"Zoe! Its passed 5,tell me what do I owe the pleasure ? Or are you looking for more pleasure aye aye?" Cal wiggled his eyebrow suggestively. Trying to joke about there latest fling hoping she wouldn't see he was disgruntled with his own actions. She had only been back in town for less then a week. Zoe told him she had a very lucrative case in the city and asked to stay with him and Emily for a few days. One thing led to another they had already slept together. Cal knew it was a mistake, hell he knew it was a mistake when she said she was coming to town. When she asked to stay at his place. When they stayed up talking. When they stayed up no longer talking….it was all a mistake. But atleast she was a distraction to his to his problem. " Gillian,do you love her?" that's what Emily asked. " What are you waiting for?" the truth was that he was terrified of taking the next step, of rejection, of risking years of friendship. What if he told her and she didn't feel the same? What if she did? He knew he loved her for quite some time now and thought he was doing what was best for them both, not acting on his feelings. So he pushed ,he pushed her away he had been truly awful to her as of late. He knew he was hurting her but he also new pushing her away was probably best for them both. Who am I fooling huh? Better to love her from a distant. You don't deserve her. She's your best friend and she means everything to you. You can't ruin that because you want more. So he kept pushing and hurting her time and time again trying to push those feelings deep down. " Mother superior" "it's cat and mouse not cats and mouse". He could read the hurt on her face each time and it broke him but he knew he had to. Yet everytime Gil came back with love and kindness in her eyes,she would always forgive she would always forget his asshood and return it with warmth and kindness. He did not deserve any of it or her. So he slept with Zoe, he slept with Zoe because he couldn't have who he really wanted. He imagined it was Gillians mouth he was kissing, her dress he unzips, her hips he grips. It was wrong but it was not the first time. He slept with Zoe to push those feelings for Gillian down again.
"When I told you I would be working in town on a case I expected a little push back Cal." Zoe coolly admits walking into his office. Looking ever the part of a powerful lawyer in her black form fitting suit. "You prying and reading me Maybe? I think you might be losing your touch." She sits across from his desk, smirking and looking at her ex husband.
"You and I both know my touch is perfectly fine darling. And you told me all the time to not read you while we were married. Now that we are not all of a sudden you miss me reading you is that it?" he reads her face, reads the hint of contempt as he brought up reading her and not being married anymore. Contempt that's always been a popular one for us.
Zoe huffed and smirked coyly. "I actually came in to town to meet with you darling. My client is in need of your ' expertise"
"aye aye, what is it this time Zo?" Cal swaggered over to Zoe coming closer to her face reading her micro expressions. "Defending a potential murder suspect? No that's not it….killer? No that's not it either…. he a Mobster?" All he could see was annoyance and amusement. Now that is interesting, what could it be this time? . "well It's got to be something interesting to pull you away from Chicago."
"Fashion designer " she speaks flippantly with a smirk and a shoulder shrug.
"No need for one of those im pretty satisfied with my same wardrobe " Cal speaks with abrogate and humor.
"His name is Perry Lavigne. He is the founder and designer of Lavi, he has been one of the biggest designers for the better part of 15 years. Mr. Lavigne hired my firm for his legal needs last year. Man if his status could use a good attorney and Mr. Lavigne wanted the best of the best. That's where I come in." Zoe proclaimed with bravado.
"and what exactly pray tell does a fashion designer need with my expertise ? I can see needing a lawyer in you deck but a human lie detector seems a little odd now doesn't it?" he tilts his head watching her intently.
"After my firm took on Lavi' and Mr. Lavigne as a client we noticed some funds where 'miss placed' and brought it to his attention "
"embezzlement huh? Fascinating Zoe but your client can hire a money manager or an auditor and find his money" he walks back to his desk, flopping his body in his chair without abandoned.
