at him. “What time is it?”
“Six. Here.” Several cosmetic bottles fell onto the bed beside me. “Get in the shower.”
He started out of my bedroom. “I’ll make you breakfast. Oh! And shave your legs.” After a wink over his shoulder, he sashayed out of the room. At least he dressed snazzy for the day, dapper in a dress shirt and slacks.
Thirty minutes later I was hairless in all the necessary places, polished, and moisturized. My bathroom saw me primp more in those thirty minutes than it had in the past six months, and we were only getting started. I trudged out of my bedroom wearing my old pink robe and slippers, hair in a towel.
Todd set a plate of eggs, bacon, and pineapple onto the table. While I stuffed my face, he removed my towel and squirted delicious smelling goo onto his hands and ran it through my thick hair. “Wha’s ’at do?” I asked through my bacon.
“Volumizing. We’re giving your hair more oomph.” He pulled out a hair dryer and round brush and began pulling my hair up and out. “Please let me put highlights in your hair.” Insisting I was his personal dress-up doll, he’d been trying to get his hands on my hair since my mom died. Before she died, we were too young to be allowed, and he’d been waiting on the day she gave permission. Once she was gone, I lost interest.
“No.” I sipped my coffee. He’d made it perfectly, with hazelnut creamer.
“One day you’ll change your mind, and when you realize what a few highlights can do, you’ll be blown away. I promise.”
“Whatever you say.” I winked at him as he dried the sides of my hair.
I sat patiently, food gone, waiting for him to be satisfied with his work. When the moment came, he instructed me to stand in the middle of the room while he hair sprayed me into oblivion.
We made our way into my bathroom, to the plethora of makeup he’d purchased for me, most of which I’d never even opened. I was shocked at my reflection in the mirror. My hair appeared normal but better. Still long and straight, nothing special, except a little bigger, a little fuller, with a hint of a curl at the ends. It made a drastic difference without being obvious. I knew I’d never take the time to fix it every day though.
I sat on the toilet, face turned up, while Todd worked his magic. I tried to talk to him through clenched teeth so I wouldn’t damage any of his work. “So, are you excited to see these guys?”
“I can’t wait to get going. Why do you think I woke you up so damn early? You know I’m not a morning person!”
He’d been a notoriously late sleeper all his life. “I wondered what you were thinking.”
“And then we’re shopping.”
“Tooodddddd!” I whined through a barely-open mouth.
“For me, not you! Rick’s taking me to a fancy art show downtown this weekend. It’s supposed to be romantic. I want to get some new clothes to surprise him.”
“Okay. I won’t complain, then.” He used a brush to blend creamy foundation
into my skin.
My mind strayed to my lawsuit as he blended. “Damn. I’ll have to wear this mess every day if I head the company, won’t I? It’s the professional thing to do.”
“I’m afraid so, dear.”
“You’ll have to teach me how to come up with a quick beauty routine. I’m not going full blown like this every single day.” I didn’t mind being professional and put together, but I was far too lazy to primp for hours a day.
“With your skin, you can get away with much less. It’s like you don’t even own pores.” I furrowed my brow at the jealousy on his face.
“Okay. I can deal with that. And the hair?”
“Most days you can run some product through it, throw your head upside down, and blow dry.” He fluffed my hair out
“Okay. I guess I’ll do that. If it helps me with this company to have a more professional appearance, then I will, even though its complete bull I’m not being judged solely on my brain and work ethic.” Women should be able to go to work without makeup and elaborate hairdos, like men did.
“Just wait. Fashion can be fun, you’ll see.” His voice raised in pitch with his excitement. He’d been trying to get me to act like a girl since my mom died.
He finished, and the final product looked like I didn’t spend an hour getting ready but just rolled out of bed. My face was natural, but brighter and prettier. I hated how much I liked it.
“Ack. Let me throw some clothes on, and we can go.” Todd let out a sharp laugh.
