“Mostly by choice, but sometimes it’s the workload.”
Breathing a small sigh of relief that it’s not always the work that keeps him here late, I linger on the thought that he sometimeschoosesto stay late.
He must have sensed my slight concern because he adds, “Don’t worry. Late nights here should be few and far between for you, and probably only when you have a trial. Even then, you’ll only work late whenyoufeel it’s necessary.”
I give him a quick nod and feel my watch vibrate as he says, “Now for that tour…”
“Lead the way,” I say, meeting his eyes.
Following him out his office door, I peek at my watch to read the notification and see it’s a text from Mina.
Mina
How’s your first day going?!
Grabbing my phone from my purse, I shoot a quick reply to her before James starts running through all the attorneys’ offices that line the same side of this floor as his office.
Good. New boss is scary and stupid hot.
Putting my phone away, I look up as we’re rounding the corner at the end of the hall.
“Bathrooms are here. Entrances to the emergency exit stairwells are here, next to the bathroom and on the opposite side of the building by the elevators,” he goes on.
Turning the next corner, I see cubicles lined up and filled with people busy working away. All except for one at the end of the row.
Another vibration from my watch. Another text from Mina.
Mina
Do NOT fuck your boss!
A giggle escapes my lips, and James turns to see what’s so funny. I do my best to cover it by clearing my throat.
“Sorry, had a little tickle in my throat.”
He narrows his eyes slightly before turning back around, saying, “We keep water, coffee, and soda stocked in the employee lounge. If there’s anything you need that we don’t have, let Maddie know and she’ll order it for you.”
“Thanks,” is all I can say after he definitely didn’t buy that cover-up.
When James and I reach the end of the row of cubicles, he pauses to explain that my two paralegals are stationed here. My office is to the left, with their cubicles right outside my door.
At her desk, one paralegal is wrapping up a phone call. She is naturally beautiful and appears younger, possibly in her early twenties. After hanging up the phone, she looks up at James with a wide smile, her full lips revealing perfect teeth.
“Good morning, Attorney Sterling,” she greets him, paying me no attention.
“Morning, Vanessa. Where’s Nash?”
“I’m not sure. He left while I was on a client call. I think he went down to twelve to—“
“Get a coffee for my new—“
I turn to look for the voice coming from behind me.
“…attorney,” he finishes, his eyes flaring as they land on me.
Chapter 3
He’s tall, at least six foot two, with a jawline that looks like it could have been chiseled by Michelangelo, and hair just long enough to make him fit for an Abercrombie and Fitch ad. He’s left the top button of his shirt undone, a calculated rebellion that somehow makes him seem both approachable and untouchable.
