Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“No! No. I don’t want to take up any of his time. I know he’s a busy man.”
I was already starting to back away, realizing I’d made a mistake coming here.
“Oh, sure sure, but not too busy for you.” She waved away my words like they were nonsense. “I’m sure he would want to see you considering you’re a part of his team now.”
Believe me, he wouldn’t.
“Don’t worry about it! Nice meeting you again! Bye!”
Then I took off like a bolt of lightning, scared that at any moment Hudson would walk out of his office and see me there talking to Lucy and accuse me of…I don’t know, wasting company time.
I think it’s wise not to bring Jasper up to speed about Hudson. If he was offended about the cake, the rest of my day would really set him off. There’s no sense in worrying him.
I’m a tough girl; I can survive all of this and more on my own.
Probably.
Chapter Six
Hudson
It’s Wednesday, my favorite day. Well, any day I’m in the office is my favorite day. I’d sleep here if I could. Or better yet, not sleep at all. At the moment, we have a few different deals in the works, and the tides could easily turn with any of them. I love the excitement and the drama—don’t let anyone tell you law is boring. Elwood Hoyt isn’t your uncle’s dwindling tax law practice.
On my current rotation, I have a major pharmaceutical merger (worth $63 billion), I’m representing Zion Oil as they attempt to purchase a renewable energies company (for $148 million), and I’m helping a British luxury fashion brand who’s anxious to scoop up a few smaller brands (collectively worth $597 million).
I’m in such a good mood I almost give in when a senior associate attempts to strike up a conversation with me in the elevator.
Almost.
On the 70th floor, I head straight for my office. Lucy’s in there, laying out documents on my desk like she usually does in the mornings. I zero in on the steaming mug of coffee sitting right in front of my computer.
My eyebrows nearly touch my hairline. “You brought me coffee?”
This is an absolute first.
Lucy snorts. “Over my dead body. If you think I’m about to start waiting on you hand and foot, you’ve got another think coming. It’s from Scarlett. She brought it to me to give to you a little while ago, but I told her to just set it down herself. I still needed to go to the printer anyway.”
I scowl at her in a way that would cause anyone else to worry about losing bladder control. Doesn’t even faze Lucy though.
“You let her in here on her own?” My voice booms.
She rolls her eyes. “What was she going to do, steal company secrets?”
I look around my desk for anything damning, but it’s neat and tidy, completely free of personal effects—just the way I like it. “You have a point. Were you able to print the latest 409A valuation for SolarCo?”
“The appraisers haven’t sent it to us yet.”
That was supposed to be done yesterday. “How long does a damn appraisal take?”
“Well…”
“That was a rhetorical question. Did she spit in it, you think?” I’m pointing down at the mug now. It’s tempting to take a sip. She filled it all the way to the top, no cream.
“The coffee? I would have.”
“No way to tell if it’s been poisoned…” I hold it over toward Lucy. “Here, you taste it first.”
“That’s above my pay grade, I’m afraid. How about I get by my phone in case I need to call 9-1-1 real quick?”
“Real quick? You’ve never been quick in your whole damn life.”
“Right, well, good luck with your poisoned coffee. Oh and by the way, Scarlett came by yesterday afternoon too. Seemed kind of rattled. She wanted to be sure you hadn’t tried to contact her about anything. I asked if she wanted to schedule a time to meet with you and she nearly jumped out of her skin telling me no.”
“I can see from your accusing stare you think I’ve done something to her.”
“You better not have.”
“Relax.” Then I harden my features. “Though I’m not sure why you’d care.”
She props her hand on her hip. “I knew that girl when she was still in diapers. Cute as can be—still is.” She smiles. “Ah, so you noticed that too.”
I immediately relax my face just in case I was giving something away. “What the hell are you on about?”
She waggles her finger toward me. “I saw that little spark in your eyes when I mentioned her.”
I roll my non-sparking eyes. “You’ve really lost it. They say your mind can go”—I snap—“just like that at your age.”
She barks out a laugh and shakes her head, turning to leave my office. “I left your mail for you on your desk. Now I don’t want you bothering me for at least an hour. I’m going to drink my tea and do some of my crossword in peace before the phones start ringing off the hook.”