Include Eden

EDEN

“That’s hardly worth one million dollars,” Preston Hawthorn drawled. “I barely scratched it.”

Eden Lewis had spent the entire morning preparing for a difficult mediation.

She had not, however, prepared herself to forget every argument she had rehearsed when Preston Hawthorn’s blue eyes locked onto hers.

Then she remembered she was a lawyer.

And that Preston Hawthorn was currently attempting to avoid responsibility for wrecking into her client’s luxury sports car on live television.

“Mr. Hawthorn,” she said smoothly, folding her hands atop the table, “my client’s claim extends beyond the damage to the vehicle. She suffered considerable public humiliation.”

A muscle ticked in Preston’s jaw.

Even after all these years, she recognized the warning sign.

“The stalker wouldn’t…”

His attorney, Mike Tally, jumped in before Preston could finish.

“What my client is trying to say is that the humiliation was never intentional. Mr. Hawthorn had recently ended his relationship with Ms. Gravett and had informed her multiple times that she was no longer welcome at the event in question. She nevertheless attended and publicly presented herself as his date.”

“We did not break up,” Marlee Gravett protested, clutching her designer handbag with her perfectly manicured nails. “We simply had a disagreement.”

Preston groaned and tipped his dark curly hair back, facing toward the ceiling. “That you didn’t want to break up and I did.”

“Breaking up is a mutual agreement. You can’t just decide for me.” Marlee spouted out sounding like a pouting child.

“See?” Preston pointed directly at her turning toward his lawyer. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. She’s insane.”

Marlee gasped dramatically, throwing her long blonde strands of hair from her shoulders. “I am not.”

Eden rose from her chair, the metal legs scrapping across the tile. And the room immediately silenced.

“Mr. Hawthorn,” she said coolly, gathering a stack of papers, “if you insist on insulting my client, then I see no reason to continue these negotiations. We can conclude this meeting and allow a judge to decide the matter along with the rest of the world.”

It was a bluff.

A beautiful bluff.

Possibly her finest work of the week.

The truth was that Marlee’s case was held together by little more than expensive mascara and misplaced outrage.

The damage to the vehicle might earn her a respectable settlement.

But the humiliation claim?

Well, that would collapse the moment anyone reviewed the footage or heard Marlee talk.

Unfortunately for Preston, winning in court and surviving public scrutiny were two very different things. And Preston Hawthorn had always cared about his image but not as much as his coach, manager, and lawyer care for it.

Mr. Tally visibly paled.

“I think,” he said carefully, “that we can still reach a reasonable agreement without this going beyond today.”

Preston leaned toward his lawyer and whispered something.

Eden watched the exchange with growing curiosity. Perhaps they were discussing numbers.

Mr. Tally’s expression immediately darkened. Whatever Preston had suggested, his lawyer clearly hated it.

The two argued in hushed tones for nearly a minute before Mr. Tally finally surrendered with a long suffering sigh.

“My client would like a private conversation with you, Ms. Lewis.”

Eden blinked.

Of all the requests she had expected to hear today, that had not made the list.

“I’m sure whatever needs to be discussed can be discussed in front of my client.”

Her tone remained perfectly professional.

Inside, however, curiosity stirred.

Because after eight years, she couldn’t imagine a single thing Preston Hawthorn might want from her.

Preston had spent most of their childhood pretending she didn’t exist.

And somehow, seeing him again hurt far more than she wanted to admit.

Ordinarily, she refused cases involving people from her past.

It was a rule she had established for both professional and personal survival.

When she had informed her boss that she knew Preston, she had expected to be reassigned immediately. Instead, he had looked entirely too pleased and informed her that she would be keeping the case.

At the time, she had thought it was strange.

Now, watching Preston stare at her with an intensity that had nothing to do with lawsuits, she suspected there was much more happening here than a dispute over a scratched car.

And she had a sinking feeling she wasn’t going to like whatever it was.