“Throw on some clothes? HA! Whatever. Go sit. I’ll bring your clothes to you.” I sat. A few minutes later, he exited the closet holding a pair of skinny jeans I’d never even tried on, and a red one shoulder draped shirt.
“You’ve got to give me something that’s the normal me, or they’re going to know I’m trying too hard.” I didn’t want him to completely change me for one meeting.
“It never hurts to dress our best. And okay. I’ll let you wear a looser cut of jeans.”
“The straight leg, Todd. I mean it.” He’d push me to wear what he wanted me to if I let him.
“Only if it’s a new pair. You’ve worn the same three pair for ages.” He crossed his arms and settled in to out-stubborn me.
My freshly plucked brow furrowed. “Agreed.”
An hour and a half after Todd tickled me awake, I left in wedge heels that had never been on my feet, jeans and a shirt that had never been on my body, makeup that had never seen the light of day, and hair that had never bounced more happily. I hated to admit, but it was nice to know I looked my best, even if I hated the principle behind it.
We took Todd’s little red sports car the five blocks to the high rise housing Beaumont, Morales, and Lawson. The underground parking garage led up into an atrium filled with plush couches and green plants. Todd noticed a gold plated tenant list and guided me over. The law firm was on the fourteenth floor.
My stomach clenched as we entered the crowded elevator. I grabbed Todd’s hand, irritated at myself. Those three men were already under my skin. He gave me a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t be nervous. I’ve got you,” he whispered.
I took a deep breath. In through my nose and out through my mouth. Chill. They’re your friends. Nothing more and nothing less… Maybe something more. I needed to stop being nervous about the guys and focus on the severity of my errand to their office. It was time to win my case.
Todd stopped me outside the firm. He pulled a tube of clear gloss out of his pocket and dabbed a little on my lips. “You ready?”
“They’re just lawyers.” I rolled my eyes in mock irritation. “Let’s get this over with. I’ll meet the new people, write them a check, sign on the dotted line, and go.”
Todd nodded the affirmative and opened the door. I swept into the room with my head held high. A platinum blond receptionist sat at an expensive oak desk. “Good morning!” she said, voice chirpy.
“Good morning,” I replied formally. “I have an eight o’clock appointment with Arch.”
“One moment, please.” Blondie picked up her phone. “Mr. Beaumont, there’s a woman here to see you. No sir, one moment.” She turned her gaze to me. “Your name?”
“Ms. Asche.”
Blondie relayed the information then turned to us. “Please, follow me.” She led us through a small labyrinth of cubicles until we entered a quiet inner office. Another receptionist sat at a grandiose desk.
This receptionist could be my grandmother, and with one smile, she gave the impression of trustworthiness. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Asche. Mr. Kohl briefed me on your case this morning, and of course, I met—”
Arch stepped out of his office then. “Hey, guys! Come on in! Ellie, you look well.” He noticed the changes. Crap, it wasn’t subtle enough. I sent Todd a death glare over my shoulder.
We followed Arch into his office. He pointed to a posh seating area in one corner. “I am well, thanks.” I started to sit beside Todd on a leather couch, Arch’s fancy diploma hanging on the wall, framed with a picture, distracted me.
I walked over to get a better view. A younger Arch stood with two men and a woman in the picture. “Your family?” He nodded. I read his diploma, caught up by his name, printed in script. “Archibald Duke Beaumont?” I pointed at his name. “Is this for real?”
Arch sighed. “Yes,” he said with an embarrassed voice. “Can we get down to business?” I laughed and agreed so he’d continue. “I’ve got the contract here. As discussed, our partners, Adrian Kohl and Marcus Stedmon will take your case. They should be here any moment. We’ve delegated their other cases to junior partners in the firm.”
“I don’t mean to impose. Is my case going to be difficult?”
“Not difficult, necessarily, but there will be leg work involved. And we don’t take on a lot of cases over the holidays if we can help it. This works out nicely for everyone. We’re happy to accept your case.”
