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[Addison] I can hear my blood rushing through my ears as I race to place myself in between the two children. I am barely able to shield Livy’s body with my own before Jayson lands a hard kick in my side, about where Livy’s head would have been. “Control your son!” A harsh voice barks behind me. It is only when his firm hands reach down to help me stand that I realize it is Hunter, coming to my rescue again. “Hunter, it’s okay. He can’t hurt me,” I remind him as he picks Livy off the ground. She buries her head in his chest, her body shaking. I expected Michael and Evelyn to be right behind me, but apparently, they were less concerned about the situation than I was, because rather than do their part to mediate the situation, Michael was pointing his finger in this direction while speaking to Ms. McKenna. I don’t know what he is saying to her, but by the look of horror on her face, I can only imagine it is more lies. “You are a bad mother!” Jayson screams as he continues to kick m
[Michael]What a disaster.Addy is acting so strangely. First, she left me for another guy, and now she's standing up to me, talking back, defending some little girl she doesn't even know. She doesn't even look like herself anymore. I hate her new haircut, and who is she kidding with those shoes? Red leather pumps and a cream-colored suit to drop someone off at school? When did she become so stylish?And shameless, flaunting her lover like a trophy husband. Seeing how he protected her makes my skin crawl. He says he's her employer, but I don't buy that for a minute. I looked into him. Mr. Hunter Grant is a notorious playboy. He has a string of broken hearts, girls who dream of being the lady of the manor.How the hell did Addy get involved with him? She hardly ever goes out. Did they run into each other at a charity auction? During a case? It's a fucking mystery.What does he even see in her? She's only conventionally pretty and average in bed. He must have a reason for wanting her, bu
[Addison] Five interviews. That’s how many times I’ve been rejected without being seen. My first interview was called off without an explanation, canceling it only minutes before I entered the building. The second interview I had arranged was canceled the night before. Today's interview, scheduled at 9 am, is with the law firm, Maverick and Sons. While not on the top of my list, is still a fine company. The pay isn’t as good, and the benefits are moderate, but it’s a foot in the door and that’s really all I can ask for as I start over. “We’re sorry, Mrs. Stone, but we’ll need to reschedule your interview to next week, our interviewer has had some home complications and…” The receptionist at the other end of the call rattled on. I’m not feeling very compelled to listen. I know what I need to know from the apologetic tone of her voice. I’m being sent away, again, before anyone has had a chance to meet me. Frustrated, I reschedule and then hang up. It’s hopeless. I’ll have to l
[Addison]That job interview was my last chance, my last opportunity for me to make it out here on my own. Thanking Karen, I head out onto the street. She risked her livelihood telling me what Michael’s been up to. She could have just sent me away without an explanation like everyone else did, but she had enough compassion to tell me to my face. “My ex was also a real piece of work,” My new friend explained as she said her final farewell. “His terrible behavior was one of the reasons why I started this organization," sighing, she holds out a card with her personal number, offering to give me advice when she can. "I wish I could do more to help.”The crushing weight of failure mires my spirits, but I put on a brave face to put Karen at ease. It’s not her fault that I’m in this situation. “Thank you, for telling me at least,” I smile as I close the door behind me. What am I going to do?There is nowhere left for me to turn, not without leaving the Tri-state area. I can’t believe Mic
[Addison]I spent the next hour going over the details of the crime Michael committed against me, our marriage, and my trust in him as my husband and protector. While I was at home watching our son, keeping our household and our business running, he was robbing me blind. How could I be so stupid? Was I so blinded by love that I didn’t realize how he was taking from me? Thinking back, how many times did he have me sign documents without me reading them? How often did I give my power away to him without thinking of the consequences? After watching Mr. Craig produce dozens of documents, each one gifting Michael with amounts ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, I made a promise to myself.--never again will I let myself be so easily fooled. The next time I fall in love, I won’t do so blindly. I’ll make sure I have both eyes open. “Why didn’t anyone inform me of these withdrawals?” I demand, fighting to keep my anger in check as I tally the amounts in my mind. “This shouldn’t have been
[Addison] It’s hard to feel helpless with a man like Hunter Grant on your side. By the end of lunch my heart was lighter, the dark cloud of gloom hanging over my heart evaporating into nothing. With a single stroke of my pen, as I finally sign the contract he’s been offering me for the last two months, I become an employee of the Grant Group. Even though my job is officially taking care of Livy, my title reads “Special Consultant to the CEO.” “That makes me sound far fancier than I am,” I balk as I print my name beneath my signature. “Also, that salary is ridiculous. I’d gladly take care of Livy for free.” “Noted,” he dismisses my concern as smiling, he places the newly signed contract back into his bag. “As an official employee of Grant Group, you now have the full resources of our legal team,” he explains. “It is one of your many benefits.”“Ah,” I bite my lip. “I figured I might just try to fight this one on my own. I mean, I am a lawyer.” Hunter’s tight-lipped smile belies his