Across the table, Preston leaned back in his chair looking far too at ease. Like he was in control.

For a moment, she caught the faintest hint of amusement in his expression.

It irritated her immediately.

“Then I suppose we’ll discuss the settlement first,” Mr. Tally said, clearing his throat.

A number was slid across the table.

Marlee gasped. “That’s it?”

Eden glanced down at the figure before carefully schooling her expression. The offer was lower than she had anticipated.

“We believe it’s more than fair,” Mr. Tally announced.

“Fair?” Marlee scoffed. “That doesn’t even cover the damages to my new car.”

Mr. Tally folds his hands on the table as he speaks, “The new car Mr. Hawthorn purchased for you. Besides, Mr. Hawthorn is owed damages for tarnishing his name.”

“No.” Marlee shoved her finger towards Preston aggressively. “You tarnished my name.”

“What name? The only reason anyone knows you, is because you dated me. Do you know how humiliating that night was?” Preston pinched the bridge of his nose. “Marlee, you deliberately blocked my car after following me around all night harassing me. I didn’t see you block me.”

“You embarrassed me first!” Marlee’s green eyes filled with obvious fake tears.

“Because I told the truth?” Preston scuffed out in almost disbelief of the memory. “Maybe you shouldn’t have chased down a news station in the parking lot and announced to the entire world that we were getting married.”

“We were supposed to get married!” She dabbed at the three little tears she had managed to squeeze out.

“I never proposed to you!” Preston yelled at Marlee, banging his fist on the table.

“We dated for six months.” Marlee turned toward Eden. “See? He’s gaslighting me.”

Eden resisted the urge to sigh. This mediation had somehow become less of a legal proceeding and more of a reality television reunion.

Across from her, Preston’s lawyer looked as though he regretted every career choice that had led him to this moment.

Eden straightened the settlement paperwork and sat back down before speaking. “My client is willing to continue negotiations,” she said, redirecting the conversation before it spiraled further. “However, I don’t believe we’ve reached a number that adequately reflects the circumstances.”

Mr. Tally countered with another figure. Marlee immediately demanded double. The negotiations continued for nearly twenty minutes. Throughout the entire exchange, Eden remained frustratingly aware of Preston.

Aware of the way he occasionally studied her when he thought she wasn’t looking.

Finally, after another round of offers and counteroffers, Mr. Tally closed his folder sounding defeated. “I believe we’ve made as much progress as we’re going to make today.”

Eden nodded. “Perhaps we could…”

The meeting appeared to be over so she had tried to suggest them meet again tomorrow, but Preston surprised everyone.

“I’ll pay the million.”

The room went silent.

Marlee’s mouth actually fell open.

Even Mr. Tally looked stunned.

“I think my client and I need a moment to--,” Mr. Tally tried to speak but Preston interrupted.

“No, we don’t.” Preston shook his head as a slow smile tugged at his lips, and his blue orbs stayed locked on Eden. “I said I would pay the million.”

Eden stared across the table. She had the feeling that whatever was about to happen, wasn’t going to be anything she would like. Because Preston Hawthorn never gave up so easily. A moment ago they had been haggling over numbers. Much lower numbers. And now he would give the ridiculous amount Marlee was asking.

That dirty little smirk on Preston’s face was the fuse to the bomb he was about to drop. She just knew it.

“There are a few conditions though.” He stated, never glancing away from Eden.

“The first is that Ms. Lewis meets with me privately.”

A chill worked its way down Eden’s spine. Yes, she was definitely going to dislike this.

Mr. Tally looked ready to develop a stress-induced ulcer as he frantically glanced back and forth between her and Preston.

“And the other conditions?” Eden asked, blinking more than she should.

Preston’s smile widened.

“We’ll discuss the other conditions in private.”

The air seemed to leave the room.

Because suddenly Eden knew two things.

The first was that whatever Preston wanted had nothing to do with the lawsuit.

And the second was that he had known exactly how to make sure she couldn’t walk away.