He pulled a stack of paperwork out of the file. “This is a standard contract. It covers their time, fees, and work they’ll do for you. I encourage you to take it home, read it in full.” He slid the small pile of papers into the folder. “Maybe have Charles take a gander at it. When you’re satisfied, sign it and include the first retainer.”
He showed us all of his teeth in a winning smile, and Todd took in a small breath. “Dear lord,” he whispered, barely audible.
“What was that?” Arch asked.
“Nothing, clearing my throat,” Todd replied. As a giggle escaped me, the door opened, and Gray and Wes walked in.
“Sweet mother of all, it’s a trifecta of...I don’t even have a word for it.” I didn’t think Todd meant for me to hear him, but that didn’t stop my giggling. It was the first time he’d seen Wes and Gray, though he’d heard plenty from me.
“Hi, guys!” I said after I took a moment to mask the laughter in my voice.
“Hey, Ellie,” said Wes. He wore a dark blue polo. His biceps strained the material of the sleeves.
“What’s so funny?” asked Gray. He also wore a polo, burnt orange. His biceps weren’t stressing his shirt quite as much as Wes’s, but plenty distracted the eye. His loose hair cascaded down his back.
“Todd made a, uh, funny noise. Inside joke,” I replied lamely. “Arch has been explaining everything to me. I appreciate you guys taking me on.”
“Hey, it’s no problem,” replied Wes.
“Ellie, forgive the personal question, but how are you set on money? They will, of course, need access to all of your accounting records, but is there an immediate need for them to unfreeze any assets?” asked Gray.
“You’re sweet for asking, but I was given my trust fund when I turned eighteen. I don’t think I could spend all of the money my father gave me if I tried. A large portion of it is tied up in investments, of course, but I’m fine. I don’t need the income from the company, and that’s not why I’m doing this.” I didn’t care about the money from the company. I cared about the legacy.
We stood to
leave. “Wes, Gray, this is my best friend Todd. Todd, meet Wes and Gray.” Todd gave the guys a bit of a sizing-up glance, then strode forward to shake their hands.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Todd said in a deep voice. “I’m sure we will see more of each other soon.”
Wes grinned at me over Todd’s head. “Any friend of Ellie’s, and all that.”
We followed Wes and Gray out and they took off for destinations unknown. Before I shut the door to his office, Arch stopped me. “Wait, Ellie.”
I turned. “Yes, Arch?”
“Could we have dinner sometime?” He rubbed his neck and glanced down, like a teenager asking a girl out for the first time. My eyebrows flew up. “I mean, it can be as friends!” He blurted out, amending his original sentence.
“Yeah, sure. We could hang out sometime. Just call or text me. You’ve got my number.” I turned and walked out of the office before I could melt into a puddle on the swanky office floor.
The kindly receptionist led Todd and me to a conference room to meet the other partners. Mr. Stedmon and Mr. Kohl were older, jovial men, perhaps in their mid-fifties. They showed signs of middle-of-life spread but seemed happy for it. Our meeting was a positive one. I gave them every detail about my stepmother I could think of, with several interjections from Todd.
“Miss Ellie, don’t worry. We’re good at what we do. I’m convinced it won’t take much to show a judge you deserve to follow in your father’s footsteps, according to his wishes.”
“Thank you. You eased my mind tremendously. Please, contact me anytime if I can help with the case.” They assured me since the next meeting was a further informal hearing with the judge I wouldn’t be bothered much by them; it would be all on their plates.
It wouldn’t be until we went to trial that I’d begin to spend a lot of time being prepped and coached to be effective in front of the jury. I shook both of their hands, and we made our exit.
Once outside their office, I grabbed Todd’s arm. “Let’s go. Now. I’ve been dying to tell you what happened.” I hadn’t had a chance to tell him Arch asked me out.
Falling For Them Volume 2: Reverse Harem Collection Page 39
