“And Emery sent a wedding planner? Isn’t it a little soon? He only proposed last night,” I hedged.
A sharp sigh scraped against my ear. “Steven and I have been working through the terms of his inheritance. You need to seal this as quickly as possible, Amanda. I don’t understand why you’re wasting your time calling me. You know what’s at stake.”
Apparently not as well as you. I fought down the rise of emotions. It should come as no surprise that my father had a hand in this matter already.
But it stung.
Most dads would be congratulating me, enjoying the start of a new chapter to the family saga, or lamenting how old their little girl was. All grown up and getting married.
Not mine. He saw black and white. Contracts and achievements. There was no room for fluff.
But it still would have been nice if he had given a human reaction to the news.
This was exactly why my sister Nicole had hidden her own milestones from him. Well, that and the fact that he would never have approved of her choices.
“Amanda, is there anything else?” my father clipped out. “Because if not, I have a meeting to get back to.”
“No, sorry,” I coughed. “Just was checking in about the situation.”
“There was no need,” he said with a bite. “You had all the pertinent information sent to you if that nitwit did her job properly.”
“Emery did!” I rushed to assure him. “I’ll handle it.”
The call ended. No goodbye, no affection.
Why? Why!I drove the edge of my phone against my forehead. Why did I do this to myself? I was always chasing the next rung on the ladder, hoping he’d notice. Wondering when it would be enough for his approval.
And here I was, newly engaged, and he was only interested in the terms and fine print of the matter.
Which, come to think of it, was odd, because Steven hadn’t mentioned the inheritance at all.
I rubbed my aching skull, grabbed my espresso, and was about to slug the piping hot liquid back when I turned and nearly jumped out of my skin.
“Taking personal calls on company time?” Carter Lewis crossed his arms over his chest.
Of all the employees at Kirk & Wallace to catch me in the break room on the phone, it had to be him. I gave the senior partner a terse smile, splashed some water into my mug, drank my espresso, and gave myself a few precious moments to gather my thoughts.
This man had been in charge of the bullpen when we were all associates, vying with one another for a spot to work with a senior partner. He was ruthless. Mean. And he looked like a water buffalo with a thick body, military buzz cut, and no neck.
“Mr. Lewis, good to see you,” I said with a firm smile. “That was my father, calling to check in with some important arrangements.”
I hated playing the nepotism card, but it was the only one able to save me.
Those beady eyes widened a fraction. “I see. How is Mr. Loring?”
“Busy,” I responded, because there was no other appropriate answer. “He’s in LA for the next two months working on a big merger.”
“I know. I hear the gossip about Loring, Smith, & Colt,” Lewis snapped.
I gave him a clipped nod. “I have to get back to the depositions for Mr. St. Just.”
“Don’t forget to prep for the Benson trial this weekend,” he added, a glint in his eye. “Or did you forget that you’ll be busy next week working with Samantha and me on that case to fulfill your trial hours for the quarter?”
Just because I preferred to work with one senior partner didn’t mean I was exempt from abiding by company policy. This law firm was top-tier, and they did everything in their power to teach and mold younger lawyers into ruthlessmachines—because only a killer could stand a chance of lasting on their employee roster.
I was grateful for the position here, and normally, I loved the opportunities to improve myself. Right now? The thought of the trial next week sent a wave of defeat through my already drained body.
“I’ll see you Monday morning,” I assured Lewis.
