“I'm proud of you,” Darcie told me. The elevator chimed my floor. “ See you for lunch?”
“Definitely,” I answered, stepping off on the fifteenth floor. Darcie waved as the elevator doors closed and took her up to the sixteenth floor. Someday, I would be going up there instead of down here to the Dungeons.
The office was the usual buzz of morning business, but it sounded happier to me today than it had in a long time. Even my little work station looked better today and I didn't even frown at the stack of papers already waiting for my attention. In two weeks, I'd be in Texas helping Smith with the legal case of a lifetime. If that on my resume didn't get me a spot at Harvard, I'd eat my shoe. Plus, the icing on the cake was that I would be away from Alexa and Calvin.
“I heard about your little stunt last night,” Alexa informed me, gliding up to my desk. I wondered how someone so pretty could be so evil. She was tall with dark, glossy hair that was always perfectly coiffed. Her eyes were a unique shade of gray with lashes so long they made a breeze when she blinked. Add in perfect porcelain skin, legs that stretched into infinity and a waist that was built for the designer skirts she always seemed to wear, and she was gorgeous. Gorgeous and incredibly evil.
“I'm not sure what you mean, Alexa,” I replied diplomatically as I sat down at my desk. Most people thought that because she was so pretty there was no way she could be smart. I had learned the hard way that she had a ruthless mind that was always two steps ahead of everyone else. Alexa always got what she wanted. Always.
“Don't play coy, Lena. It doesn't become you,” she sneered. “You went to the partners behind my back. You went to Kathryn without consulting me or even Calvin. The whole upstairs is talking about how the paralegal went straight to Kathryn on the Preston case. You breached protocol and there are some very unhappy people up there.”
“Are they talking about what I found?” I asked, shuffling the papers on my desk. The last thing I had been expecting today was to get in trouble. Since Alexa was involved, I should have known it would happen. That was just the way my luck at work was tending to go this week.
Alexa ignored my question and instead leaned over my desk and pitched her voice so anyone nearby could hear. “You report to me. I'm a lawyer and you're a paralegal. There's a reason why I make four times your salary. You had no right to bother Kathryn with something so trivial. Especially just to spite me because of your bad review.”
A secretary stopped dead in her tracks and stared. Heads popped up over dividers. Everyone was tuning in to watch me get the scolding of a lifetime. My stomach was turning to acid.
“You mean bringing her the pictures I found on myFace?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady. She had just announced my bad review to the entire office. I set my jacket on my desk and the card from Aiden's dinner fluttered out from the pocket.
“Yes, the pictures from myFace,” she repeated, her voice dripping with derision as I picked up the card and set it on my desk. “That was my case, Lena. Mine. You were supposed to go through me and I'm going to make sure the partners know you went over my head. I walked in this morning expecting a report from you only to find out you went straight to Kathryn. I'm going to be bringing up your insubordination with her. I know you don't like how I work, but that is unacceptable behavior.”
I stared at her for a moment, unbelieving at how clueless she was. The acid in my stomach was changing to triumph. She had no idea how much trouble she was in. She just thought that I was out to get her as much as she was out to get me, and thought I would use her tactics. She had no idea what I had found or how poorly it reflected on her.
You are worth standing up for. Darcie was right. I was going places and I could stand up for myself. I was worth more than Alexa or Calvin realized. You won't be low level for long... Aiden's words echoed in my mind, mingling with Darcie's. If someone like him thought I was going places, then someone like Alexa had no right to challenge me.
“You mean the pictures from myFace?” I repeated, drawing courage from the card. I was worth something. “The ones you should have gotten in the first place? The ones that were part of the job you tried to pawn off on me and when I said no, you did a half-ass job on?”
Alexa's mouth opened to contradict me, but I kept going. Now that I had started, there was no way for me to stop. “Then, when I had to go back and do your job for you- and actually did it- I found the case saving photos? The ones that are going to keep it from going to trial and will save our client millions. Those myFace pictures?”
