Chapter 9

After Adair left, I felt a surge of relaxation wash over me. Aaliyah texted me saying she was going to drop my mom back home because she wanted to know the 'details in person.' I texted Adair that Aaliyah is leaving and he said that he'll get one of his men to follow her, and will make sure to have his men watching over everyone targeted in the pictures today. 

I start to make tea for myself desperately needing some relaxation after having stuffed the pictures and note under my bed. Waiting for the kettle to boil, my mind drifts back to Adair. When he first came into my office, I thought he was a rich wannabe cocky snob, but he's nothing like that. Yes, he has his moments of savageness, but he isn't ruthless nor unforgiving.

I don't understand why people label him as such.

I know I'm his lawyer, but he also seemed concerned for the people that I love or else why would he go to great lengths to make sure they were safe?

And his eyes?

Every time our eyes meet I feel an odd sensation in my body with my heart beating a million beats per minute. I've never felt like this around any man, and I can't let him have this effect on me. I'm not going to lie and say that I don't like how he makes me feel, but I need to remember that he's in love with Anna, their both engaged, but most importantly he's only my client.

I rub my temples waiting for the tea to be ready. The throbbing pain in my head continues to grow and to top it off my forbidden thoughts aren't helping either. I hear the doorbell ring and open the door to let Aaliyah and my mom in.

"Hey sweetie. How has your day been?" Elizabeth asks as we make our way to the living room.

"It's been...interesting. Just had a meeting with a client and now I'm just making some tea. Do you want some mom?" I ask keeping my voice steady.

Even if the tone of my voice was slightly different, my mom would be able to figure out that something was bothering me.

"Oh, no thanks honey. Aaliyah fed me so much food that I think I'm going into a food coma. I'm going to go take a nap it's been a long day." She smiles. 

She's got that right.

"Okay I'll see you at dinner then. Love you." I say giving her a kiss.

Once my mom is gone, Aaliyah drags me to the couch and says, "Okay girl spill what's going on."

"Nothing is going on. Aaliyah, I told you I had to meet with him about the case." I state with confidence. 

"Sarah, we both know it's a fake case so there's nothing new that you could have possibly found. And who meets for a case on a Sunday at their lawyers HOUSE?" She exclaims.

She's right about both of them, but Adair said not to tell anyone and if I told Aaliyah she would be paranoid the entire time. I don't want her feeling scared.

"I...well he called and asked me if I could meet him for the case and as you can see," I say pointing to the papers sprawled on the floor "I told him I was busy and couldn't meet him. He said he was near my house and could meet me here if I didn't have an issue. I didn't because I really needed to finish this other case. He wanted to discuss when we should confirm the divorce to the media so it can start immediately making official headlines." I lie my eyes never leaving her face once. 

I can't believe I thought all of that up so quickly.

Aaliyah's quiet for a couple minutes as she stares blankly at the ground thinking about what I just told her. I feel awful about lying to her, but I have no other choice. All of my fingers are crossed hoping that she believes me.

"Hm, that makes sense. He does seem like an impatient one." She says at last her head slowly nodding up and down. 

I want to interject and say no he's not impatient. He's been anything but impatient with me today and for that I'm grateful, but I stop because otherwise I would have to explain Aaliyah's question of how I know that. 

"Yeah." I say lamely tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. 

"So, when are you going to leak it to the media?" She asks bringing her legs up to her chest. 

"I, um, we decided sometime this week? It's not confirmed yet. Anna called him so he had to leave before we could choose a date." I lie again.

She nods. "Is it bad that I wish he was actually getting a divorce from Anna?"

My eyes widen in shock at her confession. "What why?"

"I don't know I just don't really like her. I mean she seems sweet, but there's something about her that I don't like." Aaliyah states. 

"The only thing I can think of is how she ditched Adair and went shopping and that was disgusting." I point out. 

"YES! Oh my gosh I was there when she was talking to her friend. One, she was talking so loud like what you want the entire city of New York to hear you, and two, she only said bye and walked off and I was staring at her like hello your fiancé is still sitting in the room! But no, I don't know there's something more to it. She seems...entitled and cocky." 

