CHAPTER 3
It takes me a tad under two seconds to realize that I don’t like the soon-to-be Mrs. Fletcher McClain. I will never understand how the greatest guys end up with the bitchiest women.
After grudgingly shaking my hand, Mia sits down in the chair next to Fletcher and starts calling the shots.
“I’m sure Fletcher told you I’m a corporate attorney,” Mia says. “I plan on being very involved in the case. How soon can we see a draft of the complaint?”
Mia does not give me time to answer her first question before firing off another one.
“And what kind of experience do you have litigating defamation cases?”
I wait for Fletcher to shut her down, but to my surprise, the big music mogul doesn’t open his mouth.
“As I was just telling Fletcher,” I begin, “since he’s my client, it’s best that I deal only with him. If you—”
“Fletcher doesn’t have a problem with my being involved.” She reaches over and pats his thigh. “I have a stake in this too.”
“Well, I’ll make sure you’re involved when it’s appropriate to do so.”
Mia’s head tilts sideways at the same time her lips flat-line. “You don’t seem to understand. I’m here to help. You’ll need all the firepower you can get against Bliss. She’s a very vicious woman.”
And apparently so are you.
I clear my throat. “Let me discuss this with my client and—”
“We’re both you’re clients. I’m about to be his wife.”
Fletcher finally finds his voice. “C’mon, babe.” He takes Mia’s hand. “We have to let Vernetta handle this her way. If she needs your help, she’ll ask.”
I don’t like this little farce, but I continue to play along. For now.
“I’d like to refer you to a friend who has extensive experience defending high-profile child support cases.”
I hit a few keys on my computer, searching for the attorney’s name. “You’ll need to understand your rights and obligations if it turns out the child is yours.”
Mia’s eyes bug out like a startled cartoon character.
“Excuse me? If? There’s no way Fletcher is the father of Bliss’ bastard baby. She’s just trying to wreck my life. If you don’t believe in this case, maybe you aren’t the right lawyer for us.”
I wait for Fletcher to calm her down, but once again, he remains mute.
Who is this man?
“Maybe you and Fletcher should discuss what you’d like to do and get back to me.”
Fletcher pulls Mia close. “Honey, we’ve already discussed this. I want Vernetta to handle this for us. She’s a brilliant lawyer and, on top of that, I trust her. She’s just doing her job. Covering all the bases.”
Mia starts to tear up. “Nobody understands what I’m going through. Bliss has to pay for this. You don’t know how manipulative she is. This isn’t the first time she’s pulled something like this.”
“Really? It could be helpful to the defamation case if she set up another guy.” I smile over at Fletcher. I hope he appreciates the way I’m playing my role.
“This is her M-O.” Mia pats away her tears with two manicured fingers. “She has a six-year-old son she’s getting child support payments for. Ten thousand dollars a month. She also has a three-year-old son. No telling how much money she’s getting for him.”
I’m baffled that the prissy Mia would even have a friend like Bliss.
“How did you two become friends?” I ask.
She clasps her hands and sets them in her lap. “We were never close. We just started hanging out after yoga class. I still can’t believe she’s doing this.”
Fletcher kisses Mia on the cheek. “We’re going to work this all out and our wedding is going to be fabulous.”
“We’re getting married in the South of France,” Mia brags. “In the same village where Brad and Angelina tied the knot.”
Good for you.
They both get to their feet.
“Fletcher,” I say, “I need a quick second with you. Alone.”
Mia opens her mouth to object, but Fletcher leads her to the door. “We’ll only be a minute.”
Once she’s gone, I stand so that I can look Fletcher in the eyes.
“I just want to be sure you’re being honest with me. Is there any way that kid could be yours?”
He responds with a bad imitation of Bill Clinton. “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”
I don’t crack a smile. “Please answer my question.”
“I’ve been one hundred percent straight with you, counselor. Bliss Fenton is simply out for revenge.”
I stare at him long and hard. “Can I ask you one more thing?”
“Shoot.”
“What in the hell do you see in her? She’s cute and all, but she’s a bit high strung.”
Fletcher chuckled. “Mia came off a little hard just now, but she really has a heart of gold. You’ll see that once you get to know her. Maybe you and your husband can join us for dinner sometime. As a matter of fact, I’m having a shindig at the house Thursday night. You should come.”
He gives me a hug that lasts way too long and feels way too good.
“I hope your husband is as good to you as I would’ve been.”
“He is.”
“Sorry to hear that.” There’s a long awkward patch of silence. “You ever wonder what it would’ve been like if we’d made it?”
I smile but don’t otherwise respond to his question.
“Thanks for taking my case.”
“You’re welcome.”
Just before he grabs the doorknob, I stop him.
“I have some free legal advice for you.”
“Shoot.”
“Get a pre-nup.”
He winks. “It’s already drafted.”
“That’s good to hear. Just make sure you get it signed.”