He laughs and shakes his head, but he knows I’m serious. “We’re trying to keep you out of trouble, remember?” I roll my eyes. “No, I’ll handle it. After Monday everything will be fine.”
Thirty
Liam
If all goes well today, I’m hoping to never have to see Miranda again. Although we will still be tied together for legal reasons, I’d like to eliminate our communication altogether. That’s what lawyers are for and I intend to utilize mine to the fullest.
At promptly eleven on the dot, Miranda struts into my soon-to-be-former office and takes in the barren space. “Redecorating?”
“Something like that.” My lawyer is in a nearby room on standby in case things go south. I want to handle this with her without involving him if possible. I don’t want her to feel bombarded, but I’m sick of playing nice and being scared of her threats.
“You told me you had my money. Where is it?” I don’t know when she became such a bloodthirsty bitch. My relationship with Miranda started when we were young and hopeful. We both had dreams to be successful, but somewhere along the way she lost her fire.
Ironically, things with Flynn are the opposite. She made it perfectly clear to me when I first met her that she was a gold digger with no plans of self-security outside of her trust fund. Now, the tables have turned and she wants to continue bettering herself. She amazes me.
“That was a lie to get you here.”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes turn into narrow slits shooting daggers right at me.
“Miranda, do you hear yourself? Your empty threats and hostile words. I don’t even recognize you.”
“The threats aren’t empty, Liam. I don’t need you to recognize me. I just need your money.”
“Well, you’re not going to get it. As of this moment, I’m unemployed.” I motion to my empty office.
“You’re what?” Her deep tone is calm, which makes it scarier and angrier.
“Here’s the deal. I’m leaving this place and forgoing my license. Since I’m not a therapist anymore, you can’t get me fired for having an alleged relationship with a patient. Since you have no proof of your claims, you won’t have much of a fight. Secondly, I would hate to imagine that you could actually go through with suing me for wrongful death of Emily. However, if you so choose, you’ll be forgoing your alimony payments and they will cease immediately. I will go to court with you and divulge the true reason for our split: unfaithfulness. According to the state of North Carolina, if the court deems marital misconduct, they will typically not award alimony It’s a risk I’m willing to take, should you want to go that route. Lastly, if you look at our original agreement, the court awarded you alimony for two years. Long enough for you to become financially independent.”
“Get to the point.” She grits the words between clenched teeth and I can tell I’m wearing her down. She wasn’t expecting me to fight.
“Here’s what I’m willing to offer. I will continue paying your alimony for the remainder of the term, roughly another eighteen months. That’s it. You can’t get me fired from a job I no longer have and with a person who is not my patient. If you want to take me to court, Miranda, go ahead. Try me. With all the proof and length of your unfaithfulness, I’m sure you’re not going to get anyone on your side. What we had together, I’m not willing to just forget about it. That’s why I’m willing to continue to send you payments. But the blackmail ends here. You’re capable of being self-sufficient. Or you can marry another rich guy. Frankly, I don’t care. It’s your call.”
She storms away in a huff and I have the distinct feeling that’s the last time I’m going to hear from her. God forbid she risk losing in court and get no money out of me.
I have a feeling she’s going to be just fine.
Walking on cloud nine, I unlock the door to my apartment and hear yelling the minute the door is pushed open.
“I knew it!”
“Flynn?” The door to clicks shut behind me and I spot my girl on the couch wearing one of my button-down shirts. She sits up on her knees and leans over the back of the couch when she hears me. I get an eye-full of her cleavage and get distracted for a minute. I enter the living room and her brown eyes are cloudy with concern.
“How’d it go?” She’s eager to hear all about my meeting with Miranda.
“I don’t think she’s going to be a problem anymore.” She leaps off the couch and I catch her. Her legs find a home wrapped around my waist and her lips seek out my neck. “What did you know?”
“What?” Her words vibrate against my throat.
“When I came in you yelled ‘I knew it.’ You knew what?”
“Oh, Olivia is pregnant. Like, three months. She’s lucky she’s so tiny and didn’t show in her dress yet. I figured something was up when she wasn’t drinking at her bachelorette party.”
“That’s exciting.”
Flynn goes back to nibbling on my neck and ear. The girl clearly has a one-track mind.
“Do you want kids?” The words leave my mouth hesitantly, but I still scare her.
“Excuse me?” She jumps away from me as if my words physically burned her.
“Kids. You know, when two people love each other…” She rolls her eyes and I laugh. “Seriously. Do you?” I’m not sure what she’s going to say and I’m nervous. Not only for her answer, but to tell her my own.
“Honestly?” She worries on her lower lip. I nod and I
