The Ex-Change novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: Open Water

Callie's POV

By the time I got downstairs in yesterday's sweater, the front hall had a lawyer in it.

He stood in the middle of the marble floor with his leather folder held in front of him.

Two cameras had found him already, and both red lights were on.

Colton leaned on the banister halfway up the stairs, in a robe, with a cup of coffee, looking worried for the audience.

Vanessa stood a step below him, with her hand on his arm.

"Ms. Radcliff," said the lawyer. "Mr. Hartley. I represent the network, and I'm here to deliver a courtesy."

"At six in the morning," Jude said, from behind my shoulder.

"The matter is urgent." He opened the folder. "Mr. Bevan and Ms. Lowe have filed notice of defamation."

He turned a page.

"Any statement by either of you alleging misconduct by them, or by the production, will be treated as actionable."

"Any statement," I said.

"Before the finale, and during it. Live."

Colton looked down at his coffee, pained.

"I'm so sorry, Cal," he said. "I didn't want lawyers. The network insisted."

"Of course it did," I said.

"The network also requests the return of its tablet," the lawyer went on. "Ms. Quinn's. It contains proprietary material."

"Ms. Quinn lent it to me," I said.

"Ms. Quinn doesn't have the authority to lend network property."

"I'd like that in writing."

"I have the authority to collect it today."

I looked at the two red lights, and the little black lenses under them.

Then I smiled at the lawyer.

"May I read you something first?" I said. "It's in my contract, and I've read it twice. I do that with leases."

"Ms. Radcliff, this isn't necessary."

"It's page twenty-three, clause four."

I had it memorized, and I said it clearly, for the microphones.

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