[Addison] Before I can ask Michael a single question, he hangs up, leaving me holding the phone and wondering what to do. Even though he stopped treating me like his mother months ago, technically, Jayson is still my son--which means I am still legally responsible for him even if his father refuses to be. And since we aren't officially divorced and have not made any custody arrangements, his care is still my concern at least on some level, although one would assume that moving his mistress into our home would negate that logic. Speaking of whom, where is she? Why isn't Evelyn there to pick him up? Also, Jayson's part-time nanny? Where are these people? Pressing redial, I wait for my scheming soon-to-be-ex husband to pick up the phone so that I can give him a piece of my mind. Not only am I NOT picking Jayson up, but I have no intention of doing anything to help Michael again, considering how he and Evelyn had no problem helping themselves to my money. It rings once. Twice. Three t
[Hunter]It’s been a long day at the office. After leaving Addison, I went straight to work, but not at Grant Group—not today. I had been working at home because I’d been expecting a call about my other work, the work Addison Stone can never know about. Nobody can know about it. This work is far too dangerous. “How close are we to moving on the warehouse,” strapping down my kevlar vest, I turn to my second in command. “And have we been able to make any connection between the DeBrassy gang and Mr. Stone?”“Not a very strong link,” Reggie, opens his tablet and scrolls through his latest report as we walk through basecamp, a building that had once been used as a shipyard but has been converted for our use. “It seems that he might have defended one of their junior members in a traffic violation case, but that’s…”“Not nearly enough to take him down,” I sigh, grabbing my mask and goggles. “So where are we off to tonight?”“Another kidnapping,” his voice picks up as he talks about today’s
[Hunter]In a suit and tie, my tattoos are invisible, allowing me to be the person the investors expect me to be while I run the day to day workings of a fortune 100 company. As far as the upstanding part of NYC business is aware, Hazardous and Hunter Grant are not the same person. I work hard to keep my two lives separate. Just like DeBrassy does with his identity, Mr. D., we both know who the other man is, but in the boardroom, we pretend not to be criminals, and in spaces like these, we are done pretending. Here, we get to be the beasts we truly are.In some ways, this criminal underworld is more real than reality. It's more visceral, sensual, and alive. Nothing is off limits. Everything is possible. For some, it can be paradise. For others, Hell. And as far as I'm concerned, it's the furthest place I ever want Addy or Livy to be. I never want them to know this side of me, to see the gutters I need to swim in to preserve their safe world.Because tonight I dance with the devil to
[Hunter]Addison shines like a gem tonight, an elegant professional speaking with other like-minded people passionate about the same type of work. She was born to this. She might not realize it yet, but this is where she was always meant to be. She's standing next to the professor, laughing at something another legal guru from one of the finest firms in NYC said, meeting his verbal jabs with equal skill. Seeing her like this makes my heart feel lighter. After everything she's been through to get to this point, she deserves to be the bright star of this evening. I wish I could spend it with her. But I need to take care of business--dark dealings with the type of sinister low-lifes I plan to keep her from ever encountering. I would never want this filth to tarnish her shine. Silently signaling my lieutenant, I pretend to take a work call and excuse myself, leaving Addison in Charley's careful care. "I might not be back," I apologize. "This is a big deal, we can...""We can check in la
[Michael]The grim armed woman takes a step forward, blocking me from Addison's view."It's time for you to go, Mr. Stone," she repeats. "Now." Standing my ground, I refuse to move. She won't shoot me, not in front of all these people, all these lawyers. She'd be thrown behind bars. "Grant Group has a restraining order placed against you, Mr. Stone, and if you do not leave the premises immediately, I am authorized to use force if necessary." The woman tilts her head, watching, waiting for an excuse to follow through on her promise. Hundreds of eyes are watching us, hearing everything as we spill our family secrets on the floor of this grand ballroom, our words flying to smash into one another.Addison is angrier than I've ever seen her, an avenging angel, glaring at me with eyes of burning steel. Next to her is a tall, dark-skinned woman who, unlike the rest of those gathered, wears a no-nonsense suit, her hand hovering over a gun.She means business. And her business, from her sta
