Her Favorite Holiday Gift

by Lynda Sandoval

“Who wouldn’t?”

  “And yet, I’ve built my career there. I don’t want to start over.”

  “Understandable.”

  “Right, but if I blow this case, I can kiss any partnership dreams goodbye.”

  “Why would you blow this case? Isn’t it pretty much a lock? Working man versus the big bad corporation?”

  “That’s where things get sticky.” Colleen held her breath for a second, then eased it out. She hadn’t wanted to come clean with Megan, but wasn’t it time to stop hiding? Stop lying? Wasn’t it time to simply be herself? “There are problems with the case. I can’t go into it, but—”

  “Problems? What do you mean?”

  “I can’t say more than that. Attorney-client privilege,” she said, as Megan worked her way down each leg to her supertight arches.

  “It’s not like I’d tell anyone.”

  “Not the point.”

  “Okay. Just answer this. Is it an ethical decision?”

  “Very much so.”

  “Well,” Megan said bluntly, “that’s it, then. You can’t defend anything unethical.”

  Colleen uttered a frustrated sound, because she’d known what Megan’s stance would be. “You don’t understand. I have to defend Jones. That’s what I was hired to do. It’s my duty as his attorney.”

  “But if it violates your code of ethics—”

  “What do you think public defenders do? They represent guilty criminals their whole careers.”

  “Yes, but yours is a civil case. It’s about a payoff.”

  “It’s a legal gray area that’s really hard to explain. I’ve already said more than I should. The point is, I can still win it.”

  “What about Eric? Does he know about this ethical dilemma, whatever it is?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Have you asked him?”

  “I can’t do that. That’s like showing your cards in a game of high-stakes poker.” Unbidden, she recalled the night Eric’s brothers were debating the World Poker Tour, and a lump rose in her throat.

  “Okay, you know my stance on the whole thing, but I’m not a lawyer, thank God. And I don’t know exactly what you’re dealing with, double thank God. So I’ll concentrate on the best friend advice angle.”

  “Thank you,” Colleen said.

  “If you win the case, what will that do to your relationship with Eric?”

  “Friendship,” Colleen corrected.

  “Whatever it is.”

  “At this point, if he knows everything I do, it’ll probably end it.”

  “Ah. Roll over, hon.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “I meant, on the massage table.”

  “Oh.”

  Megs held the sheet in a way that allowed Colleen to modestly roll to her back. Once Colleen was settled in, Megan slid a cylindrical pillow beneath her knees, then brushed the hair from Colleen’s forehead. Megan grabbed her left hand and squeezed. “I’m going to assume you want my insight.”

  Colleen closed her eyes. “I always want your insight, you know that.”

  “You need to figure out what’s most important, where you want to go in life, and let the rest fall away. One case victory? A partnership in a firm you despise? Or a chance with the only man you’ve ever loved?”

  Colleen huffed. “You make it sound like such an easy choice. We’re talking about my career here. And there’s no guarantee the friendship would evolve beyond what it is.”

  “Career versus love,” Megan said softly, running her thumbs down the tight muscles in Colleen’s forearm.

  “But I can’t just throw the case. You don’t understand. I’ll be fired. I could be disbarred—”

  “For what? Having a moral barometer?”

  Colleen ignored that. “Not to mention all the life issues. I have my mortgage, my mom. I can’t exactly give it all up for the greater good, now can I?”

  “You hate your job. You’re conflicted over the case because you have a conscience. You’re in love with opposing counsel—”

  “I never said that.”

  “You didn’t have to, but okay. A friendship where you, let’s see, sleep with each other, then run to your best friend and talk about wanting a family. You might not call that being in love, but—”

  “I see your point.”

  “Anyway, I’d say, yes, you can give it all up for the greater good. The greater good for you.”

  “Is that what you think I should do? For real? As my best friend, please tell me straight-out.”

  “I’m not going to presume to understand the world you live and work in. That part’s up to you. But I do think you should be happy, Colleen, whatever that takes. You deserve it. So find your happy place and work toward a permanent residence there.”

  “Got a minute?” Eric asked Jack, as they passed in the hallway.

