Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Surprise flashed in his hazel eyes, but Thomas knew better than to comment on the request. “I’ll get them all settled and meet in your office.”
“Good. Thanks.”
“No problem. And Sadie?”
“Yes?”
He flashed a wide, knowing smile. “You’ve got this.”
I dipped my head to him as if I agreed, but at the moment, I didn’t feel nearly as confident as Thomas, which is why I wanted him in the meetings. I didn’t like feeling unsure; it wasn’t a feeling I was used to. At all. His confidence in me would build me up until I got over whatever the fuck was making me feel this way. “I do.”
The meeting with Andrew and his team took about an hour. “We need to work on a trial strategy, Sadie. We have to.” Andrew’s tone told me exactly how worried he was about this case going to trial.
“Do you know something I don’t, Andrew?”
He blinked. “No, but I win cases because I’m prepared for every eventuality.”
I smiled my agreement. “The only acceptable outcome is an acquittal, Andrew, so whatever strategy gets us there is the one I’ll approve. Got it?”
Andrew nodded, but I could see the frustration on his face. “That means a concrete alibi for you and an alternate theory.”
Jameson had four million reasons to ensure none of this ever saw the inside of a courtroom, but I couldn’t tell Andrew that. He was a lawyer, a shark of an attorney, but he still had ethics to guide him.
“Bonnie was a recovering drug addict, and Mueller was an undercover federal agent.” Thomas’ words brought silence over the room.
“Excuse me?” Andrew blinked and looked to me for confirmation.
“It’s true.”
Andrew stood with a smile on his face and fire burning in his eyes. “Okay. I’ll need to look into all of this, and I’ll get back to you soon, Sadie.”
“I look forward to it.” I had a feeling Jameson would come through before it ever came to that, but I paid Andrew Castro a hefty retainer, and I had no problem with him earning his fee.
Thomas gave me ten minutes to decompress, have some iced tea, and shift gears before he brought in the business attorneys. And the builders I’d hired to work on my changes for Lucky Lopez.
“Gentleman, thank you for trekking all the way to me for this meeting, but I’m sure you’ll find this will make us all rich. Very fucking rich.” Once I had their attention, I told them about my plans. “Not only will Lucky Lopez be something more than a hangout for undesirables, but the whole Green Zone is about to experience a glow up.”
Lawyers thought of everything in terms of the number of billable hours it would require. “We’ll need permits and a shit ton of red tape to plow through to make this happen,” Seth Morgan said when it was his turn. He was no different. He was also worth the expense.
“That’s why you’re here. I need someone to cut through that red tape and make this happen sooner, not later.”
We would need building permits, new licenses, and inspection papers for Lucky Lopez. “Here’s a list of my plans for the club, so you know exactly what we’ll need.”
Seth glanced down at the list and handed it to one of his junior attorneys. “Make a copy for the builders and get started on a list of required paperwork.” He turned back to me with a satisfied expression on his face.
“I’m listening.”
“Good because that’s the easy part. I plan to improve the Green Zone. All of it. Upgrade the parks and playgrounds, and add more green spaces, including a community garden. You’ll be liaising with Vanessa Decker on this part of the improvements.”
She didn’t know it yet, but once everything was in motion, I’d talk to her about it. As a beautiful woman and a military widow, she was the perfect face for these improvements. And it would make people forget that this was a Sadie Ashby operation.
“I need to set up a small loan operation to help the small businesses in the GZ make necessary improvements, even hire people if necessary.”
Seth’s mouth fell open. “That’s a huge undertaking, Mrs. Ashby.”
“Exactly why I said we would both make a lot of money. You can make this happen?”
He nodded, the dollar signs flashing in his eyes.
“Good. Start with Lucky Lopez and just keep going. Let Thomas know when you’ve exhausted the retainer.”
With one short nod, Seth and his legal minions piled out of my office, the contractors behind them, leaving just me and Thomas.
“That went well,” he offered with a playful smile.
“I’m fucking exhausted already, and I need a drink. Something stronger than this fucking tea.”
This time, he let out a low rumble of laughter.
“Vanessa is here. I thought you’d want to get her on board as soon as possible.”
Damn, this man. I couldn’t help but smile. A little. “Thank you, Thomas.”