Laughing to myself, I got on the elevator and hit the button for the top floor. “Five minutes early,” I muttered to myself as we started rising.
“Headed up to see old man Hanson?”
I glanced over at Matt Brooks, an associate and complete ass. The man had it out for me since the moment I was promoted ahead of him. He thought it was unfair that I had been there a year less than him. I thought he was a shithead who liked to hand off his work to others while he went golfing.
“Early meeting.”
He scoffed, shaking his head. “So, they’re giving you partner.”
“Even if I knew what the meeting was about, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“Right, because you’re such a good, morally upstanding guy. Tell it to someone who cares.”
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Matt got off, but I held the doors. “You know, if you weren’t such a dick, you might actually get that promotion you want.”
“Fuck you, Lawson.”
“Thanks, but Bianca keeps me busy.”
I released the doors with a grin, then straightened my tie as the elevator continued its upward path. Now that the meeting was about to start, I was actually getting nervous. Did I really want partner? I’d been working toward it since I’d been out here, fighting for the best cases and staying late to prove myself to the company.
It was everything a lawyer wanted.
But there was a pit forming in my stomach, telling me that I might not like it when I finally got it.
I didn’t have time to think about it now. Before I knew it, Sheila was directing me to the boss’s office, and my feet were moving.
“Ryder!” He called out just as I was about to knock. “Come in, son.”
I hated that he called me son, but I smiled at him and pretended I was completely fine with the asshole. Maybe the reason for the pit in my stomach was the fact that if I made partner, I’d have to work with Hanson on a daily basis.
The man was a schemer and a narcissistic asshole, but worse, I wasn’t entirely sure any of my morals and values aligned with his.
“You wanted to see me?”
“Did you have a good drive in?” he asked, deflecting from the reason I was here.
“Pretty uneventful.”
“Good. Good. And your girlfriend…”
“Bianca,” I finished for him. “She’s doing just fine.”
The gleam in his eyes revolted me. “Hot piece of ass. You did well with her.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said, biting back the urge to kick his ass for being such a jerk.
“So, I’m sure you’re wondering why I called you up here today. I know you’ve been working toward partner, and I’ve talked with Walther. He agrees that you’d be a good candidate.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He leaned forward and grabbed a folder. “I just have one case I’d like you to finish up before we make it official. This is a personal favor for me.”
He tossed the folder across the desk and leaned back in his chair as I studied the file. I knew immediately who he was talking about and why the guy needed a lawyer.
“Greg Matthis? Sir, the man is a rapist.”
“Everyone needs a lawyer,” he shrugged.
