Quentin grinned unabashedly. “What can I say? You win some, you lose some. So tell me about your mystery woman.”
Colby heaved a resigned breath. He knew Quentin wouldn’t drop the subject until he’d gotten the answers he wanted, relentless pain in the ass that he was.
“Her name’s Ava.” Colby paused, shifting in the chair. Damn, just saying the woman’s name got him aroused. “She was sitting alone at the bar when I showed up at the restaurant last night. We struck up a friendly conversation, one thing led to another and…” He trailed off, unable to resist the slow tug of a smile. “Let’s just say we both had a good time.”
“I bet you did,” Quentin said with a knowing grin. “Which would explain why you didn’t beat me to the office this morning. You had too much of a good time.”
When Colby didn’t deny it, Quentin laughed. “When are you gonna see her again?”
Colby’s smile dimmed. “I’m not.”
“What? Why not?”
Colby hesitated, then shrugged a shoulder. “We didn’t talk about that. It was just a—” He broke off abruptly, unable to utter the words one-night stand. Because deep down inside, he sensed that what he’d experienced with Ava had been much more than that. They’d made a powerful connection, one that went deeper than what they’d shared between the sheets. When he left her that morning, he’d known that it would be a long time before he got her out of his system.
Quentin was watching him carefully, his eyes narrowed in amused speculation. “Are you sure you don’t wanna see her again?”
Colby swallowed. “Even if I wanted to—”
“You do,” Quentin said implacably.
Colby shot him a dark look, which made Quentin chuckle. “I’m just stating the obvious,” he drawled.
“It doesn’t matter,” Colby said gruffly. “I can’t see her again because I have no way of contacting her. I don’t even know her last name.”
“Ah.” Quentin’s eyes glimmered. “So it was that kind of night.”
“Yeah.” Frustrated with the conversation—and with himself for thinking he could settle for just one night with Ava—Colby blew out an impatient breath. “Anyway, I’ve got a lot of work to do, boss, so can we get to the reason you wanted to see me this morning?”
Quentin eyed him a moment longer, then relented with a soft chuckle. “I’ll let you off the hook this time, but only because I have a management meeting to prepare for.” He picked up a folder on his desk and passed it to Colby. “I’ve got a wrongful termination lawsuit I’d like you to take over for me. The client’s name is Johnae Kearse, and she’s a former marketing coordinator for Southern Pacific. Four months ago she was terminated for alleged sick leave abuse. She’s six months pregnant.”
“Damn,” Colby muttered. “Did she file a complaint with the EEOC?”
Quentin nodded. “After she received her right to sue letter, she contacted our firm. I would have stayed on the case, but I’m needed in other areas while Marcus is on leave.” He was referring to the firm’s founder and CEO, Marcus Wolf, who’d taken two months off from work following the birth of his daughter, Milan.
“I understand.” Colby thumbed through the employment and medical records contained in Johnae Kearse’s file. “So you really think she’s got a strong case?”
“Definitely. And I think you’re just the man to help her win it.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Colby said wryly, “but I’m sure I have my work cut out for me, going up against one of the largest manufacturing corporations in Georgia. Is Southern Pacific open to settlement talks?”
“It seems so. They reached out to me to set up an informal settlement conference, so you and Miss Kearse are meeting with their legal team on Friday afternoon. That gives you two days to bring yourself up to speed on the case.”
Colby nodded, rising to his feet with the folder in hand. Two days was more than enough time. “I’ll be ready.”
“I know you will.” Quentin smiled at him. “Why do you think Marcus and I went to the trouble of flying up to New York over the summer, wining and dining you, then strong-arming you into joining our firm?”
Colby chuckled. “As if you guys ever have to strong-arm anyone into coming to work for you. Becoming a partner at this firm is every lawyer’s wet dream. I’d have been crazy to turn down what you were offering. Besides,” he added, his tone softening, “it was time for me to come home. I’ve been…away long enough.”
“I agree,” Quentin said quietly.
