“Ah, good. I was worried you might be a brand new grad.”
“Nope, graduated two years ago.” And hadn’t practiced law a day since.
“Perfect. Hey, Lily, you want to take a case for me? It’s no big thing, but it might be kind of interesting. You’ll get to face Captain Swagger from the U.S. Attorney’s office.”
“Captain Swagger?” I asked, amused. It sounded like a nickname Adam would have. In fact, I’m pretty sure it was a nickname Adam did have, at least among defense lawyers.
“Jacob Sachs. Cocky son of a bitch. It’s a nothing case, but it’s tied into Moretti somehow, so the feds decided they might as well take it up. We actually have a better argument for keeping it here in Common Pleas. If it were any other prosecutor, they would probably concede if we objected, but Sachs doesn’t know the meaning of concede. Probably not even worth making the argument, because he’ll fight you, and it’s not worth it for this case. Besides, defense counsel is a total pain in the ass. She was supposedly retired, but I guess she missed the smell of blood. Judith Steinberg. Do you know her?” My heart slammed into my chest wall and my mouth went dry.
“Uh, yeah. I’ve heard about her,” I said casually.
“I don’t doubt it. They call her the Ice Queen. She’s super-aggressive.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard,” I said. “You’re saying that we have a good argument for keeping it here? So if I won, it would be tried here, in Common Pleas. If I take it, is it mine?” Something else that I happened to know about Judith Steinberg, was that she did federal defense. She would be out of her element here. She could be beaten.
“Uh, yeah.” He laughed. “If you want it. Why? You’re not thinking about taking on Captain Swagger and the Ice Queen, are you?”
“I don’t have much else on my plate yet, and you said it’s not an important case.”
“Okay! You’ve got some moxie. I like that. Sachs should be here soon. The argument’s all laid out in there, just in case anybody wanted to make it.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know what happens.”
“Go get ’em!” he said with a smile and left just as Adam was returning to counsel table.
I slid the file onto my lap. Obviously, he would find out shortly what I was up to, but I didn’t want him to try to stop me. I was a licensed attorney, now officially employed by the District Attorney of Philadelphia. I wasn’t doing anything unethical. I was also highly motivated.
Jacob arrived not long after, with his usual flourish, storming the castle, with all of his lackeys trailing in his wake. The bailiff informed the judge that an assistant U.S. attorney was here for the next case, and so Jacob was able to go immediately to the head of the class. The bailiff called it. “Commonwealth v. DiBono, motion for removal to federal court.” I saw Adam glance around the courtroom, looking for a fellow prosecutor. I took a deep breath and stood up … just as the courtroom door opened again and she came in, followed by her client and her lackeys. She marched to the front of the courtroom like she owned the place.
“Your Honor, Jacob Sachs for the United States.”
“Judith Steinberg for Joseph DiBono”
“Lily Adler for the Commonwealth,” I added, walking to the bench with just as much confidence as the other attorneys standing there, even if it was an act. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Adam turn around so fast I was worried he might get whiplash. “Your Honor, I don’t have a copy of the motion for removal.”
“It’s an oral motion,” Jacob said, looking a bit stunned, but quickly recovering. “We didn’t brief it because we didn’t anticipate an objection.”
“Well, then I’m afraid that counsel was not adequately prepared, because the Commonwealth objects.” Jacob set his jaw and narrowed his eyes, but it wasn’t anger I saw there; it was anticipation. He was sizing me up like a tiger sizing up an antelope, or whatever the hell tigers eat.
“Pardon me, counselor, but if this case stays in Common Pleas, who’s going to try it, you?” He gave me the most arrogantly dismissive smirk I had ever seen, and my blood boiled. He was being rather condescending to a person who had seen him naked. Not that he had anything to be ashamed of. He actually looked rather good naked.
“And if it goes up to federal court, counselor, who’s going to try it there, you?” I asked, giving him exactly the same look. His mouth literally popped open and his eyes flashed with what I could swear was excitement. I had a feeling that maybe he was actually picturing me naked at that very moment.