I raise my eyebrows at Aaliyah's statement. "Entitled and cocky how did you get those two together?"

"I don't know it's just the way she holds Mr. Adair like she deserves him, and the way she holds herself too actually like she's the most beautiful person in the world." She shrugs.

"But she is pretty." I comment. 

"Yeah but...I can't explain it she seems...fake. I don't know why Mr. Adair is with her."

That's enough to make me laugh. "Aaliyah the way you understand people blows me away sometimes and I think he's with her cuz he loves her. Haven't you seen how he looks at her." I say pointing out the obvious.

"Yeah, but it's not the same way he looks at you." She smirks her eyes twinkling with secrets. 

The way he looks at me?

I know we've had many staring competitions for the minimal times we met, but I never noticed how he stares at me.

"What do you mean?" I ask carefully not sure if I want to know what she's thinking. 

"You'll see what I'm talking about soon enough." She smiles. 

"Just like the last time when you said you'll tell me?" I huff in annoyance. 

"Yup." She chuckles. 

"But I don't know what you're saying. Just tell me." I whine, playfully shaking her by the shoulders. 

"It won't be fun if I tell you now will it Sarah. I wanna see how you figure it out." She giggles.

I drop my hands from her shoulders, my eyes narrowing at her in response. What fun is she talking about and what figuring out? I may be a good lawyer, but I'm definitely not good at figuring out what she's saying right now.

"You're a lost cause." I say getting up to pour the tea in mugs.

"And you're a cause soon to be found." She whispers. "Oh, and I'll take some tea too."

.* * * *

"Finally bedtime." I yawn tossing myself on to the bed. When I'm worried I can't fall asleep and right now my mind is mixed with worries and calmness. Calmness,  because I know we have bodyguards watching over us to keep us safe. Worried, because what if someone actually does get hurt. Despite my troubling thoughts, my gut is telling me that Adair will help me in protecting my family.  

It's so weird putting your complete trust in a stranger, but his actions today have shown me that I can trust him, and I do trust him.

I drift off to sleep and before I know it it's 2:30 am and my phone buzzes visously on my bedside table, startling me awake from my sleep. 

"Ugh, whose calling me at this time." I grumble picking up the phone. "Hello, whoever is calling at this time this better be good." I slur half asleep. 

"Ms. Carter." His husky voice says my name, breaking my slumber. 

I shoot straight up from my pillow fully awakened by his voice.  

Oh shit.

"Mr. Adair? I'm sorry I didn't check to see who it was. Is everything okay?" I ask blinking a couple of times.  

My heart thuds in my chest and anxiety crawls in slowly as I think about if someone I loved was harmed. Why else would he be calling at 2:30 in the morning?

"I'm sorry to interrupt your sleep Ms. Carter, but I found something through the surveillance footage that I want you to see immediately. Can you come to my office right now?" He asks, his voice giving away no indication of it being either good or bad news. 

As much as my body is telling me to go back to sleep, I know this is important and I need to go. I'll definitely be feeling it when I wake up for work, but right now I don't care.

"Yes, I'll be there." I state.

"See you then."

"See you. Oh wait, what about my mom?" I panic. "I can't leave her alone."

"Don't worry about your mom Ms. Carter, there are people watching over her as we speak. She is in safe hands. I promise." He states. 

I smile nodding as a wave of relief washes over me. "Thank you, Mr. Adair. I'll be there in a couple minutes then."

"See you soon Ms. Carter." He says. 

I jump from my bed and run to the window. I try to see if I can notice someone on the rooftops peering into our penthouse, but I don't see anyone. Either he's got some good bodyguards, or my mind filled with crime films has made me lose the reality of bodyguards. 

I quickly throw on a hoodie and quietly make my way out the front door trying not to wake up my mom up. Getting into my car, I put the address to Adair's company. As Siri navigates me to his place, I pray that the footage shows the identity of the psycho who is after us.