Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Author Note
Powerless
Lauren Cooper
Powerless © 2018 by Lauren Cooper. All Rights Reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Cover designed by Lauren Cooper
Cover photo by Shutterstock.com
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Lauren Cooper
Visit my website at [email protected]
Printed in the United Kingdom
First Printing: March 2018
Lauren Cooper
ISBN- 97-819-8-030106
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Author Note
For my Husband.
Thank you for all your encouragement
and support. For reading and re-reading my work.
For loving me
Prologue
Six Months Ago
It’s not enough. Pushing away from my desk and throwing my glasses down on top of the numbers for the past quarter, I resist the urge to scream.
“This isn’t good enough Bec” I manage to keep my voice low, contradictory to the rage that’s growing inside me.
“I know this isn’t what you wanted to see Mia, but we are trying”
“Not hard enough” I huff, pinching the bridge of my nose in silent frustration.
“I need it to be bigger than this. What ideas have you come up with?”
I pray to god that she has something good. I need this firm to be more than just a high-street pit stop for divorcing couples. I want more. Granted those divorcing couples are always worth a fair few million, they aren’t anywhere near what I envision for Bellucci Law. I can hear the other law firms in London laughing at me, and I hate it. I’m done being laughed at. I want that top spot.
Clasping her hands together in her lap, and clearing her throat before starting, Becca has the answer that could change my life forever.
“Well, do you remember a few months ago we had an offer from Hadleigh Solicitors to buy Bellucci?” I narrow my eyes at her, if she’s even thinking that I’m giving up here she can leave.
“I’m not selling” I hiss through clenched teeth. It’s the last thing I want for Becca to leave. I need her, more than I let on sometimes.
“Is that what you want me to do? Give up? If that’s true then you know where the door is” I point towards it, in the off chance she missed it on her way in here.
“Mia. Don’t start being all bitchy on me. Hear me out” she snaps. Becca knows full well she’s the only person who can get away with talking to me like that, anyone else and I would have fired them on the spot.
I bite my tongue to stop the snarky come back I know is itching to escape. I’m far from finished with this company, and it’s my baby. Imagine this being your new-born and you might just understand how important it is for me. I created it, I nurtured it and know I’m pushing it to become better than I ever thought it could be.
“Fine” I reply on an inhale.
“Well, I know Hadleigh Solicitors are still looking to expand, I took the liberty of calling them”
“And?”
“David Hadleigh, the CEO is retiring in the next few months and his son Liam is taking over. I pitched the idea of a merger to them”
Merge? As in make the two companies One? Before my wayward thoughts can muster up reasons why this isn’t a good idea, Becca continues.
“I’ve put together some of their files for you to look at. The numbers look good, if not great. Some of the clients they have are big spenders Mia. David liked the new departments we have here and by combining the two companies we set to become a multi-staffed all round Law Firm. They specialize in Corporate and Business Law, and by combining our Criminal, Family and Media departments with theirs, I honestly think it could be truly amazing” she finishes with a slanted smile and hope filled forest green eyes.
“I’d be working with the son then?”
“Yes, I haven’t met him, but his reputation is firm in the industry. I haven’t heard any complaints about his work”
I poke my tongue into my cheek, crossing my arms as I think. There’s always a catch somewhere, always a ruse. I can’t yet put my finger on this one, but its bound to slap me in the face. I never wanted this, I wanted to make Bellucci successful on my own, I hate the idea of having to partner with someone else to achieve it.
“Stop it Mia” Becca admonishes me from her seat. I raise a questioning eyebrow at her and she huffs before coming to her feet.