A silent look of understanding passed between the two men.
After another moment, Colby held up the folder. “I’m going to call Miss Kearse to introduce myself and make sure we’re on the same page before Friday’s meeting.”
“Good idea,” Quentin agreed. “Keep me posted.”
“I will,” Colby promised, starting purposefully from the room.
As he reached the door, Quentin called out, “Colby?”
He paused, glancing over his shoulder.
Quentin met his gaze. “If I haven’t said it before…welcome home.”
A shadow of a smile touched Colby’s mouth.
“Thanks, Q,” he murmured, then turned and walked out.
Chapter 3
A combination of nerves, excitement and adrenaline pumped through Ava’s veins as she strode from her office on Friday afternoon to attend a prelitigation settlement conference.
She’d been floating on cloud nine for the past two days—and with good reason. First she’d spent the most incredible night of her life with the sexiest man walking. And then, while she was still basking in the glow of the erotic encounter, she’d arrived at work to learn that she’d been assigned lead counsel on a major case. She could barely contain herself as she’d sat across from the desk of Hayden Rainer, her supervisor, stunned by the magnitude of the opportunity she was being given. Her successful handling of the wrongful termination lawsuit would all but secure her the coveted brass ring of partnership at Aldridge & Spaulding.
After nine years of toiling slavishly at the large law firm, it thrilled Ava to realize that she was finally within reach of achieving her goal.
Don’t break out the champagne just yet, an inner voice cautioned. Have you forgotten that the plaintiff is represented by one of the top law firms in the country?
Ava grimaced, her steps slowing for a moment. Of course she hadn’t forgotten. Upon learning that Johnae Kearse had retained the services of Wolf & Reddick, a feeling of dread had swept through Ava. The prestigious law firm boasted a roster of ruthlessly brilliant attorneys who were known for making mincemeat of their opponents in court. Several years ago, Marcus Wolf had set the bar by winning a landmark class-action lawsuit on the scale of Brown vs. Board of Education. And this past January, his fellow managing partner, Quentin Reddick, had secured a hefty settlement for a client in one of the biggest whistle-blower trials in Georgia.
It was no wonder the prospect of facing any of their attorneys in court struck fear in the hearts of even the most skilled litigators. Though Ava would never admit to feeling intimidated—at least not publicly—she knew she had her work cut out for her. But she’d never been one to back down from a challenge. This was her chance to prove that she was ready for prime time, and she intended to do just that.
Mentally squaring her shoulders, Ava strode into the large conference room. Already seated at the glossy wooden table was her cocounsel and longtime rival, Tate Childress. The thin, gray-haired gentleman beside him was Bert Lusskin, CEO of Southern Pacific, who’d surprised everyone when he’d insisted on attending today’s meeting in lieu of the company’s human resources manager and the supervisor who’d fired Johnae Kearse.
Lusskin and Tate were deep in conversation, their heads bent close together in a manner that set off alarm bells in Ava’s head.
At her appearance, they abruptly ended their discussion and rose to their feet. When Ava glanced at Tate, she thought she caught a flicker of smug condescension i
n his eyes before he plastered on a smile that only heightened her unease.
Advancing into the room, she turned her attention to the older man who stood beside Tate. “Hello, Mr. Lusskin,” she greeted him, her hand outstretched as she rounded the table. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“The pleasure’s mine, Miss Cameron,” Lusskin said affably, shaking her hand.
“I hope you haven’t been waiting too long,” Ava said, lowering herself into the cushioned chair that Lusskin held out for her. “I was wrapping up a conference call when you arrived. Our receptionist didn’t tell me you were here until I’d gotten off the phone.”
“No worries,” Lusskin said briskly, waving off her apology as he sat down beside her. “I was twenty minutes early, so Mr. Childress was kind enough to bring me a cup of coffee and escort me to the conference room.”
Color me surprised, Ava thought sourly. Tate had probably been lurking around the reception area in order to intercept Lusskin the moment he arrived. He’d made no secret of the fact that he resented Ava for being chosen lead counsel, so she knew he wasn’t above trying to sabotage her.
