Chapter 1
My husband is one of the top corporate lawyers in the industry–five years in practice, never lost a case.
Until he took on a wrongful termination lawsuit for my company and got his ass handed to him by some law student intern who hasn’t even graduated yet.
Court ordered damages: thirty million dollars.
The intern posted the verdict on Instagram with a caption that made my blood boil:
[Thanks for the support, mentor! One day I’ll be standing right beside you!]
I left a comment:
[Pride comes before the fall.]
One minute later, my husband called.
“Delete that comment right now. You’re a grown woman–don’t be such a sore loser.”
“Her career is just getting started. She can’t afford any bad press. If you can’t get your head straight about this, we’re done.”
Whatever. Done is done.
Besides, the second your heart started leaning toward her, I already decided to pull my money out of your law firm–and divorce you.
What Sawyer didn’t know was that when he signed the settlement papers for me, I had my people slip a divorce agreement underneath the stack.
The kind of rookie mistake he’d never normally make.
Too bad love makes you stupid.
I drove to another law firm downtown. The verdict just came down today–I still had fifteen days to file an appeal, and I was damn well going to use them.
Except nobody would take my case. Firm after firm politely declined.
Because nobody wanted to go up against Sawyer.
I was laughing at the absurdity when my phone buzzed with notifications from Sawyer’s firm group chat.
JAttorney Quinn Rivers: Hey everyone! I’m Quinn Rivers, Sawyer’s former classmate. Starting today I’ll be joining the team. Looking forward to working with you all!]
Chapter 1
Sawyer actually brought Quinn into his firm?!
Bold move.
Then Sawyer tagged Quinn:
[Quinn just crushed a major case and chose to join us–we’re lucky to have her. Drinks are on me tonight to celebrate!]
His lackeys immediately started kissing ass.
[Already heard about you! Taking down a multi–million dollar case before even graduating? The future belongs to the young guns.]
[We should be asking you to mentor us! Can’t wait to learn from the best.]
[Yeah, Quinn should turn this win into a case study for training new associates.]
Everyone was practically tripping over themselves to praise Quinn.
They all seemed to forget that the firm’s biggest investor–me–was still in that chat.
Right in the middle of their circle jerk, I left the group.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Not even an hour later, the firm’s finance
manager called.
“Ms. Channing, today’s the final deadline for the payment. Where’s your wire transfer?”
Oh, now they remember me? When they need money.
I snorted. “Don’t have it.”
She paused, then her tone turned snippy.
“I don’t care what drama you and Mr. Blake are having, but the additional three million investment was locked in last month. Get the transfer done ASAP or I’m telling Sawyer.”
Threatening me with that bastard?
“Go ahead. I dare you.”
With that, I hung up.
She called back several times. I declined every call.
I’d spoiled Sawyer rotten. Taking my money to boost his side chick’s win rate while expecting me to bankroll his whole
operation.
The Unbeatable
Chapter 1
What a joke.
Since local firms wouldn’t touch my case, I had to make that other call.
They agreed immediately–someone would fly in tomorrow.
My mood lifted just as my phone rang again. Thinking it was the same person with a follow–up, I answered.
Sawyer’s voice exploded through the speaker.
“Aria! Why did you hang up on the finance manager? Where the hell is the money?”
“Don’t you know people are waiting for their paychecks?”
I leaned back in my chair, amused. “Sawyer, what does your staff’s payroll have to do with me?”
Three years I’d been funding this operation. Three years without seeing a dime in returns.
Meanwhile, he was running the firm out of prime real estate in the Financial District–millions in annual rent.
Every year he’d upgrade all the equipment, demanding top–tier everything.
The highest–security firewalls that cost hundreds of thousands just to maintain.
I was done being his personal ATM.
My attitude must have triggered something because Sawyer lost his shit.
“What the hell is wrong with you? This isn’t some hobby business–get that money transferred now. And add another two hundred thousand. I need to replace some equipment.”
“Aria, you better cut this petty bullshit out. This tantrum won’t get my attention–it just makes me sick of you.”
“With my reputation, I don’t have the slightest trouble finding any investors. I’m giving you this opportunity now–you need to seize it! The entire law firm is making money for you, so why on earth won’t you invest?”
