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I forced a smile. “It was nice to get away for a bit,” I said vaguely, not wanting to discuss details.
Jen raised her eyebrows but didn’t pry further. I dove into the towering stack of memos and case files awaiting me, eager for an excuse not to talk about the trip.
It wasn’t long before the bliss of vacation faded completely, smothered under the daily grind of legal paperwork. I couldn’t stop thinking about Zorak’s rejection when I had suggested we keep things casual between us. Did he really expect me to leap into a serious relationship when we barely knew each other? I didn’t have time for that kind of commitment right now.
My career had to come first. But now there was this nagging guilt that I’d disappointed Zorak after our magical time together. I wished I could rewind and take back my careless proposition, so we’d still be happily floating in vacation euphoria. Instead, there was this uneasy tension hanging over us.
Worse, doubts plagued me nonstop. I knew that Zorak was attracted to me. Or at least I’d thought that I’d known that. What if he wasn’t? What if he only felt obligated to court me because of the mate mark on my skin?
It was dawning on me that I didn’t really know Zorak or his culture that well at all.
I tried to focus on prepping for the upcoming Havromanix merger case, the biggest case of my career so far. But I was so distracted I could barely concentrate, reading the same deposition paragraph five times.
A knock on my door had my head popping up. “Hey,” Mark said with a tight smile. “I was heading downstairs, but I wanted to pop in. Shouldn’t you be heading to the Halcyon hearing now?”
I looked at the time, leaping up from my desk. “Yes! You’re right.”
I grabbed my briefcase and headed out of my office, feeling like I had forgotten something important. I couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease that had been plaguing me since my return from vacation. My mind was all over the place, and I couldn’t focus on anything for more than a few seconds.
As I walked towards the hearing room, my mind wandered back to Zorak. I only had a week left with him, and I was starting to realize that the month had flown by. I needed more, but I wasn’t sure if I could be with him in the way he wanted.
I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. I had a job to do, and I couldn’t afford to get distracted. The Halcyon case was a make-or-break moment for me, and I had to be at my best.
When I entered the hearing room, I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. The room was packed with lawyers, reporters, and investors, all waiting for the outcome of the case. I took a deep breath and walked towards my team, trying to look confident and in control.
As the hearing began, I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. The opposing counsel was ruthless, tearing apart our arguments with ease. I tried to stay focused, but my mind kept drifting back to Zorak.
What was he doing right now? Was he thinking about me? Did he regret rejecting me? I tried to push the thoughts away, but they kept creeping back into my mind.
As the hearing dragged on, I felt my confidence slipping away. The opposing counsel was relentless, and I could feel myself losing the battle. I knew that this case was crucial for my career, and the pressure was getting to me.
The judge banging the gavel felt like my own personal sentencing. I stood, along with everyone else, as the judge lifted the paper before his face.
“It has been decided that the Halcyons will pay the settlement,” he announced, and my body physically deflated. I had lost. A major case, one I had known so well, and I lost.
Quickly, I packed my things, trudging upstairs, and it seemed the news followed me. By the time I made it up there, Lyle was standing next to my desk, arms crossed.
“Is there another case?” I asked softly, hoping he hadn’t heard yet.
His eyes narrowed as he handed me a folder. I took it silently, moving to set my stuff down as he muttered, “If you want to win cases, you should probably prepare, not vacation.”
I stared after him as he stalked away, uncertain of what to say. After everything between me and Zorak, was Lyle right? Was I still jeopardizing my career for Zorak?
Doubt gripped me by the throat, and as I stared down at the new case, knowing I’d need to do hours of research, I pulled my phone out to call Zorak.
But as I dialed his number, I hesitated. What was I going to say? That I missed him? That I wanted to see him again? I didn’t even know if he felt the same way about me.
My thumb hovered over the call button for a few seconds before I finally hit it. The phone rang twice before he picked up.
“Hello?” His voice was deep and husky, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Hey, Zorak,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing.”
There was a brief pause before he spoke. “I’m doing well. How about you?”
I hesitated, unsure of what to say. “I just finished a big case, and it didn’t go well,” I admitted. “I feel like I’m falling behind.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said softly. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
