Total pages in book: 183
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“You want me to review the other attorneys’ cases?”
“Outside eyes catch what inside eyes do not,” he says. “Don’t worry, I plan to read them all myself as well, but I don’t expect to be disappointed in your evaluation.”
“Do you want me to take over calling the embassy and checking on Ashley?”
“That would be helpful, and text me if you get an update.”
“I’ll do it. Anything on Waller?”
“Royce and I spoke about an hour ago. Waller is going down. Tara is not.”
“That’s good news. Have you talked to her?”
“It’s too early over there, but Savage has his wish. He’s going to give her a full update.”
I laugh. “I can actually almost see those two together.”
“Oddly,” Cole says. “I can, too. They kind of deserve each other.” He glances at his watch. “I need to get going.”
“Anything else you need me to do?”
“Plenty,” he assures me, his eyes glinting with mischief, “but not now. Work on your Stanford curriculum until you get the files.” He stands up and heads for the door, leaving me alone in his office.
I wonder if he leaves other people alone in his office and I think not. He’s private. He doesn’t even let go of his files. I quickly stand and exit into the corporate lobby, and as I pass Maria, she gives me a little smirk. “Good morning.”
The smirk is my answer. Cole doesn’t leave people in his office alone and the fact that he does me is more evident now that he is here, in the office, and I’m the only one with this privilege. We have to be more careful.
I hurry into my own office, and call the embassy, shocked when I end up actually talking to Ashley. “This is Lori, Cole’s—”
“I remember,” she says. “And oh, Jesus this is embarrassing. I didn’t know he was getting you involved.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. I want to help, and this doesn’t go beyond me. He had to go into a meeting and we were both worried about you.”
“Tell Cole thanks for the generous amount of money he sent me, I’m seeing a French attorney today. I’ll have him connect to Cole. Damn it. They want me to hang up. Take down this name.” She gives me the attorney’s name and then that’s it. She gives me a hasty goodbye.
I text Cole the update. He doesn’t reply, but I don’t expect him to. Not in his meeting. I get busy finding a temporary secretary and I do phone interviews this time. By noon, I find someone I might just like, and have her lined up to try the job tomorrow. My cell phone rings and it’s Cat. “Hey,” I say. “How’s the book?”
“It’s turned in and my editor loves it.”
“I told you. That’s great news.”
“I heard you’re back in town,” she says.
“We got back late last night.”
“How was it?”
“Interesting. Crazy. I learned so much.”
“Your voice has excitement in it,” she says. “I love it. So, when are we having coffee?”
“We’re not, because you just want to find out what is going on with a certain person.”
“I do. You’re right. Put me out of my misery and tell me now.”
“I don’t even know what to say to that.”
“You just said enough. I was right. You couldn’t fight it.”
“I can’t do this here.”
“Then let’s have coffee. Tomorrow morning?”
“I need to get my footing here first. Let me call you later in the week.”
“You better.”
“I will,” I promise, disconnecting the line just as Cole appears in my doorway.
“Maria ordered us lunch. We have a case. I need you in my office.” That’s it. He disappears.
I stand up and hurry to follow him, relieved that he’s left me behind. That’s what a boss does. I think. I don’t know. It feels appropriate. “I have the food,” Maria calls out from behind me.
I turn and meet her a few steps away, taking the bags she’s holding. “Thank you. I have a temp coming in tomorrow to help Cole so you aren’t stuck with this stuff.”
“Oh good, I hope that person works out. Remind Cole that his team is still doing overflow work. They’re his. He’s just going to have to trust them to do the work.”
“I’ll definitely remind him.”
I head to his office and enter, food in hand, to find him on the phone. “Don’t be a pussy,” he growls. “Tell your client that he doesn’t run up a marker with a casino and expect not to pay. That’s a good way to end up six feet under. Then tell him to get a security guard, not a law firm. He’s going to need one.” He hangs up. “Jesus,” he growls, standing up and walking to the door to shut it. “I hate wet behind the ears attorneys with no balls.” He sits down in front of me. “And who runs up a marker with a casino and doesn’t pay?”