Epilogue

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3 YEARS LATER – New York, 2022

"Miss Patterson?" The receptionist peered at me over her glasses, bright pink acrylics tapping impatiently on the counter. "Michelle De Luca is looking for you."

I tore my gaze away from the commotion outside the building, flashing cameras and reporters trying to force their way inside. There were a dozen security guards manning the revolving doors, blocking my exit as I tried to leave for my lunch break.

I fought the urge to groan before heading back for the elevator. One of the other junior associates slid in just before the doors closed, turning to me with a grimace. She was shorter than me, dark-skinned with long braids and friendly brown eyes.

"Can you believe it?" The girl grabbed onto me for support as she almost broke an ankle in her five-inch pumps. "They're not letting anyone enter or leave the building."

It had been less than two hours after we closed the William Dawson case and Michelle De Luca had already gotten her claws into something new. No doubt she was waiting for me to meet this fresh-faced client of hers that people were buzzing about.

"I'm Hannah, by the way." The girl offered a hand for me to shake. "Are you a summer associate too?"

I took it and smiled as the elevator doors opened. "Yeah, I'm Lex."

She beamed. "See you around, Lex!"

I stepped out, lifting my hand in a wave as she disappeared. The sound of clicking heels behind me made me wince and hurriedly, I composed my expression to something more professional before turning to face the Devil herself.

Michelle De Luca, a senior lawyer at Kennedy Partners and one of the best in the country, stood in the doorway of her office in five-inch Louboutins. A few weeks into my internship, I was still a little awed but very impressed by her intimidation factor.

"Our client has arrived," Michelle snapped. "He's waiting for us."

I cringed inwardly and followed her down the corridor, blouse scratching against my neck and almost tripping over my brand new Jimmy Choos. My life now revolved around pencil skirts and blazers, most of which Mom and Kayley had helped to pick out. In fact, the Tiffany hoop earrings were my best friend's personal touch and costed a lot more than what we could both afford. But Kayley insisted they simply completed the look.

We reached Conference Room 7A and Michelle flung the doors open with a little dramatic flair. I was a step behind her confident strides, stopping to thank the young secretary who hurriedly shoved some files into my arms.

"So," started Michelle, her voice smug. "It's you."

She acknowledged the new client first while I flipped open the file to have a quick skim through the finer details. As my eyes zeroed in on the name printed in black, bold writing on the top of the cover sheet, my heart dropped.

"You don't sound too impressed."

I would recognise that voice anywhere.

Three years later, in a white button-down shirt and dark wash jeans, there he was, sitting at the other end of the table. He was less than ten feet away, with his feet propped up and his fingers lopped behind his head. I stared at him, marvelling at how everything could change in three years but those hypnotic green eyes still stayed the same.

"Reid Castellan," said Michelle coldly. "What have you done now?"

He laughed, planting his feet back on the ground and his smirk was one of cool, dignified confidence. Watching him now, it brought back memories that I hadn't revisited in years.

When Reid's gaze slid over to me, he reeled back as if he'd been slapped.

I recognised his shock - which was a no brainer - then followed by disbelief before a nonsensical intrigue lit up his face. To my amusement, his cocky demeanour slipped just a little and he awkwardly raked a hand through his messy, dark hair.

For the first few months after he left, I paid attention to his social media, news headlines and whatever gossip columns that came my way. As he quickly rose to fame and I was quickly swept into my own busy schedule, I realised now I hadn't thought about him in a long time. But the media didn't do him any justice - none of it really captured the precise green of his eyes or the cutting outline of his jaw, lips tugging up in a tentative smile.

Something about him was different now; I think he was happier.

"Great," Michelle's clipped voice jerked me out of my daze. "You two know each other."

"Not really," I said quickly and catching Reid's raised eyebrow, corrected myself. "We haven't spoken in a while. Three years, actually."

"Lex," said Reid with a brief smile. "You haven't changed."

I lifted my chin. "You have. Obviously. Which is why we're here."

Reid looked at me as if I'd only just proven his point and Michelle made a non-committal noise, sitting down across from him. I took a seat next to her, automatically sliding the first four pages of the file over and she nodded her approval.

"Elicit drugs," muttered Michelle as she scanned the information. "Public nudity. Property damage. Suspended indefinitely from the New York City Football Club. Let's hear it, Reid."

Reid chuckled, finally dragging his gaze away from mine. "Where do I even begin?"

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