Chapter i55 /i

Noticing Maxine’s hesitation, Cleo leaned forward. “Listen, if Urban offers decent terms for this case, you’d better take it.”

Maxine raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

38

The Soto family is crazy influential in Gludon City. Urban acts all charming, but he’s vindictive. Turn him down today, and he’ll make your life hell tomorrow. Help him win, though? He’ll have your back forever,” Cleo exined.

“Is that how he operates?” Maxine frowned. “You sound certain.”

“Absolutely, I know him well–even though I haven’t dealt with him directly. My boss studied him like ab rat. Plus-* Cleo grinned, “I’m tight with Pandora. If you take the case, I can pull strings!”

“Isn’t that a conflict of interest?” Maxine blinked. “You’re friends with Pandora, and I’d be Urban’swyer.”

Cleo chuckled. “Pandora doesn’t care about the shares. Her grandpa left her a fortune, and she built her own empire. Thewsuit’s just her way of messing with Urban’s head.”

Maxine’s shoulders rxed. “Then there’s no reason to refuseb. /bI’ll meet Urban tomorrow. If things get tricky, you’ll set up a chat with Pandora?”

“Sure thing.” Cleo shed a thumbs–up.

*****

The next day, Maxine met with Urban.

Urban was extremely proactive, arriving at the restaurant just half an hour after receiving her message.

“Mr. Soto,” Maxine began, “I’ve decided to take your case.”

Urban’s smile turned genuine, his eyes fixed on Maxine. “Excellent. Let me be straightforward, Ms. Hudson. Win this, and your fee triples.” He slid a draft contract across the table.

Maxine ignored it. “Money’s not why I’m here.”

As she spoke, Maxine took a voice recorder from her briefcase. “Every meeting will be recorded from today until the case concludes. That use goes into the contract. Can you ept that?”

“Fair enough.” Urban nodded.

Maxine nodded, turned on the recorder, and then picked up the contract to review.

After marking questionable usesb, /bMaxine handed back the contract twenty minutester.

“Mr. Soto, could we briefly go through these points I’d like to rify? In fact, they’re minimal. I find most of your conditions quite reasonable and have no objections.”

Urban took the contract, exined the marked sections briefly, and it was finalized.

Urban summoned his assistant, a sharp–dressed man hovering by the door.

“This is my assistant, Zachary Willis. He’ll handle the paperwork,” Urban said.