“That might explain why the big boss wants to see you in her office.”
Wait.What?
Baz sat up so quickly, the chair gave way under him.He held onto Aya’s white lacquer desk.He didn’t even care to check if anyone caught him slipping.
Erika wanted to seehim.Five hundred employees under her belt, and she’d singled out Baz?
His pulse drummed in his ears.“Now?”
“She said to send you as soon as you’re back.”
“And you waited until now to tell me?”
What if he had gone to lunch and left Erika hanging for another hour?How would that have looked?Sloppy, lazy, and lacking the drive he prided himself on!
“I didn’t want you to freak out.The way you are doing right now.”
Baz settled back in the chair.His hands cramped into a tight knot on his lap.
“I don’tfreak out.“ And Erika didn’t do friendly chitchat with associates for no reason.This could be it, his shot to prove to her he deserved to be made partner!
“Sure, you don’t,” Aya said in heryou’re-full-of-shittone Baz was too familiar with.He let that jab against his character slide without a retort only because there were more important things to focus on.
“Do you think she heard about the verdict already?”How fast did news travel around here these days?If this were a scandalous piece of gossip, everyone would know, but just another won case out of the thousands they handled?
“No.I’m sure the firm’s managing partner calls you in for a meeting after scoring a huge win to discuss what color her new curtains should be.”
A breathless chuckle escaped Baz.“Finally.And you said taking art history in college was a waste of time.”
“Didn’t even know you when you were in college.”
“You so would have said that, though.”
“Are you gonna keep talking or are you gonna go fix your hair?”
What was wrong with his hair?Baz patted the top of his head in search of rogue strands.He would sue the hair gel manufacturer for not keeping their promise to withstand all weather conditions—the hint of a smile broke through Aya’s poker face.Right.Just a joke, then.
Or was it?This was Erika they were talking about.Perfection was the standard.It wouldn’t hurt to check that the wind hadn’t caused any lasting damage.
Baz barely heard the “Good luck!”Aya shouted after him; he had already bolted to the nearest bathroom.
Chapter two
Thewhiteceramicofthe sink cooled Baz’s palms.He stared at himself in the mirror as he released an exhale.One… two… three… four.
He got this.
He smothered the one runaway strand of brown hair back into place.He needed a haircut before it got too long to be tamed.His cheeks remained smooth, no sign of pesky stubble.His suit still looked pristine.This was as good as it would get.
Baz rolled his shoulders back, tightened the Windsor knot on his tie.
Whatever Erika wanted to discuss had to be good.No one ever got into trouble for a too successful trial.Right?
Erika’s office was on the top floor.A black-tiled path guided visitors from the stairs and elevator to her door, past the glass palaces of the firm’s most successful partners.Only the crème de la crème got a seat up here.Nowthatwas the destination.
Erika stood with her arms crossed in front of the window, peering at the Chicago River below.Her black, chin-long twists framed her high cheekbones.Her rich, umber skin glowed in the sun, highlighted by the ivory pencil dress tailored to her curves.The very picture of elegance and grace.
Her secretary said to go right in.Still, Baz knocked before he pushed the door open.
