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I had agreed to walk into the lion’s den. Or snake pit, depending on how you felt about spending an entire evening with a bunch of lawyers. But she’d come to the gala with me. The least I could do was return the favor.
I let her lead us into the party—a swanky cocktail event for Sutherland, Sutherland, and Marks at a fancy downtown restaurant just a few blocks from my place. Even though the evening had just begun, I was already imagining all the ways I could introduce her to my bed. Although that would be breaking my rules. I’d never, not once, had a woman in my bed.
“Tell me again why we’re here?” I leaned down and whispered in her ear, that citrus scent infusing my nostrils, righting everything around me.
“I need to make nice with the men who own the law firm I’m going to be articling for.”
The restaurant was dark, the wall sconces doing nothing to illuminate the space, which made it difficult to make out people’s faces. But when Everly stopped short, I followed her gaze. I didn’t need light to know it was her parents standing across the room. To my surprise, she walked us right by.
“We won’t be staying long,” she said as we sidled up to the bar. I grabbed her a glass of white wine and a scotch for myself. I didn’t plan on drinking much tonight, so nursing a good scotch sounded like a perfect idea.
“If you’re so insistent on leaving, why did we even come?”
I didn’t understand this world. I might never understand it.
“It’s all about appearances. I have to show my face to my future bosses, let them know that I can mingle and mix with the big boys. Plus, they’re my parents’ friends.”
I shook my head. “You can cut the pretentiousness in this place with a knife.”
She laughed. As I looked around, all I saw were expensive suits and pearl necklaces. It was a shame that Everly was going to get swallowed whole by this world. But I knew, no matter how many pearls were swathed around her neck, there would always be the lone black one that would come out on occasion. I’d had the pleasure of seeing it firsthand. I couldn’t help but want to make it my mission to darken every one of them.
Everly gulped down her glass of wine and I waved my hand to the bartender, ordering her another. I rubbed my hand up and down her back, trying my best to calm her nerves. I had no idea why she was so tense. It was just a cocktail party.
“Everly!” A booming voice carried over my shoulder.
She turned in my arms and immediately plastered on the fakest smile I’d ever seen.
“Mr. Marks. Wonderful to see you.”
She held out her hand and the man shook it, fondling a glass of scotch in his other.
“So glad you could come tonight. You better get used to events like this. They happen often.”
She introduced me. “This is my friend Max Levin.” Marks smiled and shook my hand, fairly disinterested in who I was and why I was here. Fine with me.
“We are so excited for you to begin. We
’re working on some pretty big cases that will extend over your term, and I know, with your background in constitutional law, you will be a great asset.”
He pointed his index finger on the hand that held his scotch glass at Everly. “This girl is smart as a whip.”
“Thank you, Mr. Marks. That’s very nice of—”
“I must go.” He placed his hand on her shoulder. “I see Robert Spencer.”
“Robert Spencer?” I asked. “The communications mogul?”
She sighed and turned to hunch over the bar. “That would be the one.”
“You’re going to be making some very influential friends.”
“They won’t be my friends. Make no mistake. The contribution I’ll be making will be food and coffee runs, highlighting case law and photocopying. That’s just the way it is.”
“But you’re too smart for that. He even said so himself.”
She pressed her hand to my cheek. “Thank you, but it’s normal. You have to learn how to walk before you can run.” She winked. “You should know that, since you’re literally teaching it to me.”
I had forgotten about our training sessions. They had become less frequent now that sex was involved. Although I didn’t want to give up on following through on my promise.