"As I stated Cal. Mr. Lavigne wants the best of the best. It's not the missing funds that's the issue it's that someone in his company is lying to him, loyalty and honesty mean everything to him. He has kept his circle of people small for a reason and finding out someone has betrayed him? He wants answers, he wants the truth and he will pay top dollar to get that. That's where you come in."
Cals phone rang at his desk, hitting the speaker button "Doctor Lightman, I know it's late but I have a Mr. Lavigne here? He has just arrived and asked for you, would you like me to send him in?" Heidi informs him.
"Send em in" ending the call and sitting in his chair Cal looks up to see Heidi letting in the aforementioned Mr.Lavigne. The first thing he notices is the man was extremely tall compared to Lightmans shorter figure. Running close to 6'6" Blonde hair and blue eyes, in tip top shape he would guess by his frame and by all accounts very good looking . If your into freakishly tall male model esc men lightman thought. He was wearing a very well tailored dark blue suit and tie. Looking like someone fresh off of a GQ photo shoot. Fashion designer huh? Gonna go on a whim and say gay he thought with humor when he saw the way both Heidi and Zoes pupils dilated upon taking in the mans appearance. Good luck with that one ladies. Standing up he walked over to the designer Zoe standing now beside him.
"Doctor Lightman it is a real pleasure to meet you. Perry Lavigne" Perry stuck his hand out to shake Cals hand. He spoke in a low voice and a small hint of an accent. French maybe? He seems to be speaking purposefully as to not let his accent be as strong, interesting Cal mentally noted. His hands where large, but his shake was not as firm as normal men of his stature. He was being careful and thoughtful of his clear strength and size Cal made a note taking in the large man before him.
" Ms. Landau told me of your line of work I have to say It definitely sparked my interest. Ms. Landau says you are the right man for the job when it comes to searching for the truth"
"or searching for the lies take your pick really. Sounds like you have a bad apple in your patch by the sounds of it. Perry was it? " Cal noted that Perry showed disgust at the mention of a bad apple.
"Unfortunately so. I need to know who it is. The thought of someone betraying me….." disgust,anger, contempt, Cal read. " I keep my circle small,Doctor Lightman. I don't hire new staff ever, I have had the same team going on almost two decades now. Loyalty and honesty mean everything and the thought that someone has betrayed me….I need to know who and why" hurt, contempt, disgust,anger showing on his face. He was speaking calmly and firmly but his face was an open book to Lightman.
"Getting quite worked up there aren't we Perry?" Cal stated getting closer to search the man's face. Mr.Lavigne did not back up like most others when the likes of Lightman makes his way into your space. He stood firmly and looked Lightman in the eyes as he spoke.
" When I was a child my family had a nanny, Lucia. We loved her like she was one of us. We spent holidays with her, vacations. She had a small child of her own, the father left her to fend for herself and child. My family helped take care of her. She was loyal to my family for 15 years. When I was 17 my father caught Lucia steeling 10 euros from his nightstand. Lucia was like a second mother to me and my brothers, she raised us . She was family. My father told my mother about the money." he spoke with contempt and hurt in his eyes as he told the story. "tell me Doctor Lightman what would you do?" he looked Cal directly in the eyes searching.
"15 years of loyal service to a family and 10 euro missing? Loyalty first. How much money are you saying is missing? better be far more the 10 euros?" Cal walked a few steps back words looking between Perry and Zoe.
"Try 5.5 mill missing over 5 years Doctor Lightman…. atleast that is the latest calculation, am I right Ms. Landau?" gesturing to Zoe, looking at her for confirmation .
"closer to 5.8 after the last round up of numbers…" Zoe stated calmly.
Perry walked over to the couch taking a seat.
"I have a staff of 30, that's including my business partner, assistants and advisors. I have a fashion show end of this month and from the stats it appears large funds of mine go 'missing' around this time based on years prior. Would you be willing to take on my case?" he looked at lightman with hope in his eyes. Hope to find his answer to the question he had been asking himself for months now. Who betrayed me.
"30 employees in 30 days seems easy enough we will find your liar."
