Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Opening my laptop, I glanced over to Russell. “Did you try to speak with me before or after you said I walked in this morning with a just-fucked look on my face.”
My mother jumped up. “What?”
Russell looked between both of us with a stunned expression. That’s right, Mr. McCormick, I have claws and know how to use them when needed.
“You did not say that to my daughter.”
His mouth fell open. “I…she…Let me explain.”
Holding up my hand, I started talking. “We have more important things to discuss than Mr. McCormick’s wildly inappropriate remarks. While Mr. McCormick thought I was out playing hooky, I was meeting with a private investigator I hired because I had a gut feeling there was a connection between Bryn Dierks and Mr. Long’s accuser, Casey Stevens.”
Russell rolled his eyes. “Rory, I’m not sure why you insist on this. There is no connection. You’re reaching.”
My mother slowly turned and glared at Russell. I imagined if she could have, she would’ve shot fire from her eyes. “Go on, Rory,” she said, clenching her jaw. I knew she was still angry about Russell’s “just-fucked” remark.
“Well, Russell, it turns out you’re wrong and my hunch was right.”
Spinning the laptop around, I showed them a picture of Bryn Dierks at her wedding with her maid of honor standing by her side.
“Is that Ms. Stevens next to her?” my mother asked.
“Yes,” I said with a nod. “It’s from Bryn’s wedding blog, which is still up on the Internet. She has Casey tagged in the picture, which warmly reads, ‘My best friend and little sister.’ The investigator was able to find school records that has the two of them living in the same house, with the same parents listed and same address. Bryn’s maiden name also happens to be…” I looked over at Russell. “…Stevens. Bryn Stevens.
“I interviewed an old neighbor of theirs before I headed back to the office and was told Casey idolizes the ground her older sister Bryn walks on. Casey was very sick when she was younger, and Bryn’s the one who saved her. Donated a kidney to her. My best guess is Casey feels like she owes her very life to Bryn, so when Bryn wanted to get revenge for Robert Long turning her down, she went to Casey and came up with this plan to take him down. She probably figured with different last names, no one would put two and two together.”
Pride washed across my mother’s face. “And they wouldn’t have, if you hadn’t made the connection, Rory.”
Russell stood there staring at the picture. He finally looked up and said, “Yes. Thank goodness Finn Ward and you were at that library that day.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw my mother look at me. “Finn? Why were you with Finn?”
My heart started racing as my newfound confidence quickly came tumbling down.
“Well, isn’t it obvious from the flowers, Mrs. Adams? They’re dating. Even though I strongly urged her against it.”
“That’s enough, Russell,” I said. “Now, if you’ll please excuse us, I have some things to discuss with my mother. I suggest since you’re lead counsel on this, you might want to start drawing something up for Ms. Stevens’s attorney to look over.”
Russell drew in a breath. “You’re right. I’ll get to work on that immediately. Mrs. Adams, Ms. Adams, enjoy your evening.”
He spun on his expensive-ass heels and retreated from my office. Once the door shut, I walked up to it and locked it, not at all certain that he wouldn’t have attempted to come back in.
I slowly turned around and leaned against the door. My mother was staring at me with a look of disbelief.
“Rory, is what Russell said true? Are you and Finn dating?”
I swallowed hard and glanced back at the flowers. She followed my stare and reached for the card. “Excuse me! Those are mine and you have no right to read that.”
She stopped herself from opening the card and thrust her hand out toward me. “Then you read it and tell me who they are from.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Jiggling the card in her hand, she motioned for me to come take it. “Well, come on. I’m waiting with bated breath to see who sent you these beautiful flowers.”
My hand pressed to my throat as I attempted to breathe. I hated Russell for putting me in this spot. Hated him with a passion.
“Rory!” she snapped while I jumped practically out of my skin. I forced myself to put one foot in front of the other until I stopped on the far side of the desk. She still had the card thrust out. Slowly, I reached up for it and opened the card and read it to myself. Heat crept up my face while my heart danced in delight.
I can’t stop thinking about last night and how amazing it felt to be connected as one with you. I’m looking forward to Friday night. Love, Finn.