Love is more than roses and chocolate hearts.
“Bella was my first client, and I was as green as they come.” A derisive snort signaled his own disgust. His eyes fixed on the wall as if seeing a memory played out on the blank surface.
“Odd, it was been about sixty plus clients ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. It’s one of the reasons I hate divorce law so much. Reminds me of an old Russian proverb that goes fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I was determined never to be fooled again.”
Initially, she would have let him not tell her, but not now that he’d gone grim-faced and stared off into the distance, she had to know. Her right hand cupped his chin. “What happened?”
He snorted again. ‘What didn’t? Looking back, I can see I was eager to be played. The senior partner had given me a line of bull about what a valuable service we provided. It was what I wanted to hear. Then he sent Bella my way.”
“Was she a regular Barracuda? All claws and curses?” She could imagine an angry middle-aged woman put aside for a younger model.
Will turned his head slightly to kiss her hand still cupping his chin. “No, far from it. An ethereal beauty possessing delicate features and long, beautiful, blonde curls. She reminded me of an Elven Queen or a fairy princess.”
Her hand dropped to his shoulder, lying there like a dead fish. He said the words almost the same way actors in the romcoms did when seeing their crush, who was all wrong for them. “I hate her, and I don’t even know her.”
The flare of animosity made her uncomfortable standing so close to Will. She slid one foot back, then the other, creating space between their bodies. His arms tightened around her.
“Oh no, you don’t. See, I knew this would happen. Bella is toxic.
“Odd, it was been about sixty plus clients ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. It’s one of the reasons I hate divorce law so much. Reminds me of an old Russian proverb that goes fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I was determined never to be fooled again.”
Initially, she would have let him not tell her, but not now that he’d gone grim-faced and stared off into the distance, she had to know. Her right hand cupped his chin. “What happened?”
He snorted again. ‘What didn’t? Looking back, I can see I was eager to be played. The senior partner had given me a line of bull about what a valuable service we provided. It was what I wanted to hear. Then he sent Bella my way.”
“Was she a regular Barracuda? All claws and curses?” She could imagine an angry middle-aged woman put aside for a younger model.
Will turned his head slightly to kiss her hand still cupping his chin. “No, far from it. An ethereal beauty possessing delicate features and long, beautiful, blonde curls. She reminded me of an Elven Queen or a fairy princess.”
Her hand dropped to his shoulder, lying there like a dead fish. He said the words almost the same way actors in the romcoms did when seeing their crush, who was all wrong for them. “I hate her, and I don’t even know her.”
The flare of animosity made her uncomfortable standing so close to Will. She slid one foot back, then the other, creating space between their bodies. His arms tightened around her.
“Oh no, you don’t. See, I knew this would happen. Bella is toxic.
RSS Feed