I paused for a moment to catch my breath. The crowd that was pretending not to watch us murmured. I knew I was playing with fire, but if felt good to be the one with the matches for once. “But you know, maybe you mean the ones that I tried to give to Calvin or you last night. Except neither one of you was in the office or answering your phones. But at least Kathryn was here, you know, working after hours on your case. Are those the ones we're talking about?”
Alexa's eyes darkened and her mouth condensed into a thin, ugly line. She looked over at the secretary that was now snickering in the hallway. The girl yelped and took off like she'd been burned by Alexa's gaze. The rest of the employees scattered like fallen marbles. Served her right for picking the time when the most people would be present to try and corner me.
“You think you're so smart,” she murmured. The darkness on her face twisted into a merciless, confident smile. “Enjoy this feeling, Ms. Masterson, because I'm going to destroy you. When I'm done with you, you're going to wish you had never even heard the word 'lawyer'.”
I put on my best polite smile. It was a struggle not to shout, “You only have two weeks to do it!” but I kept quiet. Instead, I just replied, “Have a great rest of your day, Ms. Jones.”
Alexa's smile dropped and she turned on her heel to stalk off back to her office. I didn't move until she was gone. I was shaking too much.
I let out a long breath when her office door slammed shut. I couldn't believe I had just done that. I had a feeling it was going to bite me in the ass eventually, but for now, it felt good. Besides, in two weeks, I would be out of her reach. She had no way of knowing that I was set to go to Texas with Smith. The decision had happened before she arrived here. With any luck, I'd be gone before she could do anything about it.
I looked down at my stack of papers, trying to get ready to work, but I couldn't concentrate. I kept daydreaming about going to Texas and showing everyone how useful I really was. Maybe I'd even figure out the argument that would win Smith the case. I'd have the scholarship and a guaranteed job when I graduated.
I picked up the card from Aiden. He'd be impressed too. He'd find me at the trial and tell me just how impressed and proud of me he was. How he knew I could do it. He'd even kiss me. We'd get married, I'd be a famous lawyer, and we'd both live happily ever after. It was perfect.
“Lena,” a voice called, bringing back to earth. I started and opened my eyes to see one of the legal assistants staring at me like I was crazy. I wondered just how long she'd been there watching me daydream. “Mr. Smith would like to meet you upstairs in his office.”
I grinned. This was it. I was on my way. “Thank you. I'll be right up.”
The assistant shrugged and hurried off. I smoothed my hair and made sure my shirt was straight. This was going to be good. I tucked the card gently back into my coat pocket to keep it safe. The only thing that could make this day better would be a visit from Aiden. A girl could dream.
Chapter 6
I couldn't keep the grin off my face as I hurried upstairs. Darcie gave me a big thumbs up as I passed the library on my way to Smith's office. I could hardly wait to get in there, but I made sure to walk calmly and professionally, even though I really just wanted to do cartwheels in the hallway.
Mr. Smith's secretary sat at a large desk guarding the entrance to his office. It looked as though a paper avalanche had hit her desk overnight as she sorted and organized the files that must be about the new case. I cleared
my throat and she looked up from her work, her face betraying nothing.
“Go on in,” she told me. “They’re expecting you.”
I grinned at her her, but she just returned to her piles of paper. I was excited and nervous and fairly sure that I might vibrate off the floor with all the emotions running through me. I opened his office door, stepped inside, and immediately stopped smiling. The happy vibrations were gone. I wasn't floating. I was sinking.
Sitting perched on the edge of Smith's desk was Alexa. Calvin sat in a chair beside her while Smith himself stood. I couldn't think of a single good reason why the two of them would be in here. I wished I hadn't left the card in my jacket pocket. I needed a little courage.
“Lena. Good, you're here,” Smith greeted me. He was an older gentleman, probably in his mid-sixties, though his actual age was a closely guarded secret. His hair was thick and gray, but his brown eyes were quick and sharp. “Now we can get started.”
