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“Forgive me. I had no idea who you were. The black tie reminds me I lost Syd last New Year’s Eve. A drunk driver killed her on the way to meet me for dinner. I put work before love.”
A tear forms in Penelope’s eye, and I release her body. I wouldn’t be reacting with passionate emotion if she were just a sexy temp.
Her mouth remains silent, and I offer a sincere apology.
“There’s zero excuse for my sexual advances. I apologize for losing my mind and misbehaving. You’re the first woman to spark my hope that I’ll find love again.”
She wipes the droplets from her cheek, and I await my fate.
“Apology accepted, Sir. It was nice meeting you.”
5
Penelope
My feet win the internal battle raging in my heart, and I walk to the elevator. Memories of my prior boss, Peterman, remind me men can’t be trusted.
Shivers roll down my spine as that day’s events recall. Peterman stormed onto the tenth floor and demanded I follow him into his office. His jaw was clenched, and he avoided eye contact.
“You screwed up the deposition dates on the files and the case was dismissed.”
My mind raced and reviewed the paperwork. I was certain that I input accurate data. The information in the report must’ve been wrong, not me. He locked his door and stood too close.
“Sorry, Mr. Peterman. I triple checked the data with the handwritten client forms and police documents. I don’t understand how this could’ve happened.”
“Well, it did, and we lost thousands. I should fire you. Do you want to keep your job?”
I should’ve seen his behavior coming, but he caught me off guard with the shameful threat. His wrinkled hands clutched my ass, and he pulled me against his crotch. He purred an evil threat.
“Let me fuck you, and I’ll overlook your mistake. I know you need the money, Penny. Have you forgotten I lent you my services to get your infraction dismissed in court? We can negotiate a long-term deal to ensure your bills are paid.”
My hand slapped his left cheek hard enough to send him stumbling a few feet. I shouted a veiled threat about filing a sexual harassment claim with HR and never looked back. They rarely hold men in powerful positions accountable for their heinous actions. Lawyers are experts at covering immoral behavior, especially their own.
A gentle voice snaps me into the present.
“I’m due in court. Please stay, and we’ll have lunch when I return. My assumptions were wrong, but my intentions were honorable. I’d like to know you better, Penelope.”
“Do you have additional work that needs completing?”
I smother a wide grin, and relief relaxes my tense frame.
“Yes, Miss Parks.”
My hand motions for her to walk in front of me. A slight weight lifts from my heart thanks to her words of integrity and understanding. She allows me to hold her chair when we reach the conference table and folds her hands in her lap.
I stride to my desk drawer and remove a folder. My fingers are nervous as I fumble through similar named folders. Doubts swirl in my mind, and I hand her the documents. This case is black and white. I’m curious why my gut’s constricting.
“Miss Rodriguez is seeking child support from her ex boyfriend. She needs help to complete Form FL-340 and has the DNA test to prove he’s the father. She doesn’t speak English.”
“Yes, Sir. I’m fluent in Spanish, thanks to high school courses and my immigrant neighbors.”
Bentley’s face morphs into a mixture of respect and concern. My apartment’s in a low-rent suburb in Atlanta. Maybe he’s assuming my neighborhood is unsafe, which is true. The thought endears him further under my skin, but I hide the chemistry behind my professional façade. If this lawyer’s real, I could fall hard.
“I’m grateful you were available last minute, Miss Parks. Any restaurant preferences for lunch?”
“I trust your judgment.”
His eyes smile, but his mouth remains closed. My peripheral vision watches him gather the paperwork into a leather messenger bag and pat his pocket. I’d love to sneak a look at his driver’s license and verify his age.
