Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
DAMIEN
Istormed into Andrew’s office on Friday morning and locked the door.
“We have a problem.”
“Okay.” He shrugged. “How much will we have to pay to get rid of it?”
“Miss Tanner never passed the bar exam,” I said. “She handled cases with me and practiced in open court, all without ever taking it.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.” He leaned back in his chair. “Can you repeat yourself without the malpractice and fraud parts of that sentence?”
“She never passed the bar, Andrew,” I say. “You heard me loud and clear.”
“Did she ever go to Harvard?”
“Technically yes, and technically no.”
“So, did she really exist or was she a ghost this whole time?”
Good question. “I’ll figure out a way to fix it,” I said. “I just wanted you to know.”
I waited for him to serve another round of sarcasm, but he stared straight ahead.
“Say what's on your mind, Andrew.”
“I need a fresh cup of coffee.”
“The other thing that’s on your mind.”
“How is it that you researched the hell out of everyone else who works here—everyone down to the woman who cleans our windows part-time—and you didn’t catch this?”
I sighed. “I don’t know.”
“You always run your own background checks on anyone who gets hired to walk through these doors, and somehow the woman you begged me not to hire gets past you?”
I said nothing.
“Exactly.” He narrowed his eyes. “We’ve worked too damn hard to lose the firm over this, and I want you to know that if you weren’t in love with her, I would be charging her with three felonies, three misdemeanors, and insist that she spend at least twenty eight months in a federal prison.”
“But, because I’m feeling generous and she introduced me to my new favorite coffee flavor, I’ve decided to go with a different approach.” He paused. “This is the part when you ask me what I’m talking about.”
“I’m not in love with her anymore,” I lied. “Pursue the charges.”
“I have to take a dive into your filthy side of the law and make sure no one ever finds out about this,” he said. “I’ll clear my schedule, so be ready to work like hell by the time I get back.”
“If you were me, what would be your next best move?”
“Depends. Are we talking on the record or off?”
“Both.”
“On the record, I’d put her ass in jail and make sure she felt the wrath of the law. Off the record…” He paused. “I would figure out a way to get her lying ass back. I would also offer to refill Mr. Hamilton’s coffee since he’s been throwing not-so-subtle hints.”
RESCUE DOCTRINE (N.)
THE RULE OF LAW THAT IF A RESCUER OF A PERSON HURT OR PUT IN PERIL DUE TO THE NEGLIGENCE OR INTENTIONAL WRONGDOING OF ANOTHER, THE ORIGINAL WRONGDOER IS RESPONSIBLE IN DAMAGES FOR THE RESCUER'S INJURY
DAMIEN
Elizabeth and Ellie’s birth certificates lay at the center of my dining room table, surrounded by stacks of other files Andrew and I had pored over.
Every time I looked up to make a note of something that needed to be done, Andrew smirked at me or not-so-subtly tapped on the inappropriate employee conduct form.
“Okay, enough.” I set down my pen. “Go ahead and say it, Andrew.”
“Say what? I’m not thinking about anything over here.”
“I can see it in your eyes.”
“My eyes have thoughts?”
“All the time,” I said. “Just say it.”
“This is exactly why we have a non-fraternization policy at the firm.” He finally let it out. “You don’t shit where you eat, because if you do, things like this will happen.”
“Didn’t you sleep with your intern when you worked at your previous firm?”
“No, I married my wife,” he said.
“Don’t be a hypocrite, Andrew.”
“I’m not,” he said. “Was there an actual relationship between you and Miss Tanner, or just nonstop sex?”
“It was a one time-thing.”
“You need to learn how to count.” He slid a stack of records to me. “Get back to work.”
“Fine.”
We worked on the case until long after midnight. Until his phone rang and that familiar, “Your favorite person is on the line, Mr. Hamilton,” voice came over the speakers.
Without saying a word to me, he smiled at his screen and stood to his feet.
“Be there in fifteen minutes, Autumn.”
He walked to the door. Then he looked over his shoulder. “Did you two ever have sex in my office?”
“Tried to, but you always kept the doors locked.”
“Good to know.” He rolled his eyes, and then he sighed. “Do you remember how we met?”
“Not really.”
“Wow.” He placed a hand against his chest. “I’m quite hurt by that. I thought you loved me.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because after working on Miss Tanner’s things, I think you two are perfect for each other because you suffer from the same issue.”
“I’m not a liar.”
“You used to be…”
FICTITIOUS DEFENDANTS (N.)
WHEN A PARTY SUING (PLAINTIFF) IS NOT SURE IF HE/SHE KNOWS IF THERE ARE UNKNOWN PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT OR THE BUSINESS BEING SUED