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I’m too tired to order in, so I rifle through the pantry but nothing whets my appetite.
Grabbing a nearly full bottle of Johnnie Walker, I pour myself a glass and take a drink, letting it calm my nerves. Then I go to the couch and open up BLIND LOVE, hoping that Stranger7721 is on.
But of course she isn’t.
It’s mid-day.
She’s probably nose-to-the-grindstone, like I should be.
I look over at that binder and groan, rubbing my hands down my face.
This is my life—for now.
Maybe for the next twelve years.
Playing Most Important Person in the World to a kid I didn’t have any say in bringing into it. And while I’ll never resent him for it, I can resent the people whose poor choices and inability to accept responsibility got us here. I’ll be damned if I let any of them hurt him.
I scroll up to past conversations with my stranger, wondering when she’ll finally pop on.
Because right now, I feel the full weight of being alone against the whole damn world. And though I know damn well it’s not realistic to want someone I’ve never met… I kind of need her.
15
This is out of control.
I tap my fingers on the conference room table and check the time on the clock over the door again.
Now, he’s ten minutes late.
Typical Brooks, only on time when a partner’s involved and he can ingratiate himself so they’ll offer him the partnership. In other words, when it matters. And clearly, I don’t.
He was supposed to read that binder and report back to me. I trusted he’d do that. I bet he didn’t. He’ll probably waltz in here, thirty minutes late, and try to work his charm on me. And when I get upset, he’ll turn it around and tell me I need to loosen up, and I’ll be the bad guy.
I drag in a haggard breath and let it go.
Shooting up from my chair, I walk out into the hallway, expecting to see him chatting up one of the interns. Only he’s not. I go to his office next, but the door is closed.
Asshole.
My face is hot and I’m sure I look like a witch as I storm down the hallway because several co-workers turn and stare and a couple of guys chatting in front of me quickly move aside as if they don’t want to be caught in my destructive wake.
I don’t care. This is unacceptable.
I’m trying to do the best for our most high-profile case and he’s dead weight. I knew this would happen. I knew I’d be doing most of the heavy lifting here. Just like with school group projects in the past, I’m the one doing everything while other people get the credit.
I’ve never been one to snitch, but given the promotion on the line, the partners should know about this. I’m done being a doormat. And I deserve this partnership, not Brooks. If I don’t speak up for myself, no one will.
Only when I reach Ed’s door, it’s closed.
I head to Tom’s office next, only his door is shut too.
Lisa’s my last resort, just because of the way I saw her succumbing to Brooks’s charms in that last meeting. But still, this is nothing personal. It’s business. She wants the best for the firm, and she’ll be pissed as hell if anyone jeopardizes this case for us. His dimples and disarming gaze won’t be so charming after that…
Not that I’ve been looking.
Unfortunately, though, her door is closed too. When I reach it, Shelly pops out from her desk. “You need something, Tenley?”
“I was just…” Where are they all? Is Brooks with them? Why do I get the irrational feeling that they’ve prematurely handed him the partnership and they’re all out celebrating together on someone’s yacht? That’s just the type of thing that would happen to me… and him. “Are all the partners out today?”
She nodded. “They’re in Barbados. For ILC.”
“Oh. Right.” The International Law Conference. The partners always spend a week in June in some exotic locale for it. I’ve never even been out of the country, so I’d kill for something like that. It’s another dangling carrot I don’t need, since I’m already chasing this partnership as hard as I can.
I turn to leave, then realize that Shelly can help me. She might not like me much, but she’s the first contact with the partners, and will be keeping them apprised of the situation here. If I put a bug in her ear about Brooks slacking, it’ll get back to them.
“Oh, um, did Gentry call in? We were supposed to have a meeting and he didn’t show. After leaving early yesterday… I just hope he’s okay?” I ask with forced concern.
She nods. “He’s out today. He didn’t cancel the meeting?”
I sigh deeply, really milking it. “Oh. No. Oh, gosh, that’s terrible. We have a lot of work to tackle for the Perry case. That’s a shame. I guess I’ll just try to power—”