“Look, I know this isn’t what you initially wanted. I get it. But listen to me when I say, this is a once in a lifetime chance to finally make your place in this world. How much longer are you going to look over your shoulder Mia? How much longer are you going to live in fear and panic that one day she’ll turn up again? If you do this” she points her finger to the ground, showing authority. “Then you get to have security like you’ve never had before”
I take a few minutes, gazing out of the floor to ceiling windows of my office. The world is dark, the jet-black sky shrouded by thunderous cloud
s. Lightening lights up the sky with thick flashes every few seconds, as rain pounds down on the window in sorrowful little droplets. Do I have another choice? If I want to take back what was wrongly taken from me all those years ago, I don’t see any other way. Becca’s words swirl around my head like a whirlpool in the middle of the Sea, making me slightly nauseous. London busies itself below my feet, and I wonder if she’s here, hidden beneath one of the domes of the hundreds of umbrellas on the street. The one person no who longer exists in my life. The figure who gave me breath, the poisoned air into my lungs, the pounding heart beneath my once shattered ribs. Does she think of me as I think of her? Does she wonder if I still care for her as any loving daughter should? Only I’m not a loving daughter. I turn around and look at my office, it’s not bad in comparison but it could be better. It has to be better. I realize then that my mother will never witness any of my success. Why? Because I said so. She is a woman – no. Not a woman, a person, so undeserving of the life of luxury after what she put me through. I will never let her break me again. Not if I have anything to do with it.
“Let me see those files”
Chapter One
Staring up at my new office building I let out a sigh, my warm breath forming a cloud around me in the freezing London air. This is a good thing, or so I keep telling myself. In the back of my mind I know this merger is beneficial to both Bellucci Law and Hadleigh solicitors, but something is holding me back from jumping around with excitement. That something is Liam Hadleigh.
I worked my damn ass off to get Bellucci Law where it is today, and I sure as hell am not going to let some pompous daddy’s boy ruin it for me. The merger was agreed months ago, beneficial to both individual companies for financial and economic reasons. Bellucci was at a standstill, even after the development of the new Media Law department and I had wanted to push it further. While idiotic millionaire and billionaire divorcees plus the occasional criminal agree to pay the above average hourly rate we charge, it still wasn’t enough to give me the security I so damn need. And that brings me to now. Last night I’d stayed up reading over the proposition Liam had drawn up for his new Commercial Law department, and I had been surprisingly impressed.
I have some of the best lawyers in London at my firm, and we’ve made a name for ourselves. However, the fact that Liam is the more successful one of the two of us gives him some headway. Where Bellucci has progressed to a Regional Law firm, Hadleigh’s is a National Firm, and by working together to form a huge multi staffed office we’re set to be one of the best legal company’s in London, que pound signs. I was excited but nervous, thrilled but pissed off. I make a living out of arguing with people and Liam has the audacity to quarrel with me over something as little as a company name. Refusing to have Bellucci included in the new name infuriates me, but what angers me even more is his refusal to meet with me. He’s constantly busy. Or so his personal assistant and automatic emails tell me. I’d signed the merger paperwork anyway after meeting with his father, David. Once the deal was done I wouldn’t have to deal with Liam. Once I was in, there was nothing he could do about it, and for all he knew I was going to come in and sweep the ground right from under his feet. Idiot.
The low winter sun glitters off the new building we have refurbished to house the new, nameless company. I inwardly curse at the thought. Every meeting over the past few weeks have seen Liam absent, with David giving us some lame excuse that he will fill him in later. A hint of unease settles into my gut, but I will it away quickly. I know what I’m doing, screw Liam. Smiling to myself, I plan to make this work like hell once we’re inside this building. I honestly have no idea what to expect from Liam, he wouldn’t have such a good client rep if he was crap at his job. I’ve already painted a picture of him in my head of being an overweight, middle aged, know it all who gets whatever the hell he wants due to his money. I gather up my pride, and relish in the thought of Liam being a floundering, bubbling mess when he realizes who he’s dealing with. He’s about to get a reality slap right across his chubby cheeks. Does he not think I know how businesses work? I would never have signed away my baby if I didn’t. Signed on the dotted line, I know I can’t make business decisions without Liam’s consent, but the silver lining here is neither can he. I have my eye on the ball, well the figurative ball being money here. The turnover we expect to make by the end of next year is in the millions and that is my end goal. Money equals security, and over the last six months that need has increased ten-fold. The building is almost complete, with just a few decorative pieces to finish inside, our move in date is scheduled for a few weeks’ time, hopefully just before the new year. I clutch my hand around my branded coffee cup to try and warm myself up from the chilling breeze when my phone startles me in my bag. Why is my handbag always like a bottomless pit? Shoving aside tissues, tampons and the crumpled up note I shoved in there earlier I find my damned phone.
“Hello?”
“Mia! You need to get back here! Liam has just turned up!” Becca, my assistant’s high pitch voice screeches down the phone.
