The Opportunist (Love Me with Lies, #1)(57)

At seven the next morning, I arrive at the office to find a sweet charcoal Jag in my parking spot. I find a space a few spots away and march through the doors wondering who had the audacity to park where it says Reserved Kaspen. The secretary greets me with a cup of coffee and then blocks the entrance to my office with her body.

“There’s something that I should tell you before you go in there,” she says as I take a sip from my pink mug.

“Did you poison my coffee?” I ask, peering at her over the rim.

“No, but—”

“Then you can tell me while I turn my computer on,” I reach past her and turn the doorknob.



There is a man in my office. I see his back first, as he is studying the numerous plaques and photographs I have on my wall. I shoot the secretary a look and she mouths “Johanna Smith’s husband” to me, before making a discreet exit. She has lipstick on her teeth.

“Mr. Smith,” I say confidently, though I am quite flustered at the surprise. My briefing with them wasn’t scheduled for another two hours.

He turns slowly, his hands clasped behind his back. I see his grey suit, the white collared shirt unbuttoned at the top, the golden tan, and I choke on my coffee.

“It’s Drake, actually,” he says in an amused voice.



I back away, trying to catch my breath and find myself pressed against the wall.



“Surprise,” he says, and then he laughs at the look on my face.



I shimmy away from the wall because I look like an assault victim and attempt to stroll casually to my desk. I collapse into a chair and stare at him glassy eyed.

“What the hell?” I say.



Aside from a different haircut and a few more eye crinkles, he looks exactly the same.



“I looked for you.”



“Did you now?”



“For a year after you left…”



“You must not have looked hard enough,” I quip, though I know it isn’t true. A year after I left Florida, Bernie called to tell me that a gentleman was calling the office inquiring about my current whereabouts. She said he had a British accent.

“I married her Olivia.”



“Who?”



“Leah.”



“I thought you were Johanna Smith’s husband?” My head is spinning.



“Leah’s her middle name, she’s always gone by Leah and she kept her last name. Johanna Leah Smith.”



The word “married” rings in my head repeatedly and I rub my temples at the ugliness of it. Caleb was married. Wedded. Bedded. A family man.

“Caleb,” I choke on his name. “Why are you here? Actually, don’t answer that—just get the f*ck out.” I raise my voice and stand up.

“I wanted to see you, to speak to you before you saw me for the first time in front of everyone.”



I sit down again.



“You were the one looking for me? You were trying to find me to take Leah’s case?” He nods.



“No,” I say. “No way—ever. Never. No.”





Maybe she never told him about what I did. He just thinks I picked up and left. He still hasn’t got his memory back!

“Yes,” he says standing. “You’ll do it. She’s guilty and you’re the best liar I know.” Okay, maybe she did tell him.

I snort and look away.

“I have no motivation to win this case for you,” I smirk leaning back in my chair.

“You owe me,” he smiles. “I know you don’t have much of a conscience, but I think after what you put me through, twice, you might want to consider taking the case.”

“I would have told you the truth eventually,” I mumble. That’s if Ariel the pharmaceutical fraud hadn’t blackmailed me, but anyways….

“Would you have Olivia? Or, were you waiting for me to find out for myself when my memory came back?”



I look up at the ceiling and frown.



“Look, I’m not here to discuss the fact that you are lying, manipulative, and heartless.”



Ouch…

“I’m asking for a personal favor. I know how you feel about her. I know what she did but I need you to make sure she doesn’t go to prison.”

“I want her to go to prison.”



Caleb looks at me strangely, his eyes roam over my face then my hands.



“I don’t. She’s my wife. And, I’m asking that you take my feelings into consideration for once.”



It hurts so much to hear him say ‘wife.’ I know it shouldn’t, but it does.



“You can’t guilt me into defending that viper! Besides, Leah would never agree to it,” I shoot back at him, “there is a mutual hate between the two of us, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“Leah will do what I tell her to do. I need your assurance that you will do everything in your power to help her.”

I feel a rush of adrenaline. I could take the case and loose on purpose! Yes! But, I know I would never. My days of toying with people’s lives are over. O.V.E.R.