Swallowing hard, I took a minute and tried to calm my nerves. This was just so hard. He had all these people around him who knew him better than I did. And he wasn’t letting me in. I didn’t know what to do.
I still ached to call Paige, but this wasn’t the time. Or the place. This bathroom was seriously echo-y.
I touched up my makeup then gave myself a brave smile that I definitely wasn’t feeling before I exited.
When I got back to the reception area, I stopped in front of her desk. “Can you show me to Elizabeth’s office?”
“I’m afraid Ms. Chen made it clear she’s not to be disturbed.” She smiled wolfishly at me. “But you’re welcome to take a seat and wait here.” She gestured to the metal chairs lining the waiting area like it was a cozy spa.
Wait here under the watchful eye of Mal’s fangirl, or in the luxury SUV with what’s-his-name? Honestly, they both sounded like shit options.
But I was tired and these chairs were closer, so I collapsed into the nearest one then gave the receptionist a toothy smile. “Thank you.”
She rolled her eyes and tapped her keyboard behind her tall desk.
This was officially the longest day of my life. The whole horrible emotion of the day was making my head pound behind my eyes. But I couldn’t hide in my phone since everyone I ever knew was currently calling or texting me.
So I grabbed a nearby magazine and pretended interest in the Asian market.
“Is that her?” I heard someone whisper loudly from the other side of the room.
“Yeah, can you believe it?” a familiar voice replied. “Malcolm Holt finally married someone, and he robs the cradle to do it. She’s gotta be young enough to be his daughter.”
“I wouldn’t mind calling him daddy.”
Hushed giggles rang out from the other side of the room.
It took everything inside me not to stomp over there and tell them that I actually did call him daddy, and he loved it every freaking time.
Instead, I just sighed and turned the page.
“We’ll contact his lawyer and get working on the probate right away.”
“Thanks again, Elizabeth,” Mal replied. “Saylor, you’re still here.”
I dropped the magazine and shook my head. “Yes, Mal. I’m still here. I wasn’t allowed to join your meeting.”
All eyes swung my way and the Asian woman next to Mal frowned. “Mal, who’s this?”
“His wife,” the receptionist piped up with a barely visible snarl.
“You got married, Mal?” His lawyer sent him a concerned look. “When? Where?”
Mal sighed and rubbed his face with a hand. “Two days ago, I think? In Fiji.”
“I’m going to assume that means there was no prenup.” Elizabeth frowned.
“Of course there wasn’t a prenup.” Naomi laughed.
“Nay,” Mal bit out. “Go wait in the car.”
Naomi swung an accusing glare my way before stomping out of the building.
“Maybe we should go back to my office and talk about this…situation.” Elizabeth waved a vague hand to encompass me and Mal.
Mal shook his head. “There’s nothing to discuss. We’re married. Gio’s dead. I’ve got shit to do.”
“At the very least, we need a copy of the marriage license. A certified, legally filed copy of your marriage license. I assume all the proper paperwork was carried out?”