“What? What do you mean he’s turned up?”
“He’s here! At the office! He’s insisting he see you”
I turn my head to the heavens in the hope that, if there is a god he grants me some peace from this infuriating human! With a roll of my eyes and heavy sigh, I will my strong persona to the surface. I’ve dealt with numerous, demanding men in my time and I refuse to kneel at his feet like a dog. The building in front of me is proof enough that I’ve been doing something right for the past few years, granted the things I had to do to get here are things I’d rather forget, but I fought, and I won’t give it away to some snobby, big headed, moron.
“Well, I’m busy right now, he’s going to have to make an appointment” I smile brightly to myself, proudness coursing through me as I put Liam in his place. I’m not going to beat around the bush and say that Liam isn’t successful, because he is. He has solidified his name as an amazing solicitor. Hadleigh has over a handful of top companies as clients, and they don’t just wander into a high street firm. However, that doesn’t mean that I’m not good at what I do. Being a barrister has taught me many things, and I never had the help that Liam did. I guess he’s not used to being told NO by someone.
“Miaaaa” Becca groans at the other end of the phone “Please don’t make me do this, you know what he’s like”
“Becca, I don’t care. He shouldn’t assume that I’m at the office. Tell him to make an appointment” with that I hang up. Throwing my phone back into my bag, ignoring the crumpled up note again. I take one last look at the building with a smug smile on my face before jumping back into my waiting car and heading to my next appointment.
∞ ∞ ∞
I get back to the office around five, shrugging out of my coat and pulling my scarf away from my neck. The office heat sends tingles over my frozen body. Seriously this winter is unforgiving and no matter how many layers I wear, I still freeze. My Italian heritage has done nothing for me living in London. I need the heat! Becca, her fiancé and I vacationed in the Caribbean over the summer, and I’d give anyone anything to get back there right about now. I walk past Becca’s desk and quickly hear her clicking heels running behind me into my office, snapping me further out of my wandering thoughts.
“What the hell was that for?” she hisses. I turn to face her, after hanging my things on the coat rack. I rub my hands together to try and get some feeling back into them. Becca has been my paralegal since Bellucci Law was founded. I hired her from the get go, straight out of university. I’ve given her ample opportunity to move up in the business but she’s content where she is. Being a trust fund baby, means she doesn’t need to advance for economic reasons, she’s happy being my assistant. Personally, I think it’s her need to be able to interfere with my life. I love Becca like a sister, the good, the bad and the ugly but her ability to make me feel guilt doesn’t sit well with me.
“What?” I ask before rounding my desk, a litt
le snappier than I should be.
“What do you mean ‘what?’” she says through clenched teeth. I look up at her from my seat, and I can’t help but smile.
“Don’t you smile at me Mia! I swear to god!” she sits herself down in one of the cream leather chairs parked opposite my desk. I raise my dark eyebrows in silent question before she huffs out a breath that blows her long blonde hair away from her face. I drop the papers I was collecting, letting out an exasperated breath of air.
“What? What’s wrong?” I ask her again before sitting back in my chair, giving her my full attention.
“Liam Hadleigh” she huffs, collapsing back into the chair. I wrinkle my brow in confusion, I know she said he was here earlier, but I hadn’t heard back from her all day, and I’d been knee deep in evidence for this new case, so I hadn’t called.
“What about him?”
“He’s the most irritating, big headed, son of a ....” she starts but I hold my hand up before she can finish her sentence.
“What did he do Becca?”
“He didn’t do anything! He’s awful Mia”
“What do you mean he’s awful? You’re not giving me much to go on here” Panic sets in at the idea of already being signed and sealed into a new company with him. Was it a mistake?
“Well he stormed in here like he owned the place, he didn’t even ask if you were here! Just stomped right up to your office demanding to see you! You should have seen his face when I told him he had to make an appointment!”
I stifle a small laugh and cross my hands across my flat stomach.
“Good. Just ignore it Becca. We’re going to be in the same building as him soon”
“Ugh! Don’t remind me!”
“I’m sure it will get better once we’re all settled” I lie, not even believing that myself. I sigh and sit forward reaching for the papers I was sorting earlier when Becca interrupts again.
Powerless (Power Series Book 1) Page 1
