Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
I swallowed as they walked past me, tipping their hats.
As they took their seats at the table, my heart raced.
“Good,” Damien said, gently grabbing my elbow from behind. “You’re here on time.”
He pulled me inside the room, but I didn’t take a seat.
"Who is she?" The leader looked at Damien.
"My new partner."
"I thought you worked alone..."
"Change of plans."
He pointed to one of his henchmen, and the guy walked over to me with a wand, waving it over me from head to toe.
"No wire, Boss."
"That wasn't necessary," Damien said. "She's on my side."
"Just making sure she's on mine." He shot one more glance my way before clearing his throat. “I'm having a problem with a former employee who decided to work for the competition. I would greatly appreciate your help in getting him to sign some documents, and I need to keep this as discreet as possible.”
“I’m always discreet,” he said. “I need half upfront.”
"What happened to thirty percent?"
"You're special."
The leader smiled and snapped his fingers. One of his men opened a briefcase full of cash.
“Give us a few weeks,” Damien said. "My partner and l will get it done."
I looked between them, trying to figure out what "it" was, but the silence that was suffocating the room revealed that the answer was ominous—that this probably had nothing to do with the law.
"How do I know that for sure. Mr. Carter?" he asked.
“Have I ever let you down?”
“Not yet."
"And I never will." Damien looked at me. "Give me a second with my partner. We’ll be right back.”
He pulled me into the hallway and then into the anteroom.
“I’m not going back in there,” I said.
“Why not?”
“Because those men are in the mafia.”
“And?”
‘They're criminals.”
“No, they're allegedly criminals.”
“Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m not doing any work for them, and there's not a sob story that can make me change my mind.”
"We don’t punish the son for the sins of his father," he said. "It's not his fault he was born into his lifestyle. He's making the most of it."
"He’s not a good person, Damien."
"You know him?"
"I know of him, and that’s enough."
"Elizabeth..." He stared into my eyes, sending me a new and improved mixed signal. “I need you to listen to me."
“I wasn't finished talking.”
“If I let you keep going, I might die before I get a word in." A soft smile tugged at his lips, but I refused to let that soften me. “Just follow my lead and listen to what they want. That’s what they’re paying for. Now.”
I followed him into the room and listened for hours, smiling as if I was on board.
I can't do this anymore.
HARASS (V.)
SYSTEMATIC AND/OR CONTINUAL UNWANTED AND ANNOYING PESTERING, WHICH OFTEN INCLUDES THREATS AND DEMANDS
ELIZABETH
The following morning
Three dead bodies.
A woman who proudly embezzled twenty million dollars.
A mafia member who was trying to find legal loopholes to leave his estate to his daughter.
I calculated the plots of three thriller movies I’d lived through this week, and I couldn’t bear to sit through the credits of another one.
I arrived at the firm at sunrise, waiting for Mr. Hamilton to walk through the doors.
Like clockwork, he appeared at six.
“I haven’t had my morning coffee yet, Miss Tanner,” he said as I approached. “I can’t talk to you about anything until I have my first cup.”
“Mr. Carter is literally the worst lawyer on this planet,” I said, following him onto the elevator. “I feel like I’ll end up in prison if he continues being my partner.”
“Jail maybe, never prison.”
“What?”
He motioned for me to hit the button for my floor, and the car moved up.
“I respect the fact that you’ve paired me with an established lawyer, but I would really appreciate it if I was given the opportunity to work with someone who actually has morals. Oh, and someone who respects my time.”
“Weren’t you late for your first day here?”
“That wasn’t my fault.”
Ding! The doors glided open.
“But that’s not the point.” I step out and unlock the door to my office. “I want to study under a great lawyer, one who I actually admire.”
“There’s a lot to admire about Mr. Carter,” he said. “There’s a method to his madness, Miss Tanner.”
“No, it’s just madness.”
“The best applicant should follow the best lawyer.”
“Then why can’t I follow you?”
“Because my name is on all the doors, and I said so,” he said. “I’m sure that Mr. Carter is trying to teach you something meaningful with everything he does.”
“So, there’s a deeper meaning behind why interns have to bring you coffee almost every hour on the hour, too?”
“Exactly.” He looked around. “None of them are yet, so would you mind doing it this once, please?”
“I see why first year lawyers don’t last that long here.”
“I’m sensing that too.” He narrowed his eyes.
I held back a sigh, deciding to tread carefully. “I would really like to work with someone who can help with cases, someone who—”