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“And he wanted to come over to your house and bring wine. Is he crazy?” She paused and laughed. “Oh, these men. This is why I’m not actively dating right now. I do not have time for this crap. Honestly, he sounds like he just wants to bone as well.”
“Are you two done?” The deep voice made us both jump, and my heart sank when I turned around and saw Max standing there, a sardonic glint in his eyes.
“Oh, sorry, Mr. Whitlock,” Natasha said quickly as she looked at her watch. “Oops, we’re a couple of minutes late.” She stared at me and then back at him. “Sorry, we were just grabbing coffees.”
“Uh huh.” He looked at me, the phone in my hands, and then back at Natasha. “You two need to get to the conference room now. Travis is waiting.”
“Yes, sir.” I almost saluted him as we hurried past him. I wondered if he’d seen my phone or heard our conversation.
“Don’t push your luck, Ms. Campbell,” he said in a snarky tone as he followed behind us. I looked over my shoulder at him, and he wasn’t smiling at all. There was no hint of flirtation in his gaze, either. It was like he’d completely forgotten our interaction from the day before.
“Yes, sir,” I said again as Natasha and I entered the conference room and quickly took two seats. “Sorry about that,” I whispered to Natasha as we took our seats.
“No worries.” She grinned. “Let’s see what other messages you have during our lunch break. That was the most fun I’ve had in a while.”
“Sounds good.” I grinned at her. “I do have another guy that might have potential, plus I think I may have matched with a few more this morning.”
“Yay! How exciting.” She laughed and then made a face as she caught Max glaring at us. I looked over at him and tried to see if I could figure out what he was thinking. I was pretty sure he hadn’t heard the messages because if he had, he would have known right away I didn’t have a boyfriend, and I knew he would have made some snide comment to me. I was grateful for the fact that he hadn’t heard me, but I knew I was going to have to be more careful going through my messages with Natasha later in the day. The last thing I wanted was for Max to find out I’d lied.
“Polly, Natasha, Andrew,” Travis’s voice broke into my reverie, and I looked back toward the front of the room as I heard my name. “You will be working with Tracy Rushmore. She’s currently working on land dispute claims, and you all will start on her team as your first rotation.” He paused and wrote our names on the whiteboard. “If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me. Otherwise, Tracy will be your contact for the first three weeks.”
“Thank you,” I said as I nodded at him. Land dispute claims? I tried not to make a face. That sounded boring as hell. I was already starting to doubt this new career choice option. It had seemed like a good thought and idea for a week, but I was almost positive that this was not the career path I wanted to take. Yet I was loath to tell anyone that now. Especially after the huge production I’d made about going to law school and wanting support from my family. Also I didn’t want Max to think that I couldn’t hack it. I’d have to suck it up and maybe I’d even be able to use this experience to write a book. Maybe I’d be filled with so many new ideas and inspirations that I’d write a literary masterpiece. Seemed unlikely, but I was trying to stay positive.
“Good morning, everyone.” A sour voice filled the room, and I looked up. The lady standing at the front of the room looked mean. She had short hair, a very thin face, and a pinched expression on her features. “I’m Tracy, lead attorney in land disputes. Will Andrew, Natasha, and Pollyanna please stand up and join me?”
“Oh, my name is Polly,” I said as I stood up. I offered her my warmest smile, but she didn’t smile back.
“We’re headed up to the fifth floor.” She walked toward the door. “You’ll be learning the ropes from my paralegal Lisa today.”
“Oh boy,” I whispered to Natasha as we made our way out of the room. “I don’t think she likes me.”
“I don’t think I like her,” she whispered back to me, and we both sighed as we headed toward the elevator. Andrew was walking next to Tracy, mumbling something aboutLaw Reviewand his goals to be a law clerk for some judge I’d never heard of. Though that wasn’t saying much; the only judges I knew were Judge Judy, Judge Mathis, and the late Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“Hurry up, you two.” Tracy sounded annoyed as she stood in the elevator waiting for us to enter. “I have a lot of work today.”
‘Sorry, Tracy,” Natasha said, and Tracy shook her head, her lips thinned.
“I prefer to be called Ms. Rushmore.” She looked at the three of us. “I am not your friend. I am your boss.”
“Yes, Ms. Rushmore,” Natasha said quickly and gave me a look. It took everything in me to not walk out of the elevator right then and there and say, “Deuces, biatches.” I was a mature adult now. I had to act like one.
“Ms. Rushmore, is there anything else you would like us to know about protocol?” I asked her as the elevator went up toward our floor.
“No.” She shook her head. “Just don’t bother me with stupid questions and do not go to Travis, either. Lisa will be able to help you with anything you need.”
The elevator stopped on the fourth floor, and I watched as Boobie walked in in a short red skirt and tight white top.
“Morning, y’all.” She smiled at us all as she pressed the button for the first floor.
“We’re going up,” Tracy said in an annoyed tone.
“What’s goes up must come down,” Boobie said in her silky voice. “Not that I’m saying I like to go down. Well, I do, but I’m not saying that, mind you.” She giggled as she looked at me. “Oh hi, Polly, you settling in well?”
“Yes, thanks.”
“Good, good.” She grinned. “I got in trouble with HR last month for teaching a class with a banana.” She shrugged. “I was just saying it was good practice if you wanna learn how to fit a big one in…if you know what I mean.” She winked at me. “Somebody complained that it wasn’t professional, so now I have to be careful about what I say.” She looked over at Tracy and wrinkled her nose. “But if you two ever want some tips,” she nodded to me and Natasha, “just let me know. I’ve been called the Buzzjob Queen.” She winked at us. “If you know what I mean. You know who buzzes?”
“Bees?” I asked her, a little confused.
