The Research Project

Chapter Twenty-Four

They walked into Conference Room Three. The clients were already sitting in there and Lainey's eyes widened when she saw who it was. Bella McNamara was instantly recognisable as the rising star of a popular sitcom. At twenty-three and gorgeous, she was the hottest young thing at the moment and she was looking at Byron like she wanted to devour him, despite the fact that he was a lot older than her.

She immediately didn't like her. She knew exactly what Bella wanted. If only Lainey could tell Bella that it had just been her hands that were all over his cock. If only her and Byron didn't have to keep their relationship such a secret. But there was no point thinking about it right now. Byron had started to shake hands with everyone and she had to focus.

"Good morning, Bella, Michelle," Byron said, addressing Bella and her mother. Lainey could see where the man eating instinct came from. Michelle had the same hungry expression her daughter did. He finished shaking hands with all of them before he took his seat.

"Byron, we're so pleased you've agreed to take this case for us," Michelle said.

"Yes," Bella agreed. She placed her hand over her heart as she spoke next. "Finley is a close personal friend of mine and he recommended you highly."

"Well, thank you. It would be my pleasure to represent you in court. So tell me everything that happened and don't spare any details," Byron said as he crossed one leg over the other and leaned back in his chair.

Lainey couldn't help but notice Bella lick her lips. She looked down at her iPad and did her best to ignore the pointed glances and expression as she started to take notes.

"I want to sue Dylan Holloway for damaging my career," Bella said and folded her arms. Byron was silent for a moment. Lainey knew him well enough to know he didn't like what Bella was saying.

Bella started to talk, telling her story of how Dylan had promised her the world with his new sitcom and how it had all fallen through and that he'd never had the money to back it in the first place. Lainey's eyes widened when Bella started talking about how Dylan had wanted Bella to seduce Gray Holloway so that he could fund the show and when that didn't work because Gray had reconciled with his wife, Dylan put a black mark on her name that meant no other producers would look at her.

"My daughter is beautiful," Mrs. McNamara said dramatically. "She's so talented that she should be the star of her own show. This could seriously damage her career."

Byron listened, Lainey took notes. But she pretty much had it all summed up before the meeting was even over. Bella was a gold digger and her mother saw her daughter as a meal ticket to an easier life. Bella had dated footballers, T.V. Stars and even millionaire businessmen in her short twenty-three years. She was the type of person who would be Poppy's mortal enemy in one of her books. At least in her books, Poppy could stand up for herself, in real life, Lainey had to sit here and take notes and pretend not to notice the looks, the hair swishing, the fake laughter. Lainey decided she didn't like the McNamara's. She really hoped this was one of the rare cases Byron lost.

Once the McNamara's had left, Byron made some notes on his laptop. She watched him, waiting for his next directions.

"Let's go," Byron said, standing abruptly.

"Where?" she asked, also rising.

"A little field trip. I need to find witnesses, get affidavits, business transcripts, photographs whatever I can get my hands on," he said, walking and talking.

Okay," she said, following him. She had kind of hoped they would be picking up where they left off. "Where are we going to find that information?"

"I don't know yet, but I have some contacts who might be willing to help. And then we can meet Noah," he said turning back toward her so quickly she almost bumped into him.