“That’s it?” Lilly asked.
“What do you want from me? I’ve told you you’ve needed to leave there for years, I’m not going to talk you out of it,” Angie replied.
“Good. Pleasant chat, as always,” Lilly said and laughed aloud.
“You love my straight talking, can I go now?” Angie asked.
“Yes, you may go.”
Lilly laughed as she heard Angie sniggering at the other end of the phone before she hung up.
Lilly would still sleep on it, but was happier that she had heard Angie’s confirmation that she was making a good decision.
Chapter Four
Lilly walked through the plush halls of her offices, the cream carpet muted the click of her high heels. Her hands were sweating from the nerves she was experiencing. She never thought that she’d have the courage to quit her job, but Elijah had given her a reason to do this. She wasn’t looking forward to telling her parents, they wouldn’t forgive her. Her brother, even less so. Lilly had to do this to save her sanity. She hadn’t shared with Elijah that she felt physically ill every day she walked into the luxurious lobby of her work offices. Her only joy was the prospect of having her lunch in Blue’s every day.
Passing her colleagues’ offices she nodded her good mornings and carried on to the end office where she had spent a large part of her life. She had been working long hours for the past decade. Earning her partnership fair and square and saved a small fortune for a rainy day. Misguided as it may be she felt obliged to carry on because her parents had paid for her to go to the best schools and colleges to get her degree. Doing her internship at the best law firm in the city was the icing on the cake and her parents werethe proudest two people the day she started her job. Outwardly, to their friends she was their golden child, but behind closed doors, they told her she should be a senior partner by now.
Relationships were the last thing that Lilly concentrated on. She had her fair share of boyfriends and enjoyed dating, but had a reputation of not dating a guy more than three times. She had no desire for commitment, having no plans to marry or have children. Lilly didn’t feel that she would ever like a person enough to want to spend twenty-four hours with them. Her patience was thin at best, which came in useful in her job, and she tended to get people to the point quickly. Until she met Elijah, then her viewpoint changed, she could finally see a happy future.
Walking down the hallway, she pondered Elijah and his relationships, she only ever saw him during the day and had spent no time with him socially at the bar or outside of it. She wondered as she approached her office door what he was like in bed. He showed such care and concern for her wellbeing, she wondered if that transferred to the bedroom. Would he be considerate with her orgasms, would he let the lady come first? It was the wrong time to be thinking of Elijah naked, his sexy good looks and kind eyes. His eye colour matched hers, and she warmed to his stare when he bored holes into her with one look.
She shook her head to shake the thoughts from her head, needing to concentrate. Turning the handle of the door, she walked into her large, cream coloured office. Walking over to a glass table, she hoped this was the last time she would enter the room. Placing her handbag on the floor next to the table, she sat in her chair and leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
Could she do it?
Yes, she could, she was Lillian Harrison, and she was a successful lawyer. Everyone could go to hell, she was going to quit and get happy. Then she would find out what she wanted to do with her life.
Sitting upright in the chair, she reached into the drawer next to her, lifted out the thick white envelope and traced her finger along the seal. She had written the letter to Harry, keeping it to the point. She wanted to leave immediately and had written she would buy herself out of the partnership.
She rarely spent any money, apart from work clothes and her apartment, not having many hobbies or outside activities. She had money in the bank, but it didn’t make any difference to her happiness. She was miserable.
Taking in a deep breath, she lifted the envelope, strode out of her office and headed to Harry’s office. Lilly nodded her way past the people she worked with but didn’t utter a word, she couldn’t afford to stop and talk for fear of losing the will to do what she needed to do. If they thought her rude, at this stage, she couldn’t care less. It wasn’t her usual attitude outside of the courtroom, but today was different. Approaching Jenny, she drew in a breath and braced herself for the acerbic tongue lashing she was about to receive. Jenny was a dragon of a PA, and there was no getting by her if she was so inclined.
“I need to see Harry,” Lilly said to Jenny.
Jenny didn’t look up from what she was looking at on her screen, so Lilly waited impatiently. Remaining calm on the outside, but seething with anger on the inside. She stood stoically and didn’t utter another word for five minutes until Jenny decided she wanted to address her.
Looking up, Jenny narrowed her eyes at Lilly, painting on a thin smile, she knew she had to give Lilly the respect ofjunior partner. Still, she was going to make her wait for it. Jenny hated Lilly with a passion only reserved for special people. She hated Lilly was adored by Harry, in his eyes Lilly could do no wrong and gave her everything she wanted. Jenny had the opposite affection from Harry and only ever got to see his stern side. Jenny wanted to be Harry’s favourite.
“Oh, I didn’t see you standing there Lilly, you should’ve said something. Have you been standing there long?” Jenny said with a sickly saccharine voice.
“Not long Jenny, I need to see Harry now, please,” Lilly advised her.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible he is busy with a client,” Jenny said and looked back at her screen.
“He isn’t Jenny, I have access to his diary, and he has no one in there with him. Announce me, or I will just go right in. Which way shall we play this?”
Jenny growled a few choice words, stood up and smoothed down her pencil skirt as she made her way to Harry’s office door. Opening the door and speaking quietly, Jenny moved to one side and let Harry come out of his office.
Harry strode towards Lilly and wrapped her in a bear hug. He was a large framed hulk of a man and drowned Lilly’s small frame as he hugged her hard.
“To what do I owe this honour Lilly, it’s so lovely to see you, and you should come up more often.”
“I’m sorry I’ve not been up sooner, to tell you the truth I have been avoiding you. Can we go to your office?” Lilly asked, looking over her shoulder at Jenny.
“Of course, do you want some coffee?” Harry said taking the hint.