“Excuse me! Your Honor, may I have a word with my colleague?” Adam interrupted. Great. I turned around and found him giving me a deceptively friendly smile.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Go ahead, Mr. Roth,” Judge Channing said, looking kind of intrigued. Adam walked off to the side of the courtroom and I reluctantly followed. When I got there, he leaned in close and whispered to me.
“Okay, first of all, you’re going to get some phenomenal sexing tonight for that comment you just made to Sachs, and secondly, what the fuck are you doing?!”
“Arguing a motion.”
“Against a federal prosecutor and your mother?!”
“Technically, she hasn’t joined in the motion yet,” I pointed out.
“Lily, are you nuts? This isn’t the place to work out your family issues.”
“I’m not working them out. I fully intend to beat her.”
“She’s a career litigator, and she’s your mother!”
“Adam, my family is not like your family. She won’t see me as her daughter. She’ll see me as her opponent. She won’t hesitate to try to take me down. I want to stand up against her in the only way that matters to her. I want to prove to myself that I can.”
“And how is that not working out your family issues?” he observed, accurately I might add. I wasn’t in the mood to be reasonable, though, and I just huffed and looked away, angrily. “Okay, look,” he relented, “you think you have an argument, go ahead and make it.”
“You don’t think I have a chance, do you?”
“It’s not because I don’t think you’re smart or capable. It’s because you’re taking on an assistant U.S. attorney and woman who has about thirty years of courtroom experience and yesterday you were a law librarian.”
“I don’t have anything to lose and the guy who gave it to me, said I could keep it.”
“Lily, it’s a felony trial, not a puppy!”
“It’s related to Moretti. If I win the motion you can try it, and I’ll be your second chair.”
“You nutty broad.” He shook his head but I could see he looked both amused, and yes, just a little impressed. With that, I returned to battle.
“I would like to ask that defense counsel declare a conflict of interest for the record,” I said as I took my place again.
“While Ms. Adler was chatting, I spoke with my client and informed him that the assistant district attorney in this case is my daughter.”
“Your what?” Jacob interrupted.
“I also informed him that she would not be prosecuting it, as it will be removed to federal court, but that even if she were, it would not interfere with my ability to represent him zealously.”
“For the record Ms. Steinberg,” Judge Channing said irritably, “I’ll decide if this case goes to federal court or not. And so, Mr. DiBono,” he addressed the defendant, “you’re willing to waive the conflict of interest and you’re satisfied that Ms. Steinberg can represent you zealously?”
“Her? Oh yeah. Hey, are you kidding? I’m surprised she didn’t eat her young. Know what I’m saying?”
“Mr. DiBono obviously knows my mother well, Your Honor, being her client I mean.” I glanced over at Adam, who looked like he wanted to laugh. I also noted that everyone else in the courtroom also seemed to be paying rapt attention to the little drama that was unfolding.
“For the record,” Jacob said with a smirk and an evil glint in his eye, “I’ll state that I am zealously able to put forward th
e position of the United States, despite the fact that Ms. Adler and I have been intimate in the past.” I guess he didn’t appreciate my snappy comeback as much as Adam did. Speaking of Adam, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him leap to his feet.
“Adam Roth, co-counsel for the Commonwealth. Your Honor, Mr. Sachs knows that’s not a conflict any more due to the fact that Ms. Adler and I are presently intimate.”
“You don’t have an adversarial relationship with her,” Jacob said, turning to Adam.
“And you don’t have any relationship with her,” Adam shot back.
“Is there anyone who hasn’t had an intimate relationship with Ms. Adler?” my mother asked, sarcastically.
“Yes. You,” I answered angrily.
“Order!” Judge Channing sputtered, banging his gavel. “This is a court of law, not The Jerry Springer Show! Now, Mr. Sachs, if you want this case removed over the Commonwealth’s objection, you’ll need to file a written motion and brief it. We’ll set a date for argument. Ms. Steinberg, you can join in the motion if you choose. The defendant has waived the conflict of interest with regard to Ms. Steinberg being Ms. Adler’s mother. There is no other conflict.” He gave Jacob a reproving look. “Court is in recess. Five minutes!” With that, he banged his gavel again and stormed off the bench.
