Love's lawyer

Chapter 6

Alan was sitting in his chair and looked extremely anxious. I could understand his stress completely. Today was going to be decided if he got to play a part in his children's life, or if he would only be seen by them as the fatherly figure they never had and resent him for that for the rest of their lives.

"Alan, everything is going perfectly fine. They asked for a break to compose themselves and review their strategy." I reassured him the best I could.

We waited for a few more minutes in a pleasant silence until they came back into the conference room. They sat back down and pushed a paper towards us.

"We're proposing a settlement, but the children are staying with Mrs. Rickman, soon to be Miss Relbon."

"I don't think you understood us quite well Mr. We won't agree to a settlement. We have agreed to discuss with you to see if there was anyways for him to have shared custody... Between us, you know perfectly well that if the case came before the court, your client will have very little to no custody..."

That caused him to shut up, and I mentally high fived myself while Alan looked at me with a gleam of hope, suddenly I felt something grasp my hand. I was a bit startled but did my best not to show any emotions at all. I looked at him and felt his hand lightly squeeze mine as in thanks before letting go of it.

"A, my love, please. You can't do this to us. This is hard on them, look if you'd like... I am ready to give you one weekend every month. But I get to decide which one and you don't get to have a weekend during the summer holidays." Alix small voice said from the end of the table.

I looked at Alan, surely, he couldn't agree to those ridiculous terms. He had the right to see his children for more than once a month. Before he could answer I asked for a break and we went into an empty conference room.

"Rose, I have to agree. She is giving me so much... I want to agree. She can keep everything else, as long as I have my children with me, that's all that matters for me. Please, let me do this, I don't want my children to be dragged in front of the cameras, because, believe me. If we go to trial, the press will be just as happy."

"Alan, if that's really what you want, I won't keep you away from them. But you know that if we go to trial, you could get full custody..."

"Yes, I know. Please, say that we agree to their terms." He told me solemnly.

"Alright, Alan."

We got out of the room and headed back to where the meeting took place, once there, I informed them of the decision Alan had taken. It was only one and a half hour later that we all got out of the conference room, each having a copy of the new custody papers. I was glad to know that Alan would get to see his children in two weeks as Alix had agreed to give him this weekend. Once we had escorted them out of the premise, we went back to my office.

"Rose, I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for me. Thanks to you, I'll be able to see my children grow up. You know what, to celebrate, I'm inviting you to dinner. Tonight, meet me at the Savoy. Dinner's on me, of course." He said cheerily.

"Alan, I'm sure you'd rather spent the night with someone else. Friends, your family... They'll be so glad for you. Don't worry about me, alright." I said, blushing madly at the idea that my favorite actor wanted to invite me to dine out, especially at the Savoy...

"Rose, look at me. It is thanks to you that I get to stay with my children so I will say that only one more time. Rose Addington, will you please come to dine with me tonight?" He said, his eyes boring holes into mine.

"Yes, Alan. I will." I laughed when he took me in his arms and spun me around. He was clearly overjoyed.

"Alright, I'll pick you up at 7.30 p.m. Here in the lobby. Goodbye Rose, and once again thanks a lot for all that you did for me."

"It's nothing at all Alan. Really. See you tonight then." I whispered as he exited my office.

I was completely and utterly speechless. He had invited me. Out of every people he could have spent his evening with, he had picked me. As the idea became more and more concrete in my head, I suddenly realised that he had invited me to the Savoy. Shit, I had to get a dress. I couldn't quite show up at the Savoy in a work skirt and blazer, could I?

"June, could you come to my office? Now please" I said, picking up the phone and quick dialing my assistant.

A few seconds later she was there.

"Hey Rose, I heard the discussion went well. Congrats. But I feel that you have something to ask me. Tell me what I can do for you." She said as she entered the office.

"Thanks June. You know Alan... he invited me... to dine... at the Savoy..." I said, trying to sound as casual as possible.

"Wait. He invited you to the Savoy. Let me guess, you need a dress to go, and you don't know what you should wear. So, you are calling me to give you a hand. Do stop me if I'm wrong." She said, looking at me with a shimmer in her eyes.

I nodded and before I knew it, I was inside a fancy-dress shop right in front of the building where our office was. A small woman greeted us. A pair of glasses were perched on top of her nose, held in the neck by a small golden chain. Around her neck was a tape measurer that nearly touched the ground.

"Bonjour madame, bienvenue Chez Florette. How can I help you today?" The woman asked with an extremely thick French accent.

"Hello, my friend is looking for a dress for a date at the Savoy. Something classy and discreet but also sexy"

"June!" I exclaimed becoming completely red in shame.

"What, don't you want to look beautiful for Alan." She said, giggling.

"Don't worry madame, I have exactement what you need." The shopkeeper said, clapping her hands and disappearing behind a large velvet curtain.

She came back after a few minutes with a bag which contained the dress.

"If madame would come with me behind this curtain to try the dress out." She said, pulling the curtain of the dressing room.