Total pages in book: 183
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
I stand up and walk to the window, hands on my hips under my jacket. It’s her. I know it. I feel it. It has to be her. Her situation explains why I couldn’t find her. I never once considered looking beyond active attorneys. Beyond that night, I’d ruled out her knowing who I was. I didn’t feel that when I was with her, but maybe she did. Maybe that’s why she left. If she left then though, why would she be here in my offices now? My gut says, she wouldn’t.
If I’m right, then like me, she was in my inner circle, and that’s how our paths crossed, but she never heard my name. She didn’t know me. She doesn’t know I’m here now. This is going to get interesting. If of course, this really is my Lori. The woman whose pretty little ass I spanked. I’m damn sure ready to find out.
Lori
I wear my most professional blue pinstriped suit, and the only pair of expensive heels I have left in my closet. When I arrive at the office, and step into HR, I’m ready for this day and this challenge. I exit HR in time for a meeting I’m to attend with the new partner with the comfort of knowing that while we won’t be leaving the rat trap soon, by the time I finish school, my mother will be debt free and in a nice apartment. To achieve my dream and take care of my mother is everything. Excitement fills me as I grab my notepad and pen from the cubicle I will call home for the next year, and I head toward the conference room.
I near to find the table already lined with a good dozen people, none of whom I’ve met, as of yet. Reese is in the front of the room. “Welcome, Lori,” he greets, and motions me to the only remaining seat at the end of the right side of the table. “Everyone welcome Lori Havens,” he announces. “She’s here as a special program intern. She’s been granted a full scholarship by the Merrick Foundation with only nine months left to complete at Stanford.”
There are murmurs of congratulations, and obviously, a sense of that being an honor. It feels good. “Thank you everyone,” I say, claiming my seat.
“As you all know, my new co-managing partner officially made his new home here with us in New York City. His highly successful Texas-based operation united with our operations. Coming off a hell of a win in court back in Texas, please welcome Cole Brooks.”
Cole.
The name radiates through me and I can’t breathe. It can’t be him. It can’t be—He walks in the door, tall, dark and good-looking in a perfectly fitted, ridiculously expensive suit, and oh God, it’s him. It’s Cole. My new boss is the man I let spank me.
He’s my dirty little secret.
Cole and Reese shake hands. There is clapping. I sink back into my seat and scoot a bit behind the person sitting next to me who is thankfully a rather broad fit, large man.
“I’ll leave you all with Cole,” Reese says, giving Cole a nod and then heading for the door.
Cole turns his attention wholly on the room, and I slink back behind the profile of the giant man to my right, out of Cole’s line of sight. “Let me tell you about me,” he says. “I like to win; however, we do not take cases solely for financial gain. Don’t expect me to accept any case you bring to me based on the payday. And you know why? Every day when I look myself in the mirror, I want to like what I see—which is an undervalued quality in this profession. I, we, take cases that we defend passionately.” He gives us all a few moments to absorb his words, and then says, “I’ve reviewed your files, but I’d like to put names with faces. Please introduce yourself, and tell me your job title, as well as your best asset.”
Dread fills me with the realization that soon all eyes will be on me, his eyes will be on me, and he’ll know I’m here. I’ll have to tell him what I didn’t want to tell him that night: I’m not an attorney. I’m an intern. I’m now his subordinate, and he’s my boss, my boss who is free to fire me. Who will think I knew who he was that night, that this is some big scheme.
Thankfully, I am given a moment to breathe through this idea as he indicates the man closest to him, on the opposite side of the table, to begin. For now, I hyper-focus on the other speakers, willing myself to calm, learning about my new co-workers just as Cole is. I quickly surmise that this room is literally his support staff that includes a mix of administrative staff, interns, and a few junior-level attorneys, who I assume will second chair with Cole on cases.