“Hi mom,” I said with a sunny smile.
“What do you know,” she said with a smirk. “Maybe you’re actually my kid after all.” She turned and went to go talk to her client.
“What the fuck was that?” Adam demanded, stalking over and glaring at Jacob.
“What?” Jacob said defensively. “I wanted to make sure that everything was out in the open and that nobody objected since, you know, she and I are on opposite sides in this? Why did you feel the need to point out that you’re sleeping with her when the two of you are on the same side?”
“To make it clear that there’s no romantic connection between you. Why did you feel the need to point out the fact that you were banging her four years ago?” Adam retorted.
“Will the two of you stop it?!” I demanded.
“Lily, honey, are you okay?” Jess called over from the defense side of the court, where I noted that Braden had joined Mark. They were both looking rather amused.
“Yeah, I’m good Jess, thanks. I’ll tell you about it later,” I said with a smile.
“Adam Roth? Is that really you?” my mother chimed in. “Are you the one responsible for getting her to actually use her law degree? If so, my husband and I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“Where is dad?” I asked, ignoring her sarcasm.
“In Florida.”
“Why aren’t you in Florida too?”
“I got bored,” she answered simply. “Didn’t you two used to fight all the time?”
“We’re getting along better,” Adam answered. “You’re not going to be handling any more cases are you?” he whispered to me suspiciously.
“Not yet, but if I’m going to be working for the DA’s office, I expect to handle some.”
“Well, maybe you’ll have a trial,” Jacob said with a sarcastic smile.
“You think I can’t try a case? And why is that exactly?” I asked furiously.
“Uh oh. You’re in trouble now.” Adam laughed, obviously delighted that he wasn’t on the receiving end of my wrath for a change.
“Because you don’t have any experience trying cases,” Jacob replied, intentionally letting his eyes drop to my body. I knew he was pushing my buttons on purpose, but it was working.
“Actually that’s not true,” my mother decided to contribute. “Lily won several acquittals in the Criminal Defense Clinic at Penn. She also captained a winning moot court team.”
“This isn’t moot court, Judith,” Jacob replied. “I can’t believe I didn’t know you were her mother, by the way.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t know that you slept with my daughter.”
“Wait, has he slept with the mother too?” some guy called out from the crowd of people waiting for cases.
“NO!” Jacob, my mom and I answered in unison just as Judge Channing came back out of chambers.
After getting a date to argue our motion my mother left without a backward glance, and Jacob left with a glance at my tits. Maybe he wasn’t just pushing my buttons after all. My challenging him seemed to be firing up his libido. I probably wasn’t the only girl in Philly who would be getting some ‘phenomenal sexing’ that night from a tall, dark, and handsome prosecutor.
Chapter Twenty-Three
When the morning court session was over, Adam, Braden and I grabbed some take-out and then headed for the DA’s office. I didn’t have an office of my own, so I just sat on the other side of Adam’s desk for the time being.
“Well, that was different,” Braden said. “You guys are going to O’Malley’s tonight, right? I’m sure that Jessica has filled Gabrielle in by now, and she’ll want a debriefing.”
“I’m okay with going there for a while,” I answered, looking up at Adam. “We shouldn’t stay late, though. We have a lot to do this weekend.”
“I don’t want to stay late. We have a lot to do tonight,” Adam said, giving me a sexy smile that filled my stomach with butterflies and made me squeeze my thighs together.
“When word gets around that you said Sachs was unprepared for court, there’ll probably be a few people wanting to buy you drinks,” Braden noted.
“Try to stay off Mark’s lap this time please,” Adam added.
“Very funny,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat up.
“Actually, Sachs will probably be there,” Braden went on. “He’s been there a lot lately.”
“Well, he missed out last Friday,” Adam pointed out and I felt my face heat up even more. I think that Adam was literally the only guy who could make me blush.
