Chapter 4
Hannah gave a breezy shrug, a sly grin tugging at her lips. “My grandpa and yours? They’ve been tight for, like, forever. When Cole Group was going under, my folks hit me up. I told them to throw a bone, you know, score some good vibes.”
Liam’s eyes bugged out. “Hannah, I’ve known you forever, and you never said a peep about this?” His heart swelled with warmth. She’d worked all that magic and let Aria hog the limelight.
She glanced away, brushing it off with a wave. “I don’t go fishing for gold stars, Liam. If Aria hadn’t gone full diva, I’d have kept it zipped.”
He grabbed her hand, his voice low and earnest. “You’re too damn good, Hannah. Grandpa’s been played by Aria’s little act, but once we’re married, he’ll see you’re the real MVP.”
Hannah arched a brow, her confidence practically radiating. “Oh, he’ll get the memo.”
Liam’d been abroad for two years, keeping tabs on the company from a distance.
His uncle, a brainiac with a PhD from some elite overseas school, started at Cole Group same time as Aria. Every deal he closed, he’d ring Liam to spill the tea.
Liam thought it was all clicking now–Hannah’s family, the Gibsons, had pulled some serious strings to land those contracts.
His uncle had done the legwork, letting Aria take the bows just to help her get her bearings. But she’d swiped all the credit without so much as a flinch.
Right then, Liam’s phone pinged with a text from the butler, spilling every detail of his grandpa’s latest face–off with Aria. His face lit up as he yanked Hannah into a tight hug. “Grandpa’s cool with ditching Aria! We’re finally free to move in together.”
Hannah’s lips curved into a smug smirk. “Told ya I saw it coming.”
Liam let out a heavy sigh, scratching his neck. “It’s not gonna be a walk in the park, though. She’s coming out swinging–turned down a 230–million deal and now she’s gunning for fifteen billion.”
Hannah snorted, her voice dripping with shade. “Greedy’s an understatement. But chill. If this hits the courtroom, that money’s gotta be dirty. She’s screwed.”
“We need Owen Shaw on our side,” Liam said, his tone all business. “Dude’s a legal rockstar–ice–cold, fair as they come. They don’t call him the King of the Courtroom for nothing.”
Hannah’s eyes gleamed with a spark of mischief. “Oh, I’ve bumped into him a time or two. If we lock him down, we’re golden.”
Liam’s grin stretched wide as he pulled her close again. “Hannah, where the hell would I be without you?”
Aria had just kicked off her heels and collapsed onto the couch when her phone buzzed with Benjamin’s name lighting up the screen.
“Hey, darlin‘, what’s good? Got a minute to come kick it with this old coot?” Benjamin’s voice was warm, laced with that familiar playful charm.
Aria propped her laptop on her knees, already typing “top divorce lawyers” into the search bar. “Benjamin, I’m kinda slammed right now.”
“I hear ya, busy girl. Word’s out about Liam’s drama, too. Listen, I got a pal who’s a straight–up beast in court–perfect for your case.”
A lawyer handpicked by Benjamin? That was a no–brainer. Aria’s lips quirked into a grin. “You’re the best, Benjamin. I’ll swing by to thank you properly soon.”
Benjamin’s chuckle practically danced through the phone, his excitement bubbling over. I’ll hook you up with my-”
He caught himself, nearly spilling his not–so–secret plan to set her up with his grandson. “Uh, my buddy’s contact. I’ll text you his info. You two can get to chatting.”
“You’re a gem, Benjamin. I’ll stop by for that thank–you soon, promise,” Aria said, her voice soft and teasing.
“No rush, sweetheart. Win that case, then we’ll have a big ol‘ party at my place, yeah?”
“Count me in.”
The call ended, and sure enough, Benjamin’s text popped up with a contact card.
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10:55 AM
Chapter 4
Aria added the lawyer instantly, firing off a quick message: [Hey, Mr. Webb, got a case I’d love to run by you.]
Meanwhile, across town at Seacrest Law Firm, Owen Shaw was slogging through a stack of files when Benjamin’s message came through, asking him to help a friend with a messy divorce.
He shot back a [No problem,] only for his phone to ping again–a friend request.
Owen squinted at the screen. “Mr. Webb? Wrong guy or what?”
But it was Benjamin’s referral, so he hit accept and typed: [Ms. Saxon?]
Arial replied: [That’s me! Hey, Mr. Webb.]
Owen: [You’re laying it on thick with the formal vibe.]
‘A legal consult, and she already fumbled my name?‘ he thought, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“Formal?” Aria mused, picturing one of Benjamin’s old cronies–probably some grizzled guy in his fifties with a cigar habit.
