After the fifth ring, I picked up the phone. “Lauren,” Christopher’s voice was smooth, like he was trying to coax a wild animal out of hiding. “We need to talk. It’s important.”
My fingers danced over the keyboard, pulling up more data on the estate and the faltering law firm. “About what?” I asked, feigning ignorance as I continued to scan the numbers on the screen. I wanted him to feel the weight of every word, the power shift that had occurred since they’d thrown me out.
“Look, I know things haven’t been easy between you and Dad—Stephen,” he corrected himself quickly. “But we could really use your help right now. The firm is going through a rough patch, and I thought maybe—”