I looked nervously from face to face, trying to figure out what exactly was going on. I swallowed hard as the door shut behind me. I didn't move away; I needed to know I had an exit if things went as bad as I was afraid of.
“Now, I'm aware that you were selected as the employee for the “Grooming the Next Generation” program this year. I remember picking you myself,” Smith started. All three of them were staring at me. I felt like a specimen in an experiment. Any moment, one of them was going to do something terrible to see how I would respond.
“Yes, sir,” I responded meekly.
“As such, you are supposed to come with me on my next case. I don't know if you watched the news this morning, but I was just hired on the Stephan Myers case in Texas.” He waited for me to nod.
“I had heard that, sir.” I held my breath, waiting for him to tell me that I was going in front of Alexa and Calvin. This could still turn out okay.
Smith's shoulders dropped a little his brows came together as he looked down, as if summoning the courage to continue. I had seen him do this in the courtroom for the jury. He had bad news for me. “I'm afraid I won't be bringing you.”
“What?” I gasped, feeling the air rush from the room. “Why?”
Smith took a step toward me, holding his hands out apologetically. “It was brought to my attention that Alexa here has never been on a big case like this before, but that she has a real interest in them.” He put his hand on my shoulder, as if he were trying to comfort me.
I was certain I was about to be physically ill. “I still don't understand why I can't go...”
Smith smiled sadly and squeezed my shoulder. “There are a limited amount of spots on the team. I need lawyers more than I need paralegals. I'm sorry.”
Alexa and Calvin smiled like jackals as I my dreams evaporated.
“But, I had a letter from you...” I said softly. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't possible.
“I know.” Smith sighed and let go of my shoulder. “But given your recent evaluation, I need to bring people I can trust to get the job done.”
I tasted bile as I threw up in my mouth a little.
“I see,” I said slowly. Though, really, I didn't. I didn't see how a good-for-nothing, brand new lawyer with absolutely no trial experience got to go on an all-expenses paid trip to watch one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the country work while the paralegal that had been promised, and actually could help, had to stay home. I didn't understand it at all.
“I know this is a disappointment, Lena,” Smith said slowly. I hated that he used my first name like he knew me. He didn't know me because if he did, he wouldn't have done this. “There will be other cases. Ones closer to home and more your speed.”
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. Alexa smirked. I wanted to scream, to tell Smith exactly what kind of lawyer he was getting with Alexa, but nothing would come out. I stayed quiet. I stayed small and insignificant.
“I wanted to tell you in person,” Smith concluded. He stepped away from me and back toward Alexa and Calvin and folded his hands behind his back like he did at the end of a presentation to the jury. “Now if you'll excuse us, I need to get everyone who is coming to Houston with me together. Would you mind letting my secretary know she can send in the others on your way out?”
“Of course, sir,” I replied meekly, turning blindly to reach for the door. I couldn't get out of the room fast enough.
As soon as the secretary saw me emerge, she nodded to the newly gathered crowd to go in. A stream of lawyers poured past me, and not a single one said a word.
“I told you not to mess with me,” Alexa said, coming to the door. She smiled, her teeth cruel and bright. “Have fun staying here. I'll send you a postcard.”
She slammed the door shut behind her. Through it, I heard Smith's voice followed by a cheer from the lawyers. Tears filled my vision and I stumbled away from what should have been mine.
Chapter 7
I didn't want to see Darcie yet, but I didn't know where else to go. The library was the one place that I could escape to; I could hide in a book better than I could hide behind my very open desk. I managed to keep myself contained until I stepped through the big glass doors protecting the books before I lost it.
Mercifully, the library was empty. Darcie must have had to deliver something. The placard on her desk said she'd be back in fifteen minutes, but I was just glad to have a the library to myself for a moment. As much as I loved my friend, I wasn't ready to tell anyone how crushed I was. Alexa had beaten me. She had destroyed me and I hadn't seen it coming.