  “Sure,” Jack said. “Something wrong?”

  “Not at all. Just want to bring you up to speed.”

  Eric watched his friend perk up at the sound of those hopeful words. “Give me a moment to let my secretary know to hold my many, many, many calls.”

  Eric frowned. “Something up with you?”

  “Imminent family crisis, as if we need that on top of everything else,” Jack said ruefully.

  “Is everyone okay?”

  “Yes, fine. It’s just that Mori Taka—Helen’s new husband? Seems his daughter, Kimiko, has decided dropping out of college and returning to the nest would be a good choice for her.”

  “That’s it?” Eric chuckled. “Things could be a whole helluva lot worse.”

  “You’d think. Mori’s livid. Helen’s in a tizzy. It’s as if the poor kid is pregnant, doing drugs, getting arrested—all in one day. She’s a quirky one, Kimiko. And headstrong. Anyway, enough of the family drama. Give me a sec to check in with my secretary and I’ll meet you in the conference room.”

  “Sounds good.” The two men split off in opposite directions. As Eric settled behind the table, he couldn’t help but wonder if Colleen had discovered exactly the same information he had, information he was about to share with Jack Hanson. Information that proved Ned Jones cut a deal with Drake Thatcher to make bogus claims against Taka-Hanson, all for a payoff and a guaranteed job with Thatcher’s company. The whole thing was another arrow slung toward Taka-Hanson from its rival. This could change everything.

  Which bothered him more than it should considering the explosive night he and Colleen had shared. He had a gut feeling she knew about the Jones/Thatcher deal. How could she not? She had access to one of the key players—Jones—which was a lot more than he had, and he’d been able to figure it out. Colleen was savvy and whip-smart. She had to have figured it out, too. And he’d caught the few veiled references she’d made to the case turning into a nightmare, which could only mean…she knew.

  Then again, if she had gotten to the bottom of this fiasco, why hadn’t she done Eric the courtesy of going to Ned Jones and convincing him to drop the fake accusations? All that intimacy, and she couldn’t do the right thing? She’d still put pathetic Ned Jones ahead of Eric? Of their relationship? Had ambition truly trumped ethics in her life? The idea disheartened him. He didn’t want to believe she’d make that choice. After their magical night, Eric had allowed a glimmer of hope to grow in his chest that maybe, just maybe, Colleen Delaney had changed.

  Then he dug in and, with the help of a tenacious private investigator, found the ironclad connection to Thatcher.

  He had financial records of payments made to Jones by Thatcher, photographs of the two of them together, even a scratchy recorded conversation during which they discussed the deal.

  With this new turn of events in the Jones versus Taka-Hanson case, he wasn’t so sure about Colleen’s agenda anymore, and that killed him. Damn it, he was falling in love with her all over again, and he didn’t want to get smacked down twice.

  Moments into this disturbing train of thought, Jack entered the room, closing the door behind him. “I�
�m all yours. What’s the good word?” He sat.

  “It’s not Jones.” Eric refocused, leaned forward, and tossed his old pal a stack of documents, including photographs snapped by the P.I. who did free-lance work for Eric’s firm. “It’s Drake Thatcher’s machinations. Again. He’s paying Ned Jones to help take Taka-Hanson down a notch. Paying him to lie low until it’s said and done, and then he’ll go to work for Thatcher.”

  Jack stared at him in disbelief. “You’re sure?”

  Eric flicked a hand toward the Tyvek envelope on top. “Have a look. In addition to the photographs, I have phone records, bank records—a lot.”

  Jack picked it up, unwound the red string closure, extracted the stack of eight-by-tens. As he flipped through the photos of clandestine meetings between Thatcher and Jones, his complexion reddened, and he swore beneath his breath. After he’d looked at every photograph, he inhaled deeply, then blew it out. “Okay, wow. But this is good stuff.”

  Eric braced his elbows on the table. “A start. Guardedly good, though, Jack. Not a lock and load.”

  “It seems pretty clear.”

  “To us. But we have to convince a jury of Ned’s peers, and you know how difficult that can be.”

