Take Vanessa Martinez, lead plaintiff and prior up-and-coming track star who played soccer in the club.Her unusual cancer progression had cost her all the toes on her left foot along with her running career.That alone deserved more than a measly five hundred thousand dollars, which, frankly, was a spit in the face in this economy.
Two, this case had potential to turn into one hell of a class action lawsuit.One people would talk about for years to come.To be the one to get justice for these people who’d been robbed of so much quality of life before most of them had even graduated college would be huge.
Promotion-worthy huge.
The thought sustained him, banished the fog of exhaustion to the edges of his mind.Driving this home required razor-sharp focus, which meant no distractions, no—
“Hello.”
Baz flinched upright, searching for the source of that low purr—and found the hazel depths of a stranger’s eyes, sparkling like diamonds in the sun.His short, dark curls shimmered brown.His nose was an arrow pointing to a toothy smile, revealing a slightly crooked incisor.
Baz’s breath hitched.Holy shit.
His thighs banged against his desk as he jumped up, rattling the stationery on top.A sharp pain chased down his stiff, unsteady legs.He cleared his throat, drawing the stranger’s attention back to his face.
“Hi!Hello.”
“Are you Sebastian Hadley?”The stranger’s dark, velvety voice was deeper than his soft features let on.His tongue darted over his plump lips.Baz gave into the urge to wet his own.Dry, chapped.Shit, did he look like a mess?
Subtly as he could, he straightened out his suit.Why didn’t he have a mirror in his office?Andwhydid this gorgeous guy have to show up after an all-nighter?
Breathe.
He got this.He could charm a jury; he could make a good impression on a handsome man too.Just so long as he didn’t think about his stale, coffee-ridden breath.
He summoned a smile as he crossed around the desk and, breathing strictly through his nose, offered his hand.“Call me Baz.”
The stranger’s palm slipped into his, soft yet solid.His bronze complexion glowed against Baz’s pale skin.
“Hi.Sami.”
Sami.With its broad ‘a’, it sounded melodic, like the start of a beautiful poem Baz couldn’t wait to hear more of.
Sami was easily four inches shorter than him, glancing up through hooded eyes.
Baz mourned the loss of connection the moment it ended.His arms buzzed from the touch.God, he needed to get laid.Soon.He didn’t care to do the math on how long it had been.
“How can I help you, Sami?”It rolled off his tongue as naturally as breathing.
“Is it true you’ve taken over the case against Captain Green?”
Well, well, well.The grapevine proved to be Baz’s friend these days, bringing exciting cases and handsome men to his doorstep.
“It is.”
“Oh, good.”Sami beamed so radiantly, he put the sun to shame.
It was good, wasn’t it?But what was it to Sami?He seemed too old to have been part of a youth club six years ago.Could he be an older brother, or a staff member?
“Give me one second.”Sami held up his index finger.With a behind like that, he could have as many as he liked…
Except that he walked away from Baz—the wrong direction—and into the hallway.Whatever happened to ‘it was good that Baz was handling the case’?
“You were right, Ian.They really were that stupid.”
Baz’s head jerked back.Something in his core froze.Who the hell was Ian and what was he right about?
Had Sami just called him stupid?
