Free The Love Handles Club (Love in the City Short) by Liv Morris Page A

knows if the room has hidden mics?” Jensen scanned around the room. His eyes stopped on a large contraption sitting on the wet bar’s counter.
    “I’m going to make some coffee. You behave,” Jensen said to us before heading toward the coffee machine.
    “How are you do ing?” I searched Kelly’s face, looking for any signs to tell me how she was holding up. Under the circumstances she appeared all right.
    “It’s funny. You’d think I’d be frazzled and upset after Joe called me a whore. For Pete’s sake, I never was anything but faithful. His outburst showed me how awful a human being he is. Convinced me that I’m, or we’re , doing the right thing. I hope this is the last time I see him or have to deal with him ever again.”
    “I pray so too , Kelly.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets because they didn’t want to behave at all. They itched to touch her but I had to play it cool.
    As Jensen walked toward us, Mindy entered the lounge area and announced that we were wanted back in the conference room. The break was super quick and I wondered if they were ab le to calm Joe down and get him to be halfway reasonable. I’m sure his attorneys were shocked as hell when Kelly walked in. It was our trump card and I think we played it well. Now off for round two.
    When we arrived back at the conference room the mood was different and somber. Joe looked like his legal team had taken him to the woodshed. The proud peacock that ’d confronted us with his feathers puffed out was nowhere to be found. Instead, he held his head low avoiding eye contact as we sat down, once again, across from him.
    “Thanks for allowing the break.  We understand that both of the parties were aware of the child before their separation so there isn’t a failure of disclosure on your client’s part.” Byers, Joe’s main attorney went right to the point. His client hadn’t told him about the baby and it wasn’t Kelly's responsibility to disclose it. The blame lay right at Joe’s feet. Actually, the whole damn mess did.
    “That is correct, ” Jensen replied. “We came prepared today to offer a settlement. We have laid out the terms and conditions. I’ll pass around the papers.”
    Jensen stood up, took out a folder from his briefcase and shuffled through some papers. He passed out the settlement agreement he hoped Joe would agree on. My hands started to perspire as my eyes found Kelly’s. She gave me a halfhearted smile and I returned it as best I c ould. So much was at stake here, her future, the baby’s, and ours together.
    Once everyone had the papers in front of them, the seconds turned into minutes as Joe’s legal team absorbed the offer in front them. It was straightforward and to the point. A set dollar amount. No maintenance or alimony for Kelly. No long term pay-offs from Joe.
    All he had to do was sign the documents and write a check, but I knew nothing would ever be that simple when dealing with this man and his ego. I’d known plenty of jerks like him in my life. They like d to make people pay when they felt wronged. Then add all the zeros behind the number one… I was certain Joe would make Kelly sweat before he signed
    “Before we discuss the financial part of this settlement, I’d like clarification on Mr. Jeffries giving up any parental rights to his unborn child. In the State of Georgia, the juvenile court will not allow this type of separation if the mother is planning on raising the child by herself.” Byers’ eyes shifted to me. “Another man would have to be seeking to adopt the child with the mother. The State doesn’t want to be burdened down the road for the child in the event the mother can’t provide financially for the child.”
    “An understandable concern,” Jensen replied. “We have legal documents prepared by my offices here in Atlanta that petition the court for Bradley Dawson’s adoption of the unborn child. He intends to raise the child as his own in partnership with Kelly Parker