Chapter 6
Patrick Delgado, the firm’s director, saw Maxine busting her ass. He sighed, shaking his head. “Sorry, Maxine. My hands are tied. Orders from the big
shots.”
But the bad news didn’t stop there.
Next thing she knew, her assistant got reassigned to Kathleen, with some lame excuse about a “staff shortage.” It was a total setup, leaving Maxine out in the cold, stripped of all her clout at the firm.
Furious, she was ready to storm the partners‘ offices and raise hell, but Patrick held her back.
In a low voice, he let slip that someone else was calling the shots.
In a heartbeat, Sebastian’s face popped into her head. No one else could pull off a move this smooth, this ruthless. It had to be him.
Patrick practically shoved her out the door to go home and cool off. The second she got there, she dialed Sebastian’s number, her blood boiling.
His assistant picked up, cutting to the chase. “Ma’am, the case? Mr. Mason’s call. He thinks you should kick back at home for a while.”
“Who the hell does he think he is, running my life?” Maxine snapped, barely holding it together.
The assistant’s tone was flat. “Just following Mr. Mason’s orders, ma’am.”
‘And, yeah?,’ Maxine thought, her temper flaring. ‘Just because I brought up divorce, he’s pulling this stunt to keep me under his thumb? Total asshole!
Her heart pounded with fury, but she knew getting worked up was a dead end. She hung up the phone with a huff, glanced at the desk calendar, and scratched out today’s date with a sharp swipe.
Twenty–five days to go.
Meanwhile, the assistant hung up and stepped into Sebastian’s office. “Sir, I clued Mrs. Mason in.”
Sebastian, slouched behind his desk, flipped a signed contract shut. “Put a couple more guys on her. I want to know her every move.”
“On it,” the assistant said with a quick nod.
Sebastian’s scowl didn’t budge.
This case Maxine was stuck on? It was bad news. The defendant had enough power to crush anyone in their way. If she kept digging, she was walking straight into danger. Real danger.
With her law firm job gone, Maxine was left kicking her heels at home. She caught a quick nap, waking to a sky splashed with sunset pinks and oranges.
Her stomach rumbled, so she headed downstairs to scrounge up some grub.
To her shock, Sebastian was already there–home way early.
After years of marriage, the guy was practically glued to his office, barely making it back by ten.
But today? She glanced at the clock–not even six.
“Work was chill today,” Sebastian said, noticing her stare. “About the firm-”
“No need to explain. I’m good,” Maxine cut him off, her tone flat.
1/2
Chapter 6
Sebastian hesitated, gave her a quick look, but let it go.
Brian, still sore from yesterday, huffed and turned away, though his eyes kept darting back to her.
Maxine ignored him, aiming for the kitchen.
“I’m in the mood for fried fish tonight,” Brian called, all stiff and snippy.
Sebastian piped up, “And a paella.”
Maxine stopped, cool as ever. “Tell Alisson.”
“I want you to cook!” Brian snapped, his voice hot with anger. “You’re my mom, aren’t you? Kathleen always whips up whatever I want!”
Maxine turned, her gaze steady but sharp. “Then go cry to her for dinner. Seems like you’d rather call her Mom anyway, right?”
