Chapter 157: Sued
1294words
"Oh, I've got something alright," Lane replied. "From what I gathered from my contact, Diego and the president are working together to sue you. I'm not sure for what yet, but they're putting together a legal case against you. Oh, and get this... Diego Hudson is their new lead male performer."
Anger coursed through me as I gripped the phone. They were going to sue me?! They were going to try and take me down? And now Diego was their new lead performer? What in the fuck is going on?!
"Can you get any more information?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"I tried, he honestly didn't know anything else.
They've been keeping things really hush-hush around there, I guess."
"Fuck," I cursed beneath my breath. "I think I know who I can call. Thanks for checking on this for me, Lane. I'll see you tomorrow back at the studio."
We hung up before I glanced toward the bathroom. The shower was still running and I knew lynn was waiting for me, but I had to figure this out. I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't. My thumb hovered over a name that I never thought I'd have to call. She was the only woman in the lobby at XXX Studios that knew more than anyone. She had the dirt of everything that went down in that building, and she was the only one I actually liked there. Her professionalism was top notch. I just hoped she'd take my call.
I hit dial and put the phone to my ear, hoping it wasn't too late to make this call. It rang several times before she answered but it was really loud in the background.
"Drake?" She answered, sounding surprised to hear from me.
"Hey Shelly, I'm really sorry to bother you so late, but I-"
"No, no, no! I'm actually glad you did. Hold on, let me get somewhere I can hear you." She shuffled the phone as I waited for her to come back on. After a few moments, I could finally hear her. "Hi! Sorry about that. My brother's band is playing downtown tonight. Figured I'd support the turd, ya know?" She laughed. "But enough about me! How are you, sugar?"
I wasn't sure how to get this out, so I just blurted it. "Do you know why I'm being sued by Diego and XXX Studios?"
She went silent for a moment. "I do, yes." She fumbled with the phone again before her voice lowered. "Diego is claiming that you stole his business plan. Whatever the hell that means. And the president is suing you because you broke your contract. I also heard that they want to take you down for bribery. Apparently several employees of XXX Studios joined your ranks while they were still contracted to us. They think you stole them."
My head fell forward as I took several steadying breaths. This was the last thing I expected to have to fight. If they thought they'd win, they had another thing coming. I had my own lawyers and I'd fight this.
"Anything else?" I asked.
"Yeah, Diego basically took your spot on the roster at XXX. The president adores him. He hates you. It's going to get ugly for you, Drake, and I'm so sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for, Shelly. Thanks for taking my call and thanks for telling me all of this. I know you didn't have to."
"Shit, honey, you were my favorite. How is everything going? How is that lovely girlfriend of yours?"
I smiled at the mention of lynn. "Everything is going okay. It doesn't help that we keep having problems like this one arising out of nowhere." She sighed. "You call me anytime, sugar. And I expect a position to be available for me at your studio."
"Anytime, Shelly. You were always my favorite too."
We hung up before I tossed my phone on the bed and cradled my head in my hands. What the fuck else could go wrong? Every time I think I've taken two steps forward, I get knocked back three. The only thing going right in my life right now was lynn, but even that was on rocky ground. Tucking tail and running away to start a new life was starting to sound better and better everyday. It wouldn't be the first time I've done it.
"Drake?"
I whipped my gaze up to find Molly standing in the bathroom doorway watching me. She was so gorgeous as she leaned against the frame, covering her nakedness from me with a towel, but there was a look of fear in her eyes and I knew she had heard me on the phone.
"Come here," I whispered, holding out my hand.
She stepped away from the doorframe and slowly made her way to me. I grabbed her hips and pulled her onto my lap, straddling her legs around me. My hands caressed against her bare flesh as I stared up into her eyes.
"I'm being sued and it's not pretty, lynn. I don't want to hide anything else from you. XXX is saying that I broke my contract, which I did, but they're also coming after me for the employees that came with me and also broke their contracts."
"Fight back then. Let's get the best damn lawyer in the country, Drake. I won't let them beat you. I have the money."
I winced at her words. "I know you do, baby, but I can't expect you to do that." And I really couldn't. This was my mess and I'd fix it myself.
She framed my face. "I know you think you can't, but we're in this together now. I won't let them win. You were by my side the entire time I went through the shit show my family caused. Let me be here for you."
I leaned forward and buried my head in her chest, inhaling her sweet scent. My arms wrapped tightly around her waist as I held her, hoping it would take away the tightness in my chest.
"Come take a shower with me so we can go to bed. We're going to have a long day tomorrow," lynn whispered into my hair as she caressed her fingers down my spine.
I nodded against her chest before I helped her from my lap. She took my hand in hers and led me into the bathroom. Steam filled the room and fogged up the mirror, but it was her overwhelming scent that calmed me the most. Her body wash wafted through the air and I fucking loved it. She turned to me and ran her hands down my chest as her towel fell to the floor at her feet.
"Everything will be okay, Drake. There isn't anything we can't get through as long as we're together."
Framing her face, I leaned down and lightly kissed her lips. "I don't know what I'd do without you, lynn," I whispered against her lips. "I love you so fucking much."
"The feeling is mutual, Drake." Then she stepped back and took my hand again, pulling me into the shower behind her. "Now wash my back like a good boy."
I burst out laughing as I stepped beneath the hot water with her. Grabbing the body wash, I squirted it into my hand as the scent of cherry blossom became stronger.
"Yes, ma'am." I laughed before I spread the soap over her back, watching her arch as her head cocked to the side.
It was moments like this that reminded me that our life could be amazing. This was just another struggle we'd get through, and she was right: we could get through anything as long as we were together.
