“Is there anything I can do for you, Tidas?” Rebecca asks as she comes into my office.
“No,” I answer but don’t look up from the paperwork on my desk. “And if you can’t manage to show some respect when speaking to me, I’m sure you can find suitable employment elsewhere.”
There’s a sound of her squeaking or something, but I don't pay any attention to her. I’ve got work to do, and she’s purposely trying to be annoying.
“Yes, Mr. Combs.” She clears her throat, and I hear paper rustling. “Your next appointment is at three o’clock, so you’re free until then.”
“Thank you.” I check my watch and then go back to writing notes on my last client. “Take your lunch now and pick up the office supplies on the list I left up front.”
“Sure.” Her voice is quiet, but eventually I hear her walk out and then the antique bell on the front door.
Leaning back in my chair, I sigh as I rub the heels of my hands over my eyes. I do it until I have to blink away the black spots and my vision comes back into focus. When it does, I look outside to see a row of cars parked in front of the bridal shop.
Hollow Oak isn’t where I’d envisioned setting up my practice, but last year when my business partner was indicted for embezzling, I needed a dramatic change. Lloyd was my friend from law school and we’d known each other a long time, yet somehow he managed to hide his gambling addiction. When we set up our law practice in the city, we’d set out to make a name for ourselves. We got bigger and bigger, and I never bothered to look at the books. I trusted his accounting, but when we were audited, that’s when I found out it had been a mistake.
Luckily I had enough money to pay out what was owed to the government and close out the practice. It was a nightmare, and the last thing I wanted to do when setting up a new business was take on another partner.
My great-aunt April lived in Hollow Oak, and when she died, she left a large plot of land to my mother. Since my mom and dad are spending their retirement traveling the world, she signed it over to me and my brother Donovan. It seemed like the perfect place to go, and when the historic building downtown became vacant, it made perfect sense. So I sold my penthouse in the city and spent the last year building two houses on the land. I refuse to share a space with my brother because he’s so damn grouchy. Donovan and I get along, we just don’t share the same space. Not after his accident.
The building I’m in is old and historical, with hardwood floors and exposed brick. It’s the opposite in every way to the firm I had before, but maybe that isn’t such a bad thing. Now I just need to figure out how to get rid of Rebecca without being an asshole. Mrs. Green does water aerobics at the local YMCA and guilted me into giving her granddaughter a job. I couldn’t say no because she’s practically a hundred years old, but somehow she strong-armed me. I think if she knew how unprofessional her granddaughter was, she might have spared me the embarrassment.
Glancing at the cars outside the bridal shop once more, I get an idea and push back from my desk. Grabbing the box of chocolate croissants, I make my way out of my office and to my neighbor.
Happily Ever After is right next door and shares a wall with my law office. The bridal boutique must be really successful with how busy they stay. I’ve seen license plates from three states away regularly, so the Schaffers must have an established name. Thinking about Valerie and how mad she was at me this morning makes me smile.
I’m practically beaming from the memory as I walk into the shop and hold out the box of pastries.
“Good afternoon, ladies. Can I interest anyone in a chocolate croissant?”
“Tidas.” Valerie says my name like a curse and I try—and fail—to hide my smile.
The interior of the bridal shop is actually quite beautiful. The high ceilings have stained glass windows in them, and the mirrors on one side of the shop reflect the light like diamonds. There’s a stage in front of the mirrors that I assume is for the brides to stand on when trying on wedding dresses. There’s a pale pink velvet couch in front of it, where two women now sit. One of them starts to laugh and then puts a hand over her mouth like she’s going to get in trouble.
Not paying Valerie any attention, I walk over to the couch and hold the open pastry box in front of them. Though it’s damn hard not to look her way. “They were made fresh this morning, and I can’t possibly eat any more. I’d hate for them to go to waste.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have bought them all.” Valerie moves in front of me and crosses her arms over her chest, displaying her ample cleavage in her navy blue knit sweater that is cut entirely too low for business casual.
Ignoring her statement, I turn to the ladies on the couch. “Can I interest you in a prenuptial agreement?”
“You must be Tidas,” one of them says as she takes a croissant. “We’ve heard all about you.”
“You’ve been talking about me?” I turn to Valerie and see her cheeks flush scarlet. “Val, I’m flattered.”
“I only told them about you because you’re so desperate for business you come over here and try to drum up clients.”
I shrug as I turn the box back to the women on the couch and watch as the other takes a treat. “It’s a preventive measure.” I wink at the dark-haired woman on the couch, and she laughs.
“Okay, you’ve given your sales pitch. Time to go.”
“Are you sure I can’t offer you a consultation?” I ask the room, and one of the ladies snorts.
“You really are something.” She looks at Valerie and then at me. “Does this kind of thing ever work?”
“Well…” I place the pastry box on the small table in front of the couch. There’s one left, and I’ve seen Valerie give it a side glance twice. “If you call ruffling Miss Shaffer’s feathers a success, then it’s a ten out of ten.”
I can practically hear Valerie roll her eyes as I tuck my hands into my slacks and walk toward the door. Before I push it open, I stop and glance back at the woman, who is fuming mad.
“Oh, and Miss Shaffer, keep your trash out of my bin. You’ve got your own at the end of the block.”
Her mouth pops open in a perfect circle, but she doesn’t deny it. I bid goodbye to the women in the shop and walk outside into the sunshine.
Damn it, why does it feel so good to play with fire?