Page 2 of Beautiful Life
“Leigh.”
I look up and over to see Tony sitting next to me and answer with a distracted, “Hmm?”
He narrows his eyes and I know him enough to know he’s trying to control his frustration. I’ve known Tony since I’ve known Gabby. Gabby is my best friend and has been since the third grade. Tony Carpino is her cousin but they are as close as siblings.
Well, not really like siblings.
Siblings fight and bicker, I should know. I have about the worst relationship with my sister anyone could have with a sibling. No, Tony and Gabby are like best friends who fight and bicker but would do anything for one another. Tony was a year ahead of us in school and since I’ve been a staple in Gabby’s life since we were eight years old, I know Tony well enough to understand the glare he’s giving me. And that glare is pure frustration.
“I’ll repeat myself, Mrs. Briggs. You need to sign these papers. They note the changes we’ve discussed today, in addition to having your last name changed back to your maiden name,” Tony explains slowly. I’m guessing this isn’t the first time he’s explained it to me.
I feel my eyes go big as I gingerly adjust in my seat so my good-bad casted arm doesn’t bump the table and look up at him.
I barely hear my own voice. “What changes?”
I didn’t think it was possible, but his almost black eyes narrow farther and he turns back to my husband’s attorneys. “May I have a moment with my client?”
I look over, doing my best to avoid Preston. The entire group looks pissed now—a new look for them since they waltzed in here quite smug only twenty minutes ago.
One of them blurts, “Sure, why not? Let’s see what else she can change her mind about.”
Tony, almost but not quite, slams his hands to the table, forcefully thrusting his chair back, again hinting to his level of frustration. Nevertheless, he carefully pulls my chair out, turns it and takes my new good elbow to help me up. Leading me out of the conference room, he shuts the door in back of us and walks me down the hall about ten feet, turning while crossing his arms over his chest.
Now, I’m tall for a girl at five-nine. He only has five inches on me but it still seems like he’s towering over me with his stance, not to mention the glare on his face. I’m starting to realize today isn’t turning out like I thought it would. I guess I need to start paying attention.
I ask, “What’s going on?”
“What’s going on,” he repeats my question to me as a statement.
Odd.
“Yeah, what’s going on, Tony?”
He takes his hand and pulls it through his lush dark brown hair he leaves a little longish. It’s longish enough that it barely turns at the ends over his ears and neck, pushed back on top with a few strands falling to his forehead naturally without looking styled. How he pulls that off while looking like a professional attorney, I have no idea.
He yanks his suit jacket back to put his fists to his hips. His suit fits him perfectly. It’s a man’s suit, not like the suits Preston wears with that metro-sexual look to them. No, Tony’s is so dark grey it’s almost black with just a hint of stripe you can scarcely detect without looking closely. It fits his tall, muscular frame perfectly. I should know. I used to have a thing for men in suits. It’s what attracted me to Preston in the beginning, but that was back when I found his slim cut, metro-sexual suits attractive.
But not anymore. No more men in suits.
Wait. Back up.
No more men. Period.
Trying to get my mind off Tony’s suit, I ask, “Where is your dad by the way? I thought he was representing me.”
“He had an emergency with another client and asked me to fill in since all that needed to be done was to sign the paperwork. But when I went over your case this morning, I changed my mind about you signing the paperwork.”
My voice turns strangled. “What do you mean you changed your mind?”
Tony throws his question back at me. “Do you know how much money he has, Leigh?”
“Uh, yeah. I am married to him.”
“Then you need to take him to the bank.”
“I’m not taking him to the bank.”
“Why the hell not?” Tony bursts, his frustration peaking even more.