I went to my favorite desk in the library. It was tucked up against a window and hidden from the rest of the library by bookshelves. I'd never seen anyone else use it, since most people preferred the big tables close to the entrance to work. It was my secret place in the office where I could read and research without anyone bothering me. Today, I had no plans for research. I just needed a place to hide.
I sat down on the comfy office chair, pulling my knees up into my chest. The tears started falling, silently tracing paths down my cheeks. For a few glorious hours, I had thought I was going places. I thought I was going to observe a high-profile murder case. My acceptance to Harvard was practically assured. The scholarship was in my pocket.
Now it was all just sand on the wind. Painful and messy.
I couldn't believe Smith picked Alexa over me. She was the last person that should be going to Texas. She could barely remember what a jury was called, let alone be in the same room as one. He probably picked her because she would look good on camera. She was tall and beautiful, especially when compared to a short, little paralegal with too much excitement in her eyes.
I wiped my cheek with the palm of my hand, trying to wipe away the sadness and bitterness with the tears. I hoped Alexa showed Smith her true colors. The idea of her ruining the entire murder case with her ineptness was appealing, except for the part that it wouldn't be Alexa's name that was ruined. It would be Smith's. He was an excellent attorney and I didn't want to see Alexa take someone of his skill down because she was an idiot.
The unfairness ached like an open wound. I had worked so hard. I deserved this chance. Even though murder trials weren't where my legal interests lay, I had been excited. It would have been the experience of a lifetime. Instead I was just going to stay in Chicago and pray that I had enough on my resume to get into a good law school, let alone have a shot at Harvard.
I took a deep shaky breath. At least I wouldn't have to deal with Alexa and Calvin while they were at the trial. My life would certainly be easier without having to be their step-n-fetch-it. I might actually go home on time without them here.
Except I didn't want to go home. The law firm, the courthouse—they were more my home than my apartment. I was made for the legal world. I ached with betrayal and loss. Everything I wanted in life was crumbling apart and I didn't even have a basket to put the pieces in.
I wiped another set of tears from my cheeks and hugged my knees in tighter. This isn't the e
nd of the world, it just feels like it. My Mom used to tell me that all the time when I was a kid. This too shall pass. I knew it was true, but for now, I just wished it didn't hurt so much.
***
“I didn't know anyone else knew about this spot.”
I looked up from my secret desk in the library in surprise. The late afternoon sun reflected warmth across Kathryn McDonald's stern features. She had a large ceramic mug and a legal pad in her hands.
“Ms. McDonald,” I stuttered, quickly gathering my things and closing my laptop. “Let me get out of your way.”
She waved a hand through the air to negate me. “No, no, don't get up. You were here first.” She smiled and pulled a chair over with her free hand. I sat back down, suddenly nervous. “Actually, I was looking for you.”
I had already been told by one partner that my dreams were gone. I wasn't looking forward to round two. I was probably going to be fired. Why else would Kathryn McDonald be looking for me?
“I'm sorry I wasn't at my desk.” I just needed a chance to explain myself. Maybe I could still manage to keep my job. I didn't have the current “Grooming the Future Generation” option anymore, but I wasn't ready to leave the firm either. “I just couldn't concentrate down there, so I brought my work up here, and-”
“It's a good place to work,” Ms. McDonald agreed, cutting off my nervous babble. She set her legal pad down on the edge of the desk and took a sip of tea. She frowned down at it and blew on the steam. It must have been too hot.
“Ms. McDonald, I'm sorry if I bothered you last night. I shouldn't have gone over the associates' heads like that, but I thought you should have the information and—”
“Lena,” Ms. McDonald said gently, cutting me off again. She placed on of her hands on mine. “You're not in trouble.”
“I'm not?” Relief flooded through me and I no longer thought I might have a heart attack.
Barefoot Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story Page 5