  “How do we get there?”

  “Ned needs to agree to roll on Thatcher.”

  “And the likelihood of that? Slim?”

  Eric pulled a dubious expression. “To none. Problem is, there’s nothing in it for Ned.”

  “How so?”

  “He talks, his payoff is nil. And he just might wind up in prison for extortion. If he keeps his mouth shut, Colleen has enough trumped-up crap to confuse a jury and potentially win this thing. A win-win for both of them. If you were presented with that choice, being in Ned’s position, what would you choose?”

  Jack blinked at him a few times, taking it all in. “So we’re screwed either way?”

  Eric wagged his finger slowly. “Not necessarily. We’ve got a couple of options, both with pros and cons.”

  “Lay ’em on me.” Jack interlocked his fingers and braced his hands behind his head.

  “Option one, we take it to the judge at the hearing we have scheduled in three days. Throw it out there, good, bad and ugly.”

  “And the issues with that?”

  Eric scrubbed his already jacked-up hair with one palm as he stood, paced. “I full-court press Colleen like that, it’ll be like whacking a hornet’s nest. A total betrayal—at least, that’s how she’ll view it. There’s no way in hell she’ll let her client talk if I throw her case in front of the judge without preparing her.”

  “Damn. You’re sure?”

  “Delaney’s a grudge-holder and it’s a huge gamble. We’d have to hope the judge rules in our favor and compels Ned Jones to talk. If the judge goes the other route—” Eric shrugged “—we’re done.”

  Jack nodded slowly. “Option two?”

  Eric leaned against the window and crossed one ankle over the other. “I’ve been working a pro bono case—” he rolled his hand “—soulless contractor duping a harmless group of elderly folks. A slam-dunk sympathy case, for sure, not to mention, the contractor’s a dirtbag. Prior to my taking the clients on, Colleen considered doing so.”

  “Let me guess. Shot down by Framus and the gang?”

  Eric aimed an index finger at Jack and pulled a thumb trigger.

  “What a pack of jackals, those guys.”

  “Yeah, but Colleen really wanted to defend Esther Wellington and the others. It stung when she couldn’t, so…she’s been helping me a bit.” Eric felt Jack’s curious scrutiny, and dropped his gaze. “Providing background, and so forth.”

  Jack’s brows rose. “Really. Huh.”

  Thankfully, Jack didn’t probe any further. Eric sucked air through his teeth and turned his head to the side. “It’s a huge risk, Jack, but she and I are actually, ah, getting along at the moment.” Understatement. “I could lay out everything I know to her, show her the photos, try to prod her into getting Ned Jones to drop the charges.”

  “Mess with her conscience.”

  “Something like that, yes.”

  “Odds of success?”

  Eric coughed out a humorless, monosyllabic laugh. “It’s Colleen, not a parking spot. I’ve got no karma when it comes to her and I wouldn’t bet on her even with insider tips. I don’t know.” He sank into his chair. “I don’t expect her to break attorney-client privilege, but I can play with her conscience, bank on her feeling an obligation to talk Ned out of pursuing the charges. If I do go to her first, I’m pretty sure I won’t anger her into a complete lack of cooperation.” Plus he’d have a chance at a repeat of last night. “So that’s something.”

  “Whatever you think is best, pal.”

  Unsettled, Eric pushed to his feet again and paced in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, arms crossed. Jack illuminated the problem, right there. Eric wanted both to do right by his old friend and keep Colleen in his life, but he didn’t know how, or even if, that was possible. The conflict was immense. “We’ve got more speed bumps down the road, regardless of what happens. Any jury we sit will have automatic sympathy for Jones. People aren’t loving major corporations these days.”

  “Agreed.” Jack hiked his chin. “And?”

  Eric spun to face him. “Colleen. Again. I suspect she knows exactly what’s gone down between Ned and Thatcher. If that’s the case, she should’ve counseled her client to drop the suit already and she hasn’t. We’ve spent…a lot of time together recently. But, other than a few veiled references that sent up my red flags, she hasn’t said a word about Ned being in on the plot.”

  “A lot of time?”

