“I understand exactly what you mean, but you can see how this wouldn’t look good, right?”

“I didn’t mean for Aunt Linda to see this. I don’t know how she got them.” She looks up at me, panic stricken. “Does this mean she’s going to take me away from you?”

“I’m going to fight to keep you with me, Emme, if that’s where you want to be.”

“I don’t want to live with anyone else.”

Just when things seemed like they were finally going to be okay, the bottom falls out again.

chapter twenty-two

DOWN, DOWN, DOWN

Dax

Less than twenty minutes later, I receive a call from Beverly asking if I’m able to stop by the Whitman office on my way home. She has some paperwork that needs to be signed. Normally Kailyn would be the one to manage that, but maybe she’s still giving me space, or maybe she’s realized I’m nothing but a headache she doesn’t need.

Emme chews her nails until her fingers bleed on the way to the lawyer’s office. This whole situation is a complete nightmare.

Beverly greets us with a friendly smile. “I appreciate you stopping in. Kailyn wants to file this tomorrow morning, so the deadline is a little tight.”

“Is Kailyn here? Can I see her?” Emme asks, looking hopeful.

“I’m sorry, Emme, Kailyn’s not in the office. She has court today,” Beverly says softly.

Which is something I might’ve known if I hadn’t stonewalled her all weekend.

“Oh.” Her face crumples and I fear what will happen if Linda does get custody. I can’t imagine she’d let Emme see Kailyn.

“This won’t take long. You’ll be in and out of the office in just a few minutes,” Beverly assures Emme.

“Okay.” She settles in one of the waiting room chairs, knee bouncing anxiously.

“Is everything okay?” Beverly asks as she guides me to the conference room, the same one I waited in when I first came to see Kailyn after my parents passed. God, how things have changed since then.

“It’s been a rough day.”

“I won’t take much of your time, then. I’m sure you’d like to be home and so would Emme.”

I nod as I take a seat, and Beverly places two sets of documents in front of me. It’s a small amendment to the trust, making it easier to transfer funds. I sign the papers after Beverly reviews the changes.

“How are you handling everything?” Beverly asks as she slips my copy into an envelope.

“It’s been . . . intense to say the least.”

Beverly stands along with me. “I realize now is probably not an ideal time to bring it up, but I’ve mentioned before how much we’d love to have you on board here. We would most certainly be able to accommodate flex hours so you can put in the time necessary to support Emme in this very transitional stage. There’s no pressure, but I hope it’s something you’ll consider.”

“Kailyn has mentioned it recently. It’s definitely something I’m looking at quite seriously.”

She smiles as she walks me to the door. “That’s great to hear. It’ll mean wonderful things for Kailyn, having you on board.”

“I’m sorry, I’m not sure I understand what you mean.” Did she tell her boss about us?

“It’ll help advance her career, and of course yours eventually, so it’s a win for everyone, really. If that’s what you decide. No interview would be necessary and your salary would be competitive. Of course, we can talk about this at a later date, once you’re feeling more settled.”

“Right. Of course.” I don’t hear much after that. I’m too busy mentally filtering through all the conversations Kailyn and I have had about switching firms. My throat tightens with the realization that she’s been pushing for this the entire time.

Has she used me as a power play? It seems likely with how driven she is and how much she seems to want partner. Here I thought she was looking out for me and Emme, but really she was looking out for herself.

I pull at my tie. It feels too tight, like it’s choking out the air in the room.

“Daxton? Are you all right?”

“Fine. Thank you. It’s been a difficult day.” All I can focus on is how the one person I thought was truly on my side has been playing me all along.

I step out into the hall and find Emme in the same place I left her. Beside her is Kailyn, dressed in one of her pencil skirts, legs encased in patterned hose, one red heel hanging off the end of her foot. Their heads are bent close, fingers laced together.

“I need to talk to you.”

They both look up, smiles fading.

“Are you okay?” Kailyn asks.

“I’d like a moment with you in your office. I’m sorry, Emme. I promise I won’t keep you waiting much longer.”

“Did something else happen?” Emme asks, nervous again.

“I’ll be back in a minute.” I motion in the direction of Kailyn’s office.

It’s quiet in the building, well after hours now. Kailyn smooths her hands over her hips and follows me down the hall, quickening her pace to keep up with me. She puts a hand on my arm. “Emme told me what happened, we’ll get it figured out.”

I step away from her touch and wait until she’s inside the office before I close the door and spin to face her. “What kind of game are you playing?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You know what, it doesn’t even matter. You used me and my sister to further your career.”

“What are y—”

I take a step forward, hands clenched, anger and devastation colliding. “Don’t lie to me right now, Kailyn. Don’t do it. I trusted you. I let you into my life, into my sister’s life, and for what? What do you get if you bring me over to your firm?”

“It’s not—”

“What do you get?” I yell.

“Whatever Beverly sa—”

“Save the bullshit,” I snap. “You sure fucked me in lots of ways, didn’t you?”

“It’s not what you think, Dax. I care about you.”

I ignore her imploring tone and push for the facts, because those are what I need right now. “What exactly were you offered to bring me on board here?” It all clicks together. “Partner? Is that it? You get a partnership?”

She sighs and closes her eyes. “Yes, but—”

“Stop. You don’t get to throw a ‘but’ in there. So all the time you’ve been spending with me, with Emme, it’s all been about you making partner.” Jesus. I feel like I’m going to throw up.

“At first I wanted to make sure you weren’t out to get Emme’s money. She was my top priority. I didn’t know you, didn’t know your circumstances or what your motivation was.”

“And after that it stopped being about Emme’s trust being safe and it started being about you making partner. I get it.”

“It’s not that simple, and you know it.”

“Isn’t it? You could’ve told me what was going on. You didn’t need to keep that from me if that’s not what this was about.” I motion between us and then reach for the door. “I hope you’re happy with yourself. You’ve just broken a little girl’s heart and it was already in pieces.”

“Dax, please, you need to hear me out on this.”

“No. I don’t. What I need to do is make sure my bitch aunt doesn’t get custody of my sister. And I need to start by cutting the people out of my life who are going to cause more damage than good.”

chapter twenty-three

BAD JUDGMENT

Kailyn

Sometimes the biggest mistakes are made with the best of intentions. I want to follow Dax but I don’t want to make an already terrible situation worse, and I also don’t want to needlessly upset Emme more than she is.

So I let him leave. Because I have no other choice.

The irony is, I planned to speak with Beverly tomorrow morning about the partnership and that I’d prefer to make it on my own merit, not on my ability to persuade Daxton to come to Whitman. And now I’m too late.

I feel ill as I drop into my chair and splay my hands out on my desk. The high of winning yet another case where the right people are granted custody of a child for the right reasons this afternoon is crushed by the weight of my actions. Dax deserves to have Emme, and I feel like everything I’ve done recently compromises that. Dax needed someone and I came in to play savior, only I made an even bigger mess to clean up.

I take several deep breaths, hoping to calm the swell of emotions as they slam into me. I don’t want to cry, not with Beverly still here. But judging by the pricking behind my eyes, I don’t think I’m winning the battle.

A soft knock has me clearing my throat. I want it to be Dax returning to hear me out, but that’s highly unlikely. “Come in.”

Beverly peeks her head in and purses her lips. I have no idea what my expression is. I feel like I’ve come down with the flu. I’m pretty sure the last meal I had is going to come up before this night is over.

“You don’t look very happy for someone who just won her second pro bono custody case.”

“I am.” I give her a weak smile. “I just have other things on my mind.”