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)
“Mr. Carter?” a man in sweatpants approached us with an envelope. “My boss wants you to know that you’re still the dirtiest lawyer he’s ever met.”
“Tell him, I appreciate the compliment.” He smiled and led me back outside
Opening the envelope, he took out a key fob and pressed the button. The bright headlights of a grey Audi flashed.
Leading me to the driver’s side, he opened the door.
“You should’ve been driving like a high-profile lawyer weeks ago,” he said. Do you feel well enough to drive home?”
“I…I’m confused.”
“Okay, I’ll drive.” He picked me up and placed me in the passenger seat. “Before you start, I’ve only been up for fifteen hours. The twenty was a ruse to get you here.”
“Is this car a rental?”
“No, it’s yours,” he said. “It’ll be registered in a few hours, thanks to someone who owes me too many favors to count.”
“I have stuff in my Honda.”
“I’ll make sure someone takes all of it out and delivers it to you before doing what should’ve been done to it months ago.”
“Don’t you think I should keep it for sentimental value?”
He shot me a pointed look.
“I’m kidding,” I said. “Thank you very much. I’ve never had a brand new car before.”
“Don’t mention it,” he said. “You deserve one.”
I leaned back against the seat as he revved the engine, trying to think of something to say, but I was still too weak.
Before I knew it, he was steering the car past streetlights, and I was staring at the back of my eyelids.
In the morning, the white silk sheets against my skin were unfamiliar. I blinked a few times to make sure I wasn’t still sleeping.
Sitting up, I looked around the room, spotting Damien’s law degree on the wall.
The scent of breakfast lured me to the kitchen.
Damien was sitting at the table reading a newspaper. A stack of waffles and bacon stood waiting on the plate across from him.
“What time is it?” I asked.
“Six,” he said. “We have an hour before we need to head to Elmore’s estate.
“I don’t have any clothes here.”
“My contact at Saks brought over some things,” he said, flipping the page. “They’re in the bathroom waiting for you.”
“Thank you, Damien.”
“You deserve it, Elizabeth.”
CONTROL (N.)
THE POWER TO DIRECT, MANAGE, OVERSEE AND/OR RESTRICT THE AFFAIRS, BUSINESS OR ASSETS OF A PERSON OR ENTITY
DAMIEN
Iwasn’t sure why, but my sleeping was set at a consistent four and a half hours a night, without any intrusions or dreams.
It was true slumber, and I figured it was because the pills from my therapist just needed more time to work.
“The FBI is on line one, again.” Jessica walked into my office without knocking.
“I’ll call them later.”
“A florist dropped off these red roses,” she said. “Should I put them in here or give them to ‘you know who’?”
“In here.” I looked up. “I bought those for myself.”
“Right. You and Miss Tanner are really hot together,” she said. “Has the sex improved?”
“Excuse me?”
“I know you got off to a rusty start in the beginning—probably because she’s the first woman you’ve screwed in a while—but she was willing to stick around until your stroke game returned. She seems like a keeper.”
“Is Michelle ever coming back to me, or am I stuck with you?” I asked.
“I love you, too, Damien.” She set the flowers on my desk before leaving the office.
I opened my calendar and counted the number of times I’d had flowers delivered to Elizabeth. Four times a week at the firm, three times a week during stakeouts, and twice a week at her apartment.
I even sent small food bouquets to her cats.
I’m becoming a goddamn sap.
“Damien?” Andrew stepped in my doorway. “Are you ready?”
“Almost.”
“You look off,” he said. “How are you feeling today?”
“I’m experiencing a strange feeling in my chest.”
“Would you like me to call a doctor?”
“I don’t think it’s physical,” I said. “Seems emotional. I think these are feelings.”
“For the record, I’m married and not the slightest bit attracted to you.”
“Likewise.” I laughed. “What do you want?”
“The research team just went through the Boeing case with a fine-tooth comb. It’s looking like a two hundred million dollar settlement.”
“What’s our cut?”
“That is our cut.” He smiled. “You’re responsible for the party.”
“Noted.” I stood up, and he followed me to the elevator.
Before the doors closed, Elizabeth stepped on with us.
Looking beautiful as usual in a fitted grey dress, her hair was still tousled from when we had sex in my car earlier.
“I’m looking forward to your presentation for our Reebok client, Miss Tanner,” Andrew said. “I’ve heard you’ve done one hell of a job.”
“Thank you. I hope you like it.”
“He’ll love it,” I said. “It’s your best work to date.”
Andrew looked between us. “Are you two fucking?”
“No!” “Not at all,” we both tried to save face.
“Where all in this firm have you had sex?”
“We’re not having sex, Mr. Hamilton.” Elizabeth’s cheeks reddened. “I’m appalled that you would even think that.”