C'mere (Paul Banks fanfic)

The Plan

Once Paul seemed to feel comfortable with his lawyer, they talked about how they wanted to go about the threat Aiden Wilson, former collaborator, had made to sue if he didn't get royalties for two demo songs in the Deluxe Edition of Turn On The Bright Lights.

Rhiannon wanted Paul to speak to the bloke while she was present to try to make him understand how inconvenient it was for all parts for him to go through with the threats. They spoke for about 45 minutes about the details.

- I need you to have at hand any evidence that could be useful in court, if things get that far. - She explained. - Anything Wilson could have written with his own hands, recordings, whatever we can use to prove that he was not involved in the writing of any song in the album, are we clear?

- Yes. - He then, hesitantly added. - I just...

Rhi looked at him, waiting for him to order his thoughts. He seemed uncomfortable.

- You need to tell me everything now, Mr. Banks. Anything that can be useful. - She urged him.

- Paul, remember? May I smoke? - He asked, instead.

- Not here, no. - She answered. She hated the fact that she couldn't smoke here, either. - But I can tell Lydia to show you to the smoking area and when you're sorted, we can continue?

She started lifting up the phone to call Lydia, but he shook his head.

- Can't YOU come instead? So we can continue talking?

Rhi took a big breath. She made a point of not being overly social with clients. She stayed as professional as possible, i.e.: very. She was often referred to as the best, yet most stuck up lawyer one could work with. But she also liked to make her clients feel important, so that way they would recommend her. And yes... she could use a fag...

Paul was waiting for her reply with pleading eyes and that made her feel disquieted. He looked like SUCH a womaniser. She made up her mind quickly.

- I don't smoke. - She lied.

- Oh, well... then I'll go with Lydia. - He seemed disheartened.

Rhi nodded and called Ly, who was quick to come get "the client".

- Fancy one? - He asked her when they were out in the terrace.

- No, thanks, Mr... ehrm... Paul. I uhm... when I start, I can't stop... - She answered, looking down and straightening her skirt with her hands.

He let out a little laugh.

- That's what happened to me, I can't stop now... - He confessed as he inhaled the white smoke.

Lydia grinned and continued to stare at her own shoes, shyly. She was trying her best not to check him out as he leant on the wall. He had very strong arms and wide shoulders, even when he was fairly slim.

- How old is uhm Ms. Yeatts? What's her first name? - He suddenly asked.

- Ah, Rhiannon. She's 28... - She immediately wondered if it wasn't inappropriate to talk about her boss's age.

Paul whistled as he turned off his cigarette in a tray.

- She's pretty young for such a powerful lawyer.

Lydia assented proudly. 

- She's great.

- I see that, I just wish she were a bit more... approachable?

Lydia looked at him, confused. She didn't know what he meant, but didn't ask. Maybe him, like every other client before, had detected how punctilious her boss was.

- Well she will do anything in her power to help you with your situation. - She told him, trying to sound as professional as she had seen Rhi act around clients.

Paul smirked, noticing what she was doing.

- I am certainly glad. Shall we?

When they came back, Rhi was eagerly drinking a glass of water. She felt strangely hot, she started to get worried about coming down with something. She motioned for the client to come in and she fell short of breath when he passed right by her, smelling of tobacco and some very fine perfume. She felt annoyed at herself, yes this man was charismatic, but he was JUST another client.

- I don't want Aiden to be affected by any of this. - He said as he sat down. So that's what was bothering him before. - He was my friend.... this all seems like a weird nightmare.

- OK. - Rhi answered. 

 - I mean, I don't want to destroy him or his credibility or his respectability...

- Well, that's going to be tricky if we're to go to court and actually win the case. - She explained putting on her polite smile again. - We need to prove he's either lying or wrong in his allegations.

- Well that must be it! - He interjected. - He must be wrong or completely out of his mind. Lying about something as elemental sounds just... insane.

Very naïve for a rockstar, Rhi thought. Wanting money for participating in one of the best sold records of the decade was a pretty decent motive.

- We'll go with that as long as we can factually support it. - She concluded.

- Excellent. - He said, standing up. - Thank you very much, Rhi, may I call you that? - She nodded awkwardly. - I'll send you his contact details so you can arrange a meeting with him.

- Great. We will be waiting for your updates. Have a great day.

He took the hand she offered, but didn't just shake it... he kissed it. Rhi felt horrified, but stayed quiet, sat down again and saw him walk out.