  Eric ignored that. He twisted his mouth to the side. “No matter what we do next, I’m not convinced she’s going to back away from the case.”

  “What makes you think so?”

  Eric spread his arms and huffed his skepticism. “You know her, man. She’s the most ambitious woman I’ve ever come across. Winning will guarantee she makes partner. Backing off will guarantee she doesn’t. She’ll have the jury on her side, and she knows that. Plus, infuriating as it is, we have to accept that she has enough so-called evidence to give us a run for our money.”

  Jack leaned back, braced his hands behind his head. “Doesn’t seem fair, does it?”

  “It’s law, Jack. It’s not about fairness for firms like McTierney and the rest.”

  “But Colleen?” Jack squinted, baffled. “You honestly think she’d choose career advancement over integrity? Over you?”

  Heat burst across his skin. “I hate to think it, but there’s this niggling doubt.” He laid a palm on his abs. “I can’t be sure. We could offer a settlement.”

  Hands still locked behind his head, Jack squeezed his elbows together in front of his face and groaned. “I wish it were that easy, but we couldn’t do that.” He let his arms drop and implored Eric. “I hate to ask this of you, but you’ve got to work her, Eric. Whatever it takes. We’re in deep on these new hotel projects and we’re still recovering from the fiscal blow we had a few years back.”

  When Hanson Media and Taka merged, Eric knew.

  “The company might appear flush to people outside the inner circle, but we can’t take the kind of hit this case, or even a settlement, would bring. Plus, I can’t do it to Robby. He’s been a loyal employee far too long.”

  “I understand. I’ll give it my all. Just know, Colleen’s as savvy as they come. Driven, too. Whatever tactics I use to work her, she’s going to be working me just as hard.”

  “If not harder.”

  A beat passed. He hung his head, thinking of his own integrity. “I slept with her.”

  “You what?”

  Eric nodded. “It gets worse. I think I’m falling in love with her. Again.”

  Jack snapped his fingers. “I knew it. My hunch was correct. There was something between you in law school.”

  “Yeah.” Eric sighed. “There was, short-lived and ultimately trau
matic, but something. So you understand where I’m coming from. In a perfect world, my relationship with her would take precedence, but you hired me, and I won’t let you down. Understand that. I’m in a bad spot, though. I want your honest opinion.”

  Jack nodded, considering. “My thoughts are, Colleen will be there when the dust settles if it’s really meant to be for you two. But we’re definitely behind the eight ball, pal,” Jack said, grimacing with regret. “I don’t see any other option than to chalk up and go for the corner pocket.”

  Eric’s gut sank, but he nodded once. “Then that’s what we’ll do.”

  Chapter Ten

  Colleen took Megan’s words to heart, really searched her soul. Before she could even consider the personal complications Eric brought to the mix, she knew it was time to come clean about Ned Jones to someone at her firm. Certainly her own prospects for partnership were in jeopardy, but it had ballooned far beyond that. This case could impact everyone. As infuriating as the old boys’ club could be, she, at least, had a conscience, and didn’t feel right about blindsiding them. The question remained, who was the lesser of the evils she should talk to?

  McTierney and Framus were automatically out. As the oldest two and the least accepting of her gender, she could feel their patronizing disdain for her, like oil on the skin, every time the three of them shared airspace. Wenzel was a bit of a spineless weasel. Though she got along with him well enough one-on-one, he’d never go against Frick and Frack. She couldn’t risk pulling him into her confidence. That left Harrison Scott, the newest partner in the firm. Although older than her by at least a decade, Harrison was closest to her in age. But she had to remember he was a company man just like the rest of them. She needed to keep her wits about her, no matter what.

  She scheduled an early morning coffee appointment with him at The Chambers. Wearing her most conservative, slate-colored wool suit and carrying all she’d dug up about Ned and his involvement with Thatcher—including the taped interview with Ned during which he spilled all—she headed to the restaurant. Trepidation danced in frenzied spins and lifts in her stomach, and food was the last thing on her mind. But she knew meeting Harrison off-site was the only viable option. So coffee. The ultimate non-reason for people to get together.