Legally Addicted Read Online Free PDF Page B

acknowledged his own client with a nod before taking a seat in one of the leather and chrome swivel chairs beside him.
    Previously feeling reasonably relaxed — well, apart from Ruby’s annoying comment about ‘having’ to come to her, as if she were a poor second best alternative to the amazing Brad Spencer — Georgia’s nerves were now on high alert. Brad had all his attention trained on her. While intellectually she knew he was only waiting for her to summarise any discussion that had occurred between their clients before he arrived, it raised disconcerting memories of the powerful weight his concentration had brought to bear on her at the cocktail party, and later, up in his penthouse apartment.
    Without realising what she was doing, Georgia closed her eyes and shook her head, physically shrugging off the image.
    ‘Georgia, are you alright?’
    When she opened her eyes Brad was looking at her with a bemused expression.
    ‘Perfectly, I was just about to apologise to both of our clients and explain that regrettably Spencer Law and Dayton Llewellyn Murray have recently merged their practices and Ruby will need to find another solicitor. Again. I’m sorry.’
    Ruby snapped her head around to look at her, and Georgia observed with some satisfaction that she looked genuinely annoyed. Her client, it seemed, rated her services after all.
    Georgia was about to respond when Brad beat her to it. ‘Well, she would have to go to another lawyer, if she actually had a case, but she doesn’t, and for that reason this was always going to be a short meeting, so you don’t have to be apologetic, Georgia.’
    Brad confidently leaned back in his chair as if he were about to catch a few Z’s after a long wet business lunch.
    What the hell was Brad playing at? Of course Ruby had a case. Any first year law student could have worked that out.
    ‘The law on this is very clear. The Walsh’s have been married well over the requisite time required for the statutory asset sharing provisions to come into play.’
    Brad sat back up straight in his chair and, matching her professional tone, said, ‘Ruby has no case in view of the prenuptial agreement she signed before she married Douglas.’
    As if in answer to Georgia’s question, which was suspended part way between opening her mouth and invoking her vocal chords, Brad opened a leather document holder and drew out a document. Based on the coversheet, it did indeed appear to be the couple’s prenup.
    ‘Ruby?’ Georgia turned to her client, trying again, but not quite succeeding this time, to keep the irritation out of her voice. There had been no disclosure of a prenup in any of their preliminary discussions. One of Georgia’s pet professional hates was being ambushed with a pertinent fact her client should have disclosed in their earlier interviews.
    Ruby made a movement with her arm that was an almost perfect imitation of a royal wave.
    ‘Oh that old thing, I thought everyone would have forgotten about it by now.’
    Georgia leaned forward to pick up the document.
    ‘Can I see that?’
    Something about the front-sheet of the document looked odd, and on closer inspection Georgia saw immediately that she was right. She flicked through the entire agreement just to be sure.
    ‘I’m not confident that this document would stand up in court.’
    Brad bristled, his usually dark eyes transforming to a blistering black, the intensity of his gaze causing her to look away.
    He could stare her down all he liked, but she wasn’t about to capitulate on a legal principle. She knew she was right.
    ‘I think you’ll find the document was drafted to meet all of the relevant legislative requirements existing at the date it was signed — a little before your time of course, Ms Murray, but nevertheless correct.’
    Georgia prickled at the flagrant attempt to undercut her experience, and sensing, perhaps, that she was about to contradict him Brad continued, ‘And may I remind you, Georgia, that