Page 54 of Rivals and Liars

Leire shoved her and they both laughed.

"Seriously though—how are you? Any regrets? Would you have done it differently if it hadn't been a spur-of-the-moment thing?"

"No regrets at all. And I don't even think about how I would've done it if it had been planned," Leire said with a slight smirk. "I was terrified, Marta—but not because of what other people might think. In that moment, while I was waiting for Kate's reaction, I realized how little I cared what anyone thought of me for being a lesbian. The only thing that mattered was her."

"That's what I'm talking about," Marta said, looking at her with pride. "And Costel? What's going to happen with that brand? Have they said anything?"

Leire let out a slow breath through her nose.

"I don't know. Isaac hasn't told me anything yet, so I'm guessing they haven't made a statement, but I've made a decision about that too."

"Which is?" Marta's eyebrows went up.

"I'm going to ask to terminate the contract, work out some kind of settlement with them, and stop sponsoring their brand. I don't want to keep pretending to be someone I'm not, and if I stay with them it's like the job isn't fully done. If I really want a fresh start with Kate, I need to do all of this."

"Then go for it, girl. You know I'm here if you need me."

"Thank you."

Her phone buzzed and Leire got so flustered she nearly knocked over the beer bottle as she dug for it between her legs. She unlocked the screen, her eyes went wide, and a huge smile spread across her face when she saw Kate's name.

"Can you give me a few minutes? It's Kate…"

"You don't say," Marta teased, waving her off—though Leire was already walking across the grass with the phone pressed to her ear, wearing such a dopey expression that her friend watched her go with a tender sigh.

Chapter 26

"Ready?" Isaac asks when they step off the elevator and start down the hallway.

Leire glances at him sideways and nods, though she can't hide her nerves, and the tight expression on her face gives her away. He stops at a front desk, gives Leire's name — she looks like she's somewhere else entirely — and the receptionist types it into the computer.

"Ms. Solano is already expecting you. I'll take you back."

"That won't be necessary," Isaac says pleasantly. "If you just tell me the door."

The receptionist hesitates, then nods and gestures toward the other hallway.

"Second door on the left."

"Thank you."

Isaac puts a hand on Leire's back and nudges her forward, but she stops just before they reach the attorney's office.

"If you need more time to think it over, I can tell her we need to reschedule — it's fine if this is too much right now. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but it's the right thing to do, Leire."

"I know, and I'm fine. Just a little nervous."

"Okay. So we go in?"

She nods, and Isaac knocks twice and cracks the door open.

Patricia Solano is tall and slender, with brown hair like Leire's and sharp features. She's forty-five, with a long track record fighting harassment cases on behalf of public figures.

"It's a pleasure, Miss Cobos," she says, extending a firm hand.

"Just Leire," she replies, noticing how pale the woman's skin is.

"Of course — just Leire." The attorney turns to the agent and shakes his hand. "Good to see you again, Mr. Melero. Shall we sit?"