Five Hours a Year novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: Free Hours

Leah's POV

Alec was at my door by nine on Friday night, still in the suit he had worn to resign.

He looked like he had walked out of the airport and straight into a wall.

"They froze it," he said.

"I know. The bank emailed me an hour ago. It's my account, so they had to."

"Desmond told the judge it's firm money. He says the invoices were fees owed to the firm, and you were only holding them."

"Holding them." I stepped back to let him in. "Six years, and I'm a safe-deposit box."

He didn't sit.

He stood in the middle of the living room with his hands at his sides, the way he used to stand in front of a jury.

"I'll fix it," he said. "I'll put my own money in escrow against whatever he claims. I'll sign anything the judge asks. I'll make it go away."

"Alec."

"And if you want me gone, too, I'll go."

I stopped.

"Say that again."

"I've thought it through on the plane." His voice was steady, and his hands weren't. "You never asked for the money. You never wanted it near you. You stayed in New York for six years because you're too proud to walk out of a thing you started, and the day you did, it was because I handed you the last reason."

"That's what you think."

"It's what I know. So take the account, and I'll take the freeze, and I'll take myself out of your life when the hearing is done. You won't owe me an hour." He swallowed. "I only want you free."

I looked at him for a long time.

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