Lick: Stage Dive 1 by Kylie Scott Read Free Book Online Page A

zero caffeine seemed suicidal given the stressful circumstances. I hurried down the stairs.
    “Ms Thomas,” a man called, stepping out of a room to the left. He wore jeans and a white polo shirt. Around his neck sat a thick, gold chain. So who was this? Another of David’s entourage?
    “Sorry I’m late.”
    “It’s fine.” He smiled, but I didn’t quite believe him despite the big white teeth. Nature had clearly played no part in his teeth or tan. “I’m Adrian.”
    “Ev. Hello.”
    He swept me into the room. Three men in suits sat waiting at an impressively long dining table. Overhead, another crystal chandelier sparkled in the morning light. On the walls were beautiful, colorful paintings. Originals, obviously.
    “Gentlemen, this is Ms Thomas,” Adrian announced. “Scott Baker, Bill Preston and Ted Vaughan are David’s legal representatives. Why don’t you sit here, Ev?”
    Adrian spoke slowly, as if I were a feebleminded child. He pulled a chair out from the table for me directly opposite the team of legal eagles, then walked around to sit on their side. Wow, that sure told me. The lines had been drawn.
    I rubbed my sweaty palms on the sides of my jeans and sat up straight, doing my best not to wilt beneath their hostile gazes. I could definitely do this. How hard could it be to get a divorce, after all?
    “Ms Thomas,” the one Adrian had identified as Ted started. He pushed a black leather folder full of papers toward me. “Mr Ferris asked us to draw up annulment papers. They’ll cover all issues, including details of your settlement from Mr Ferris.”
    The size of the stack of papers before me was daunting. These people worked fast. “My settlement?”
    “Yes,” Ted said. “Rest assured Mr Ferris has been very generous.”
    I shook my head in confusion. “I’m sorry. Wha—”
    “We’ll deal with that last,” Ted rushed on. “You’ll notice here that the document covers all conditions to be met by yourself. The main issues include your not speaking to any member of the press with regard to this matter. This is non-negotiable, I’m afraid. This condition remains in force until your death. Do you fully understand the requirement, Ms Thomas? Under no circumstances may you talk to any member of the press regarding Mr Ferris in any way while you’re alive.”
    “So I can talk to them after I die?” I asked with a weak little laugh. Ted was getting on my nerves. I guess I hadn’t gotten enough sleep after all.
    Ted showed me his teeth. They weren’t quite as impressive as Adrian’s. “This is a very serious matter, Ms Thomas.”
    “Ev,” I said. “My name is Ev and I do realize the seriousness of this issue, Ted. I apologize for being flippant. But if we could get back to the part about the settlement? I’m a little confused.”
    “Very well.” Ted looked down his nose at me and tapped a thick, gold pen on the paperwork in front of me. “As I said, Mr Ferris has been very generous.”
    “No,” I said, not looking at the papers. “You don’t understand.”
    Ted cleared his throat and looked down at me over the top of his glasses. “It would be unwise of you to try and press for more given the circumstances, Ms Thomas. A six-hour marriage in Las Vegas entered into while you were both heavily under the influence of alcohol? Textbook grounds for annulment.”
    Ted’s cronies tittered and I felt my face fire up. My need to accidentally kick the prick under the table grew and grew.
    “My client will not be making another offer.”
    “I don’t want him to make another offer,” I said, my voice rising.
    “The annulment will go ahead, Ms Thomas,” said Ted. “There is no question of that. There will be no reconciliation.”
    “No, that’s not what I meant.”
    Ted sighed. “We need to finalize this today, Ms Thomas.”
    “I’m not trying to hold anything up, Ted.”
    The other two lawyers watched me with distaste, backing up Ted with sleazy, knowing smiles. Nothing pissed