She typed: [Hey, Mr. Webb! Benjamin sent me your way, said you’re the guy for business disputes.]
Grinning, he still didn’t bother correcting her. They texted back and forth for ten minutes, and he pieced together the whole story.
Her husband’s company tanked right after their wedding, so she’d thrown in a chunk of cash to save it. Now, those shares were worth a fortune- twenty times what she put in.
But her sleaze of a husband stepped out, and now they were splitting.
His family was playing dirty, waving a prenup in her face, claiming her investment was “marital property” and offering her chump change to keep
her shares.
Owen typed:[Mind me askin‘–what’s the damage on those shares?]
Aria replied coolly: [About fifteen billion.]
Owen’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Holy hell. That is serious cash.‘
Owen: [Ms. Saxon, how about you swing by Seacrest Law Firm? We need to talk this out in person.]
And just like that, it hit him. She wasn’t just any client–she was the Ms. Saxon, the Cole heiress his mom couldn’t stop gushing about, the one with brains, beauty, and a heart of gold.
The next morning, Aria hightailed it to Seacrest Law Firm.
Talk about rotten luck–she ran smack into Liam and Hannah right at the entrance.
Hannah’s eyes raked over Aria like she was yesterday’s trash, then she let out a nasty little laugh. “Well, look who it is, Ms. Saxon. Here to sweet–talk Mr. Shaw into taking your case? Hate to burst your bubble, sweetheart, but a shady operator like you, fleecing folks with dirty tricks? Mr. Shaw wouldn’t touch you with a barge pole.”
Aria didn’t bat an eye. “Oh, Hannah, you that sure Seacrest would back a homewrecker like you in a courtroom?”
She tossed out the jab and sauntered inside, leaving them choking on her dust.
Hannah’s face went crimson. She lunged to grab Aria’s arm, but Aria, like she had radar, sidestepped and snatched Hannah’s wrist, flicking it away like it was a bad vibe.
Spinning around, Aria fixed Liam with an ice–cold glare. “Leash your yappy mutt, Liam. She comes at me again, I’m not just clapping back–I’ll snap her arm off.”
A gaggle of suits rounded the corner just in time to catch her warning. The hallway went pin–drop quiet, every eyeball glued to the showdown at the door.
Liam pulled Hannah into his arms, shielding her as he shot Aria a scowl. “Real nice, Aria. Hannah’s just trying to save your sorry butt, and you’re too bullheaded to see it.
I’m letting this slide ‘cause you’re a lady, but don’t test me again.”
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10:55 AM 0
Chapter 4
Hannah, nestled against Liam, didn’t bother chiming in.
“Why waste my breath on a nobody like Aria? No degree, no job–total small–fry energy. Not worth my time,’ she thought.
+20
Aria didn’t even dignify him with a glance. She glided over to the gobsmacked receptionist, cool as a cucumber. “Hey there, I’m here for Mr. Webb. Got an appointment.”
Owen, who’d been soaking up the whole melodrama, couldn’t peel his eyes off Aria.
His mom wasn’t kidding–this woman was a stunner. First impression? She was a straight–up powerhouse. No shocker she’d single–handedly yanked Cole Group back from the grave.
But when she name–dropped “Mr. Webb,” Owen’s lips quirked, and he mentally dialed back his awe.
The receptionist blinked, snapping out of her trance, and nodded toward a middle–aged guy in a sharp suit. “That’s Mr. Webb right there.”
“Thanks,” Aria said, all smooth and polished.
Owen took a step forward, ready to clear up the mix–up, but before he could get a word out, Aria breezed right past him. She zeroed in on Mason Webb, flashing a dazzling smile and sticking out her hand. “Mr. Webb, hi! I’m Aria.”
You’ve gotta be kidding me,‘ Owen thought.
Mason, caught off guard, shook her hand with a blank look. “Uh, hey there. And you are…?”
Aria’s smile went full–on professional charm. “Mr. Benjamin Hayes sent me your way. Said you’re the best in the biz for this kind of case and I should hire you.”
Mason’s eyes lit up like he’d just struck gold. ‘Mr. Hayes knows me? And he’s sending me clients?‘ he thought, barely containing his grin.
Time was, Mason had been Seacrest’s golden boy, the top–dog lawyer–until Owen swooped in and nabbed the chief attorney spot.
Owen wasn’t just a name, either; the guy had serious game, and Mason had to suck it up.
Now, though, Mason’s grin was practically splitting his face. “Ms. Saxon, the pleasure’s all mine,” he said, tossing a smug, eat–that smirk Owen’s way.
This train was derailing fast. Owen rubbed his temples, exasperated. “Ms. Saxon-
“Owen!” A shrill voice sliced through the air, cutting him off cold.
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