“That’s grand, Robert, but when you need some time off, just let me know.”
His eyes blinked in shock. “Thank you, Ms. Hardin.”
Driving to the restaurant, Janet settled a hand on Sol’s thigh. “Did you see the joy on Robert’s face?”
“Yup. He was afraid you’d fire him when he came out as straight.”
She cooed, obviously changing the subject. “I’ve never had unprotected sex, either. Have you?”
“With my wife for a while. We thought we wanted kids but turns out she stayed on the pill without telling me.”
“Is that all?” She licked her lips while keeping her eyes on the road.
“When I was eighteen. I had a first date with a girl. She was almost Victorian in nature, and she intrigued me. I didn’t have a condom in my wallet because I was certain nothing was going to happen.”
“But it did?”
“Hell, yes. She took me to her house. Her parents were gone for the weekend. We had sex in the living room, on her parents’ bed, and in hers. She said she was ‘taking care of it,’ the pregnancy thing, and like a fool, I believed her.”
“Do you have a child with her?” She brought a hand to her throat and shot a look of awe toward him.
“No. She lost it in the first trimester, which is common, but it scared the hell out of me.”
She cupped his hidden cock. “Maybe we should do it all over my place, including on the balcony.”
He moaned.
“Sol, I’d like us to come out.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.”
“You weren’t sure it was a good idea to make love to me the first time.”
“I did it in an altruistic vein to deliver a therapeutic treatment for you.”
Chuckling, she said, “And it was truly a humanitarian and charitable deed.” They kissed. “You’ve helped me free myself and get in touch again with my inner feelings instead of hiding them on the shelf with the law books. When the moment is right, I’m going to kiss you in front of others at the firm.”
He smiled.
In the busy restaurant, they filled plates with sumptuous Japanese food and headed to a table in a secluded corner. Sol said, “I’m nagged about the Adams case. I feel I’m missing something to blow it wide open in our favor.”
Janet shook her head. “I’ve had the same feeling and read it several times. The bottom line is that while Mr. Adams was wronged in a blatant way, we have a weak case as far as hard facts.”
Sol shoved more sushi into his mouth and sighed.
“Was that a frustrated sigh over the case or one of joy at the food?”
“Both!” He touched her hand. “I like being with you, as an attorney, as my employer, and as my friend.” His insides filled with affection for her.
“Sol, this is the first real affection you’ve show in public to me.” She stroked her knuckles over his cheek and the other to her face. “Am I blushing?”
He had to change the subject. His cock was bulging and making things quite uncomfortable. “Anything else with the Adams case?”
She sighed. “I should tell you that I have a history with Rand Lewis, one of the attorneys we’re meeting with tomorrow.”
Sol ate a rice ball and lifted one eyebrow.
“He’s five years younger than me. In my first firm, he was a clerk while attending law school. He was so full of himself and fancied himself a ladies’ man. He carried on as though the sun rose and set for him, but the women in the firm had the consensus his bravado was a shield for insecurity of some sort.” She studied her empty plate.
“So you decided to bag him?”
She smiled. “I had an apartment. I got him to take me to dinner, and I lured him to my lair.” She let out an evil laugh. “He was so naïve I wondered if he was a virgin. He was very fast to lock and load. I was aggressive and put him on his back and rode him for a few seconds. He came fast, very fast. I saw it in his eyes. He tried to hide it, but I knew.”
“The voice of experience, huh?”
She smirked. Sol paid for lunch and left. Driving back to the firm, Janet went on. “I was almost brutal to him. I rode him even though he came. He wiggled on my hook, and I loved it. When his dick deflated I teased him about it.”
“You were brutal.”
“He was a jerk and deserved it.”
“Like some people need spankings.”
She glared at him. “Point noted, counselor.” She sucked a breath in.
“How was it at the office?”
“His horns were clipped. Of course, I bragged to the others as he’d bragged about sexual conquests. He quit shortly thereafter.”
“You witch.”
She screwed her face tight. “I admit it was mean. I was young and stupid then.”
“Have you seen him lately?”
“Just a few times in court, very routine stuff. I don’t have a feel for how he is now except he’s put on weight as so many of us do, but I still can’t stand him. He was such a pompous ass, and at his next firm he openly reported that I was a slut, fucking everything that came along. He even said I’d fuck a corpse in rigor mortis. I had a friend there who reported his false boasts.”
“Yuck. That’s gross, but I expect you to stay in control for our meeting. Take deep breaths as I taught you, and I’ll nudge your foot, if needed, to calm you.” He smiled. “And if I touch my chin…” It was his turn for the evil grin.
“It’s been five weeks since you’ve spanked me.”