There was a knock on the door and someone came to escort me to meet the attorneys who would be teaching me how to be a prosecutor. I started cleaning up my lunch.
“Don’t worry about that,” Adam said, grabbing my hand. “Go get your training. You’re going to need all the help you can get if you want to beat your Mr. Zealous Representation and Mommie Dearest.”
I spent the afternoon meeting with the trainers, who were exceptionally pleased with how quickly I learned. At the end of the day, they sent me to set up my own office, loaded down with copies of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, the Vehicle Code and the Sentencing Guidelines. I met my office mate, Olivia, who was new herself, having recently moved to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh. She seemed kind of serious at first, but I realized quickly that she had a wicked sense of humor, and I liked her immediately. At six, we called it a day and Adam and Braden and I headed off to O’Malley’s.
When we arrived at the pub, I saw that the place was already hopping. Friday night it typically filled up with lawyers. I saw Gabrielle Jessica, Cameron and Mark sitting at a table together, and I started to walk toward them, but Adam caught my arm.
“You, Ms. Adler, are a prosecutor,” he reminded me. “Come and meet your colleagues before you run off to the defense side.”
“The defense side? What is this, a courtroom?”
“People usually start out the evening sitting with their colleagues here. For example, there are a bunch of federal prosecutors directly behind you, including Mr. Zealous Representation himself. I don’t believe he’s noticed you yet, though, as he’s busy being felt up under the table by a blonde,” Adam said snidely. What was he getting on his high horse about?
“Felt up under a table by a blonde. Now, why does that sound so familiar?” I asked, sarcastically. He gave me a genuinely clueless look. “The night at K2? The blonde resting her hand affectionately in your lap?” Suddenly, understanding dawned.
“You saw that?” he asked, having the grace to look embarrassed.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, gazing off toward Gab and Jess. I really shouldn’t have brought it up, but I thought he had sounded a bit sanctimonious
for a guy who had done the same thing a couple of weeks ago.
“Yes, it does matter. I swear, Lily, I really wasn’t interested. I wasn’t even paying attention.” He sounded upset.
“Adam, it’s okay,” I said, feeling kind of bad about mentioning it, which was completely ridiculous. I had no reason to feel bad. He had known I was going to be there that night, and he had let some blonde feel him up.
I turned and looked idly over in the direction where he had indicated the feds were sitting. Sure enough, there was another buxom blonde who looked like she probably did have her hand at least on Jacob’s leg. What shocked me, though, wasn’t that, but rather the lusty look that I recognized in his eyes, and the fact that he wasn’t looking at her, but at me.
All of this happened, literally in about two or three seconds, and luckily, Adam was still distracted by guilt, which was likely yet another new emotional experience for him. I didn’t have time to contemplate the fact that Jacob was looking at me the same way he had in law school just before he nailed me to the mattress, because at that moment, Adam apparently decided that the middle of a crowded bar was the perfect place to suddenly discover his romantic side. He pulled me into his arms, gave me a soft, lingering kiss and then whispered in my ear.
“Soul meets soul on lovers’ lips.”
“Did you just quote Shelley?” I asked, bewildered. “In a bar? While Fat Bottom Girls is playing in the background?” One minute we’re talking about some club chick rubbing his crotch and the next he’s reciting poetry? Jesus, I felt like I was in the middle of a David Lynch movie. Had everyone gone fucking insane?
“Yes, and I’m sorry, Lily. I knew you would probably be there that night, and I should have never let that chick touch me.”
“Adam, is that you?” I asked, in shock. Maybe the real Adam had been kidnapped by aliens and they had sent this one in his place.
Jacob, who had left at the end of our fling without a backward glance, was now looking at me like he was having second thoughts, and Adam was quoting love poems and apologizing for having been a player. I must be emitting some powerful pheromones. Life was becoming so surreal these days, I noted to myself with a sigh, as he led me by the hand over to the prosecutors’ table.
Legal Briefs (Lawyers in Love) Page 16
