Chapter 5

After her lunch, Emma hailed a cab and reached the towering building of Grayson & Co. Law firm, where her scheduled appointment with Charles Grayson, the Watson Family’s Lawyer was about to take place. 

She entered into Grayson & Co. law firm and confirmed her appointment with the receptionist, who informed Charles Grayson’s secretary about Emma being there for the appointment.

A few moments later, a woman dressed in a crisp business suit walked out to the reception and greeted Emma with a polite smile, she introduced herself with a firm handshake which Emma returned with equal elegance.

“Royce Grayson. I will be handling your case.”

“Emma Wright.”

“Shall we take this to my office?”

Royce asked curtly as Emma nodded with a gentle smile, surprising Royce at her gentle demeanor.

When her Uncle passed her a divorce case of the Watson family, she expected a haughty complaining woman, now plotting to get the maximum of what she could from the family by the divorce because that is what most gold-diggers nowadays did.

The duo walked the elevator and went up to the 18th floor, where Royce’s office was located, along with other Junior Partners of the firm.

The double door opened to reveal an office furnished in modern style, imbibed in cool tones. Royce directed Emma to the navy blue, leather couch placed by the large floor-to-ceiling windows which provided a scenic view of the city.

As Royce was already expecting Emma, a hot cup of chamomile tea and some snacks were readily served as they entered her office.

“I only requested to meet with Mr. Charles to deal with some paperwork. I don’t need a lawyer for myself.”

Emma said calmly once they were settled inside Royce’s office, as she did not want to refuse the latter in the reception and make a scene in front of the receptionist.

“I was told it was about the alimony. Since he is the one proposing divorce we can fetch for more than the provided...”

Royce got started, not wanting to explain how things worked at the firm and how her Uncle was a corporate lawyer and couldn’t handle divorce cases, whereas she was a divorce lawyer.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I don’t want anything in alimony. I just need the papers according to this.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t want anything from this divorce. Process the papers accordingly. I would like two copies as soon as possible, it would be best if I could have it within the next few hours.”

Emma said in a calm voice as she smiled gently at Royce who seemed taken aback by the request, she was confused by the contradictory request.

‘Didn’t gold-diggers want as much alimony as possible? What is with this lady’s weird request?’

Was the first thought in her mind but Royce quickly covered it up and composed herself as she smiled at Emma and asked once again to confirm.

“You... Don’t want any alimony?”

“That is right.”

“But why?”

“I don’t want to do anything with him after the divorce.”

Emma answered curtly, her tone calm and serene without any hesitation, making Royce hesitant.

Her Uncle asked her to help this lady get as much alimony as she could for this lady, so she thought he was fulfilling his obligation and she was just another gold-digger but here Emma was asking something poles apart.

“But...”

“Don’t worry. I’m not uneducated. I can very well support myself without his alimony.”

“I don’t doubt that. It’s just... never mind. I’ll get the paperwork ready.”

Royce sighed softly before standing up and walking to her desk to get the changes done to the previous divorce agreement and get her Uncle’s approval before getting it printed.

While she was getting the papers ready, the double doors of her cabin opened revealing two men in their late twenties.

Dressed in a crisp white shirt and navy blue suit, and paired with oxford leather shoes, with hair neatly styled back was a man who looked strikingly similar to Royce but had an easygoing smile, which froze when he noticed the client sitting at the navy blue leather couch, elegantly sipping the steaming hot tea.

The other man dressed in a three-piece suit and derby leather shoes, with his hair which was styled with little gel, looked messy after having ruffled it several times, was none other than Christopher Howard, whose calm expression a moment ago turned amused and surprised when he saw who the lady inside the office was.

“Huh… I did not know you had a client…”

Richard Grayson, Royce’s twin brother said with an awkward smile as Emma faced them in surprise at the intrusion.

Royce on the other hand was surprised and embarrassed, the former was after seeing her best friend after a long time and the latter was because of the intrusion by her twin and best friend.

“I apologize, Mrs. Watson. They weren’t aware of my appointment with you.”

“It is alright. Carry on with your appointment, you can just mail the papers to me.”

Emma said with a small smile as she stood up and picked up her bag, ready to leave, Royce immediately stopped her in panic while glaring at Richard for being rude.

“Oh no! Mrs. Watson with all due respect, please stay. It is our fault for intruding without checking beforehand. We can totally wait, right Chris?”

Richard quickly explained in a hurry as he did not want to offend any high-profile client and get reprimanded by his Father and Uncle for it later and given Royce’s history of cases till now this one was no doubt a big shot again.

“That’s right, Miss. Wright.”

Christopher who was silently observing Emma till now, addressed her directly after Richard prompted him.

When he addressed Emma with her maiden surname, both Royce and Richard stopped short, looking at him as if he was an alien, whereas Emma’s lips twitched in annoyance.

Of all the ways to meet you Ex, this was surely the most innovative. Meeting your Ex in your Divorce lawyer's office while going through a divorce with your husband for whom you broke up with your Ex in the first place.

“Umm… Do you both know each other?”

Royce asked with uncertainty.

‘Wasn’t she just a middle-class lady who married into old money and now that she couldn’t conceive was being divorced by her husband?’

Royce thought as she looked at Emma and then at her childhood best friend Christopher, who seemed extremely amused by the situation much to the former’s chagrin.

“We went to the same university.”

“She is my Ex, Emma Wright.”