CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Lori
After a night of lying awake thinking about Cole and everything my mother said, I decide I need to talk to him. I’m pissed at him for ignoring my request, but I know in my heart, he came to me because he cares. And I don’t want to push him away. I just need to be sure this is real, and I don’t know how to do that, but it’s not without him.
When I arrive at work, I barely sit down at my desk, when Cole buzzes through my intercom. “My office,” he orders, his tone sharp, crisp, professional.
My stomach clenches with nerves I shouldn’t feel with Cole, but I do. I stand, straightening the basic black skirt that I’m wearing with yet another basic black blouse, that all feels more basic today than other days, when suddenly Ashley is in my doorway. “I’m a bitch. I’m such a bitch. I was a wreck last night and I have no excuse for my behavior. It’s not me. I promise. Please forgive me.”
“You’re forgiven,” I say, that embarrassment of last night oddly not here now. “Let’s forget it.”
“You know there is nothing between me and Cole, right?”
“Yes, and can we please not have this conversation here?”
“Right. I’m sorry. Just—based on Cole’s mood—”
“Lori,” Cole says over the intercom. “Are you coming?”
“On my way,” I reply, and Ashley shakes her head. “That mood. He’s never like this.”
“Yes, well,” I say, “we’re making it worse, huddled in here.”
“Right again,” she says, and we both make a path toward Cole’s office.
“Good luck,” Ashley says, before claiming her seat behind her desk while I open Cole’s door and walk inside. He’s standing, every inch of him perfection in a blue three-piece suit. He glances up at me and starts shoving files in his briefcase. “One of the junior partners under Reese fucked up a case to the point of fucked up being fucked up. As in, he left evidence off documents that he knew existed.”
“Isn’t that grounds to be disbarred?” I ask, stopping in front of his desk.
“Yes. Exactly. It’s also a black mark against our firm. Reese is in court today. I have to go to the courthouse to meet with the judge and convince him that me taking over fixes the problem.”
I hurry across the room. “What do you need me to do?”
He hands me a file. “Prepare paperwork for me, have Ashley file it, and text me the minute it’s done.” He hands me another file. “There’s another three things in that file that are self-explanatory I’d planned to do myself.” He grabs his briefcase. “It’s all time sensitive.”
“I’ll handle it.”
He looks at me then, really looks at me, and his eyes are hard. “I know you will. Because I trust you.”
His message is obvious: He doesn’t believe that I trust him. “I trust you, Cole,” I whisper.
“You’ll have a chance to prove that soon, so we’ll see.”
He doesn’t explain himself. He rounds his desk and leaves.
***
Cole
My day spirals into chaos from the moment I walk out the door, and keeps spiraling. It’s three o’clock when I make it back and Lori walks into my office. Ashley follows. “There’s a man on the line that says he has information on that professor you’re representing. Says he’s a reporter speaking off the record.”
I pick up the phone and answer the call. “Cole Brooks.”
“He’s innocent,” the man says.
“Who am I speaking with?”
“I’m not going to give you my name on the phone, but I’ll meet you.”
“What is this about?” I press.
“I got a lead on the real killer,” the man says. “Enough of a lead to give you your reasonable doubt.”
“Why would you help me?” I ask cautiously.
“Because I gave the lead to the police and they haven’t followed up.”
My gut says he’s telling the truth, but I want to look into his eyes and see the evidence. “When and where?” I ask.
He gives me a location, a bar of some sort, and a time. I disconnect and stand up, glancing at my watch. “I have a meeting and now drinks with an informant. Whatever you have to update me on has to wait.” I grab my briefcase and leave. I know it’s cold. I know it leaves Lori wondering what the fuck is on my mind, and well, welcome to my world as it relates to her. I’m giving her what she wants. She was all in, my ass. I’m all in. Or I was.
As for trust, she has none for me. I paid her bill. To her that means I hold something over her. To her that means I can’t be trusted. I saw her apartment. I must want her to live with me because of that. It can’t be because I love her. She doesn’t trust us, even more, she doesn’t trust me.
***
Lori
Cole doesn’t come back to the office. He also doesn’t call me and tell me about the reporter or what is going on with the case. I leave the office alone and I go home to my apartment alone. I tell myself this is what I asked for. I wanted space. I told him so. He’s doing what I asked, for once. Okay, he did what I asked a lot.
I eat a TV dinner and try to work on a paper I have to get written. Alone. This is what I wanted. Only it isn’t. I just wanted Cole to understand the word “no” and yet really, everything he has done for me, has been generous and worthy of the title Prince Charming.
I’ve never been so confused in my life.
I stare at my phone, willing it to ring or buzz. I pick it up a half-dozen times to text him but anything I have to say, can’t be said on text. I consider going to him, but what has changed? How do I know what is real and what is not with Cole?
***
Cole
I lay in the bed alone. I used to enjoy that word. I fucking hate it now. This is what Lori wanted, only she didn’t have the common courtesy not to leave her floral perfume all over my bed. Even my damn pillow smells like her. I sit up and grab my phone from the nightstand to call her, but toss it across the bed. She said she wanted space. I’m overwhelming her. My money fucking overwhelms her. If I overwhelm her, we aren’t on the same page, because I can’t get enough of her. I need to step back. This is going to affect my work and I have people’s futures in my hands. I need to step back, like she has.
I walk down the stairs and sleep on the couch.