[Addison]“Oh, it looks like I’m late,” my ex-husband laughs, his hands in his pockets as he surveys the scene. “And with so many of my friends here, too. Hi Steve,” Michael waves to a man standing by the bar. "How's Cheryl?" Swaggering into the room, my ex parts the crowd until he's standing only a few feet away. Looking above my head, he sees the sign saying "Happy Divorce Day," and he smirks, his eyes flashing with sarcastic mirth. "Really, Addy? Just come home already. This game is getting old." Reaching forward, Michael holds out his hand to take mine. Taking a step back, I glare as I look around the room. Hunter is gone, Carter is now missing, and Charley is doing her best to make it to my side without causing an even bigger scene. I'm alone. "Michael, this isn't a game," I try to keep my voice low, even though this has already drawn the attention of most of the people in the room. "And I have a restraining order. You shouldn't be here right now. Why are you here?"Michael
[Michael][Earlier that evening]I can't wait to get the heck out of this office. Jayson's at my mother's for the weekend. I couldn't bear to be around my son after receiving the note from my attorney telling me that not only was my evidence rejected, but that my wife, MY WIFE, has been granted her divorce appeal without making any of the concessions I requested.Not only that, but her nosy old law professor, Dr. McCannon, filed a restraining order against me on her behalf. I was shocked to learn that tough old lizard is still alive. He's got to be what, like 102?Evelyn is out tonight, something about needing to see Mr. D, so I'm here, trying to see if there isn't some way I can contest the divorce. I mean, it can't be over, can it? Not really. Addy wouldn't leave me. She promised she'd stay with me forever. Until death do us part. "Sir," my new secretary, Cindy, saunters in. Mr. D sent her over, said my last one was "offensive." She places a whiskey sour next to my mousepad, and I
[Addison]The sharply-dressed young man holding me in his arms has a swoonworthy smile warm enough to melt hearts. Pretty like a model, his features are an exotic blend of cultures with full, soft lips, high, sharp cheekbones, and wide, cola-colored eyes that sparkle with amusement as he glances at me through a curtain of straight auburn brown hair. “It’s a good thing I was here to catch you,” he grins slyly, although his voice is bright with concern. “Are you okay, Miss…?"“Ms. Archer,” I hold out my hand to shake. “Addison Archer,” I nod in the direction of the congratulations sign. “The new divorcee.” “Ah,” his grin brightens. "Perfect, you're just the person I was sent to look for." Helping me stand, he takes my hand and bows over it in a very formal gesture of respect. "On behalf of my law firm, I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Adam. Adam Wright. I work for CCRP Law Group, and we heard you have potential." He pulls a card from the inner pocket
[Addison]Mr. Carter introduced me to his fiancée, Kate, and we hit it off immediately. She’s classy, smart, and has a knack for noticing the small things that others miss and pointing them out to me with no small amount of hilarity. “So you see how she’s walking with a slight hesitation on her left leg,” my new friend points out a beautiful red head with hair with bright blue eyes, and a tight white gown. “Her date, Mr. Danvers, has a thing for dancers. Likes his girls…flexible,” she smirks. Realising her implications, I gasp. “But he’s at least 80!” “Well, love knows no age.” The edge of her lip twists upward as a demure eyebrow lifts just slightly. “Look again, see how broad the shoulders are on his suit? When he was a young man, he was a star polo player and rugby champion. It was 50 years ago, but I bet he still keeps fit.”Blushing, I struggle to NOT think about what she is suggesting as she leads me towards the entrance, where I am surprised to see another friendly face. “Tr
[Hunter]“HUNTER NO!!!!!!!”Addison is screaming, her voice gut-wrenching, as with eyes open but not conscious, she grabs my chest. Holding her close to my heart, I soothe her, saying her name and rubbing her back as I kiss her hair, rocking back and forth.“Addison! Addy! It’s okay.” She is so terrified, so lost and unaware of what is real and what isn’t. It is a trauma response, one I’ve seen in survivors before. Whatever happened to her as a child must have been worse than she has told me. Something so bad she can't even let herself remember it fully. I know that feeling. I have them too.“Please, Addy, come back to me," I beg, forcing my voice to stay strong even though a part of me wants to hide in a corner with her. "I've got you. You're safe." It takes several minutes for her eyes to focus and her face to show signs of recognition. “Hunter, you’re not dead?”“Shh,” I move one of her strands of hair behind her ear. Her elegant updo is a bit mussed now, making her look even more
[Addison]Standing at the top of the stairs, I feel like a princess waiting to enter the ballroom and meet her handsome prince. My hands are shaking as I grip the railing. What if he doesn’t like the dress?What if he does? Taking a deep breath, I make my slow descent, my silver pumps clicking delicately on the marble floors.The dress Charley helped pick out is a periwinkle blue made of a beautiful sequined fabric that casts rainbows as I move. The bodice is a fitted corset with a neckline so low, I have to be taped into it to stay in place, and it flairs out over my hips into a full circle skirt that reaches down to my knees. The whole dress is covered in hand-beading, giving it a nice weight and an expensive feel. Charley wouldn’t let me see the price tag. Not after how I reacted when I saw the additional cost of the jewelry. Instead of a traditional string of pearls or a sensible scarf, I’m wearing a body cage in the shape of a cape, dripping jewels from my neck in every direct