Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 133321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 667(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 667(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
At the sound of Ri’s secretary’s voice, my lips tighten. I punch the button on my speaker. “Yes, Tabitha?”
“Ri’s confirming that you’re on your way to his office?”
I curl my fingers into my palm. “I am,” I say, and releasing the button, I grab my phone, stuff it in my skirt pocket and then round my desk to walk toward my door.
I’m about to exit when my boss steps in my path. “How’s your case looking? I know you’re passionate about this one.”
Kevin’ s a tall, dark, and good-looking guy that might be a hottie to some, but for me, he has always had this big brother quality that feels safe and friendly. He cares about people. He loves the legal system. He’s the one who’s made it possible for me to pretend I don’t work for Ri. “It’s shaping up well,” I say, “but I have to be in Ri’s office now. Tabitha just called my desk to make sure I’m on the way.”
“Again,” he states with obvious disapproval.
“Yes. Again. You should know that he found out that I am looking for a job.”
He blanches. “A job? Mia, why? You’re successful here. Is it money? Do I need to fight for a raise?”
“No,” I say, “but thank you. It’s personal.”
“It’s because of Ri,” he says, and it’s not a question. “He’s always coming at you. I knew that was going to get old for you.”
“It’s complicated. I’ll update you on my status after I talk to him but thank you for caring.”
“Caring and doing something to help are two different things. I can’t help you with Ri but I wish I could. I’ll try though. Let me know and I’ll try.” Words that could cost him his job and I won’t let that happen. I do, however, let him walk away. He’s better off staying away, too.
I watch him depart and Kara glances in my direction but doesn’t acknowledge me. I cut down the hallway, turn a corner, and then enter Ri’s private space through glass doors that lead me directly to Tabitha’s desk. “He’s waiting on you,” she says, shoving her long red hair from her beautiful blue eyes. She’s pretty, and I’ve often thought her to be involved with Ri, and yet he keeps coming at me, but then, really he’s coming at Grayson through me.
I nod and walk around her desk and stop at Ri’s door where I knock. “Come in!” he shouts.
I mentally steel myself for this encounter and enter to find him standing with his back to me at the window to the right of his massive black oval desk. “Shut the door,” he says without turning.
Shut the door.
I do not want to shut the door and yet it’s not an unreasonable request. I have to shut the door.
I shut the door and just like that, I’m alone with Ri. No, I’m alone with the devil himself.
Chapter thirty-eight
Mia
Ri turns to face me the minute the door shuts, running a hand through his blond sleek hair. “Really, Mia? I helped you in a time of need and you’re looking for a job?”
That sets me off and I forget fear. “Helped me? Are you serious? What happened to you’re a fine attorney and we want to win the bidding war? What happened to me being a damn good attorney?” I walk further into the room, stopping in front of his desk between the two visitor’s chairs but facing him at the window. “It was never about me now, was it? It was about fucking Grayson by fucking his woman if you could make it happen.”
“His woman?”
“Oh my God, Ri. Stop. I’m talking past tense. You wanted to fuck me to fuck him and now that you know you can’t, you act like a total asshole to me. You throw files on my desk. You demand updates on my cases. I don’t even report directly to you. I can’t believe I was this stupid.” I rotate and start to walk away.
He closes the space between us and grabs my arm, whirling me around. “That’s not how it is.”
“Let go of me, Ri, or I swear the next knee I give you will do permanent damage and right now, I think it would be a good thing to prevent you from ever producing a mini-me.”
“Did you really just say that to me?”
“Let go of me Ri. You have about thirty seconds or I will knee you and scream.”
His jaw clenches. “Fuck, Mia.” He releases me. “Happy?”
“No,” I say. “I cannot be happy in the middle of this war. That’s the problem but I have a client I really care about that I want to help. If you can’t let me do my job then at least let me bring another attorney that I pick up to speed. You owe me that for using me like you have.”