As though he’d read her mind, Lusskin volunteered, “Mr. Childress and I were just discussing strategy.”
“Oh?” Ava divided a wary glance between the two men. “Anything I should know about?”
Before either of them could respond, the speakerphone on the table buzzed.
“Ava?” the receptionist’s voice came through the intercom. “Mr. Austin and Miss Kearse are here to see you.”
Ava frowned in puzzlement. Mr. Austin?
“Do you want me to show them to the conference room?”
“Yes, please. Thanks, June.” No way was Ava leaving Tate alone with Bert Lusskin. God only knows what they’d discussed before she arrived.
Bending over her yellow legal pad, she scribbled a few notes to herself. When the receptionist appeared moments later, she glanced up.
And froze in shock.
The tall, broad-shouldered man sauntering into the conference room was the absolute last man on Earth she’d expected to encounter, and she was so stunned to see him that she swore her eyes must be deceiving her.
But then their gazes connected, and she knew by the way her heart jackknifed into her throat that this was no illusion.
This was real.
Colby, her sexy one-night stand, was coming straight toward her.
At the sight of Ava, a flicker of surprise crossed his handsome face, disappearing so swiftly she was sure no one else caught it.
Swallowing hard, she got unsteadily to her feet and extended a hand across the table. “Mr. Austin,” she said politely.
“Miss Cameron.” As his big, warm hand enveloped hers, a jolt of electricity sizzled through her veins.
They stared at each other.
One charged moment crackled into two, then three, before Ava pulled her hand away and briskly cleared her throat, trying to recover her composure. “Thank you for coming this afternoon.”
“Of course.”
As Colby exchanged cordial greetings and handshakes with Tate and Bert Lusskin, Ava covertly admired the way his dark navy suit accentuated his powerfully built frame. When he flashed a crooked smile, her mind seized on a memory of those full lips wrapped around her nipple, then pressed to her throbbing sex as he sucked her engorged clitoris. Her body instantly reacted to the imagery—breasts swelling against her lace bra, moisture dampening her panties.
As Colby’s gaze returned to hers, she attempted to school her features into impassivity as she told him, “We were, ah, expecting Mr. Reddick.”
“He was needed on other cases,” Colby drawled, “so I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for me.”
“That’s fine.” With any luck, Colby would be a far less formidable opponent than either of his bosses, though everything about him fairly screamed formidable.
“Where’s your client?” Ava inquired.
“She’s coming,” Colby answered smoothly. “She had to make a stop in the ladies’ room. As she explained to me, her poor bladder doesn’t hold as much water as— Ah, here she is now.”
Everyone turned to watch as a petite young woman with a humongous belly draped in a pink maternity dress entered the conference room.
Stunned, Ava could only stare at her. With her smooth brown skin, long hair and wholesome features, Johnae Kearse looked even younger than twenty-seven, and she appeared to be much further along in her pregnancy than six months.
Catching the uncomfortable glances that passed between Tate and Bert Lusskin, Ava wondered whether Johnae’s delayed entrance had been a cleverly orchestrated strategy designed to remind everyone that she, not Southern Pacific, was the victim here. If so, the ploy had definitely worked.
And judging by the satisfied gleam in Colby’s eyes, he knew it, too.
As the young woman approached the conference table, Ava gave her a friendly smile. “Thank you for joining us, Miss Kearse. Can I offer you something to drink?”
The dark eyes that met hers were filled with suspicion and hostility. “No, thank you.”
“Okay. Well, if you change your mind—”
“I won’t.”
Ava faltered for a moment, then recovered with a cool smile. “All right.” She glanced around at the others. “Shall we begin?”
As she, Tate and Lusskin reclaimed their seats, Colby pulled out a chair for his client, murmuring something in her ear that made her glance at Ava before nodding tightly.
Once everyone was settled, Ava began without preamble, “I hope I speak for everyone at this table when I express how optimistic I am that we can reach a satisfactory resolution to this matter without going to trial.”
