Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Still, I was willing to play nice with Miss Tanner.
For now.
Walking inside, I stepped onto the elevator.
Before the doors closed, a short brunette stepped inside with me.
“Are you Damien Carter?” she asked.
“Depends on why you need to know.”
“My name is Natalie Russo, and I need your help on the case of a century.”
“I’m not him then,” I said. “Try searching tomorrow.”
“Please. It’s life or death.”
“Does your case have anything to do with social media?”
“No.”
“Does it have anything to do with the book publishing industry?”
She shook her head. “Not at all.”
“For the record, I don’t defend murderers, child abusers, or drug dealers, so if you’re one of those, I’m not your guy.”
“What about rapists?”
I gave her a blank stare. “They’re the same as murderers in my book. Try Hannigan and Flynn on Fifth Avenue, if that’s what you need.”
“I was just asking. My issue is corporate fraud.”
“I’m listening.”
“Wait.” She handed me a hundred-dollar bill. “Me giving you this money means I officially have attorney-client privilege, right?”
“It means you have my attention for less than sixty seconds. I charge two thousand dollars an hour.”
“I heard it was five thousand for the off-the-record stuff.”
I smiled. “Now, I’m really listening.”
“I may or may not have sold some valuable information about my company to a competitor in exchange for millions.
“How many millions?”
“Less than thirty, more than ten.”
“Say less.” The doors opened on my floor. “Let’s talk in my office.”
Three Hours Later
“Mr. Carter, your first appointment here,” Jessica called via intercom as I finished with Miss Russo.
“Thank you for chatting with me on such short notice.” Miss Russo shook my hand. “When can I expect to hear from you again?”
“Soon,” I said. “Within the next five days.”
I waited until she left before pinging Jessica. “I don’t have a ten o’clock on my books for today.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Thompson want to discuss their will again.”
“What’s wrong with it this time?”
“They want to leave one of their vacation homes to their dogs.”
“Okay. Next time they come in here, tell them I drowned.”
“Will do.”
“Thanks.” I leaned back in my chair. “Can you send Miss Tanner into my office before them, please?”
“Miss Tanner isn’t here yet.”
What? “What did you just say?”
“That Miss Tanner isn’t here yet.”
I looked at my watch. She’s two hours late on her first day?
“Can you call and ask her why?”
“Sure. Give me a few seconds.”
I stared at my phone until she came back.
“Her phone keeps going to voicemail,” she said. “Want me to try her email?”
“Sure.” I stood to my feet. “Do me another favor while you’re at it. Call the police department and ask if there have been any morning accidents with a busted ass Honda.”
“Right away.”
ESCAPE CLAUSE (N.)
A PROVISION IN A CONTRACT WHICH ALLOWS ONE OF THE PARTIES TO BE RELIEVED FROM (GET OUT OF) ANY OBLIGATION IF A CERTAIN EVENT OCCURS
ELIZABETH
I’m dressed like a stripper.
The only decent thing in my closet that I could find worth wearing was a knee-length red dress with a low V-cut and platform beige heels. Thankfully, my black blazer made it look somewhat respectable.
Then again, the two men across from me on this subway were throwing long, thirsty stares in my direction, so maybe I should’ve opted for jeans and a T-shirt.
“Excuse me.” I smiled at a woman wearing a Hudson University hoodie.
She raised her eyebrow, but she didn’t take out her earbuds.
“Can I please use your phone for a second?” I asked. “I need to make a quick phone call to my new job and—”
“Help!” She shouted! “Helpppp! She’s trying to steal my phone!”
“What? I literally just asked you if I could use it.”
“This lady is trying to steal my phone!” She yelled louder, and I moved back, pushing my way through to another subway car.
I grabbed onto a handrail, trying my best to keep it together.
“Come on, come on, come onnn…” I muttered as the train rattled through the tunnel.
As pissed as I was at Frank, I refused to let a single tear fall from my eyes.
We were one hundred percent done after this, and no apology would ever be enough for me to consider being with him again.
I moved toward the doors when the train neared the Parker International Hotel stop. I rushed up from the platform and walked into the hotel’s glittering lobby.
“Good morning, Miss.” The front desk agent smiled at me. “How may I help you today?”
“I uh—” I remembered the crazy shouting lady. “I lost my phone before checking out from my suite earlier. Can I use your business center to reprint my boarding pass?”
“Absolutely,” she said. “It’s down the hall near the elevators.”
I rushed in that direction and immediately checked my email, ready to apologize and beg for mercy for being late, but only one subject line was waiting for me.
Subject: Your First Day of Work…
“Damien Carter” was the sender.
I stared at it for several moments, wondering if this was the firm’s Human Resources manager who was firing me before I could even start.