“We shall see,” Colby murmured.
Ava met his gaze across the table, unnerved to find those dark eyes glinting with humor, as if he were privy to some private joke.
She waited for the punch line.
She didn’t have to wait long.
Colby leaned forward, holding her gaze. “I’ll get right to the point. We’re seeking compensatory and punitive damages in the amount of $500,000.”
Beside Ava, Bert Lusskin sputtered in shocked outrage, “Half a million dollars! That’s preposterous!”
“Is it?” Colby smiled narrowly. “Why don’t we wait and see whether a jury will feel differently once presented with all the facts?”
As Lusskin blustered some more, Ava bit off tersely, “Let’s be reasonable, Mr. Austin.”
He arched a brow at her. “I thought I was.”
Her eyes narrowed. So that’s how he wants to do this, she thought. She’d come to the meeting prepared to put ten grand on the table, but since Colby wanted to go for the jugular, she’d show him that two could play that game.
“Based on my preliminary research, Mr. Austin,” she said coolly, “we’d like to offer your client $5,000.”
Though Colby’s expression gave nothing away, the indignant anger that swept across Johnae Kearse’s face spoke volumes.
Ava waited.
“Is that your final offer?” Colby asked calmly.
“Yes.”
He chuckled. “Look, we both know that your client’s reason for terminating Miss Kearse violates the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.”
“I’m well aware of the law, Mr. Austin,” Ava said tightly. “Your client was terminated for abusing the company’s sick leave policy. Her excessive absences—”
“Were a result of complications from her pregnancy, which were verified by her physician.”
“And what about the doctor’s appointment that Miss Kearse falsified?” Ava challenged.
When Johnae opened her mouth to protest, Colby held up a hand to silence her. Nostrils flaring, she promptly snapped her mouth shut, but if looks could kill, Ava would be dead and buried.
Colby responded evenly, “My clien
t has already provided an explanation for that misunderstanding—”
“Misunderstanding?” Ava repeated skeptically. “She lied to her supervisor about having a doctor’s appointment so that she could leave work early.”
“Because I was sick!” Johnae burst out, unable to hold her tongue. “I’d been sick the whole week, but I went to work that day because I knew my supervisor was just looking for a reason to write me up. If I could have made it to the end of the day, I would have. But I couldn’t, so I felt that I had no choice but to lie about having a doctor’s appointment.”
Ava regarded her sympathetically. “I’m sorry that you felt you had no other choice, Miss Kearse, but the fact remains that you were untruthful with your supervisor. That, combined with your frequent absences, concerned him enough to terminate your employment.”
Johnae glared at Ava. How could you take their side against me? her eyes silently accused. How could you look like me, share the same gender, and still sit there in judgment of me?
Ignoring an unwelcome twinge of guilt, Ava shifted her attention from the resentful young woman to Colby, whose dark, probing gaze made her feel equally unsettled.
“As you well know, Mr. Austin,” she determinedly forged ahead, “the Pregnancy Discrimination Act doesn’t require employers to ignore chronic absenteeism. The courts have held that excessive absences from work, even if caused by the pregnancy, can result in the justified termination of the pregnant employee.”
“True,” Colby allowed, “but the PDA also requires employers to treat pregnant workers the same as they would treat any other similarly affected employees. That wasn’t done here, nor in the case of Stephanie Atwood or Dawn Everett.”
Ava frowned. She didn’t recognize the names.
Colby observed her reaction, a knowing gleam filling his eyes. “You didn’t know about them, did you? Well, that’s all right. I’m more than happy to enlighten you. Stephanie Atwood and Dawn Everett were two employees at Southern Pacific who, like my client, were terminated shortly after they announced that they were pregnant. Interestingly enough, a female employee in the HR department who underwent minor surgery last year had nearly the same number of absences as Stephanie, Dawn and Johnae, yet she still remains employed with the company. How do you explain that?”
Merry Sexy Christmas Page 21