“You’ve turned into a wonderful and loving person, or shall I say, you allowed that angel to be set free. I suspected she was always inside.” They got out of the car at the firm and she met him, kissing him long and deep. Phil and Robert pulled in from lunch and parked, obviously trying to avert their eyes.
They all walked inside in silence, and Sol turned toward his office. Janet called to him, “Oh, Solomon, one more thing.” She moved close and kissed his lips again, cradling the back of his head with her hand. “Thank you for a wonderful lunch.” She smiled, winked, and strode to her office.
Robert and Phil stared at Sol, who tilted his head with an impish grin.
* * *
At 3 p.m. the next day, Janet and Solomon met with attorneys Rand Lewis and Carl Washington on the Adams case. Carl, the lead attorney, stood over six feet and had to be in his 50s, sporting a suntan that obviously didn’t come from a booth. Rand, the ass with whom Janet had history, was about 5′10″ and heavy.
They shook hands all around and Rand fired the first round of brashness by looking Janet up and down. “You didn’t wear well; getting enough sleep? Put some weight on, huh? Getting enough horizontal exercise?”
Janet returned his venom with a warm smile and waved to an array of specialty breads and pastries she had brought in. “War can be hell, gentlemen, but why suffer? The flavored coffees are labeled in their pots, please enjoy.” She helped herself to a few items and sat. “Oh, Carl, I presume you’ve trained Rand in table manners. We’ll take a break if he needs to go out, and we have doggie poo bags in the lobby.”
Rand mumbled, “Bitch.” Everyone ignored it although Carl lifted a brow.
Janet took the high road. “Let’s get to work, shall we? The judge was quite upset that we’re heading to trial on this case, and you, Carl, heard him say he expects a settlement. We’ve made a reasonable offer with no response.”
Rand huffed.
Carl gave a professional smile. “Janet, your offer wasn’t reasonable.”
The next two hours rumbled by with legal artillery fired from both sides. Sol stayed silent most of the time since it was Janet’s case, and his role was to support her. Rand got a variety of personal shots in at Janet, which stoked the fire in her eyes.
Sol decided Janet needed a time-out. “I need a bathroom break. Carl, Rand, you can use the client’s restroom. Don’t worry, it’s not bugged. Something’s wrong with the wiring.” He smirked and shrugged. He and Janet used her private bathroo
m as sweet Phil stayed late to supervise and ensure that the visiting sharks didn’t snoop.
Janet snapped when they were alone. “That fucking asshole bastard is as cocky as he ever was.”
Sol laughed to try to defuse her. “He is. I wonder how he is still around… in the animal kingdom the overconfident ones usually don’t last so long.”
She giggled. “That’s funny.” She kissed his lips.
“I’m confident you’ll stay calm. I know he’s under your skin.”
“You are too. But unlike you, he’s done it in an evil manner.”
“Let’s get back; remember our signals.”
She nodded, and they returned to the negotiations. Janet opened, “Gentlemen, we’re been posturing with no results today. We can show our cards to a jury, but I suggest we simply focus on a settlement figure. I’m sure both our clients desire that and wish to avoid trial.”
Carl nodded and checked his watch. “Yes, let’s do that. You have a weak case.”
Sol countered, “As in all things in life, along the principles of yin and yang, our case is as strong and as weak as yours.”
Rand grabbed more bakery items, took a huge bite from one and spoke, spitting crumbs out. “Janet, glad to see your associate can speak, and at least this one has half a brain, unlike all of your other employees.”
She slapped the table. “You ignoble bastard. What right do you have to cross the personal lines over and over? I’ve ignored them, but you’re too much.”
Sol leaned back in his seat and nibbled a sweet bread while nudging Janet’s foot. She ignored him. Carl seemed amused.
Rand shifted to the edge of his seat. Addressing Sol, he said, “You’re the one working for the whore who spreads her legs for any dick that comes along; of course at her age and looking twice the amount she must be happy with dildos now.” He glared at Janet.
Carl barked, “That’s enough.”
Rand ignored Carl. “Janet, I fucked you good, likely the best you ever had.”
Janet shot to her feet and leaned across the table at Rand. He mirrored her posture. “I only fucked you that time as a bet with the other women in the office. You had no skills, clearly the sign of a virgin.”
Sol took Janet’s arm and in his sternest voice called, “Ms. Hardin.” She threw a glance to him while he stroked his chin.
She waved him off and spat back at Rand, “You spread the word I was a whore, and that was a lie.”
“You fucked a lot of guys.”
“And most men screw a lot of women, except you.”
He grabbed her lapel. “Fuck you, whore!”
Janet leaned back. Sol grabbed Rand’s hand and twisted the wrist back in a flash, crashing Rand onto the table atop a plate of breakfast breads. He sneered at Rand, “Behave yourself.”
Rand stood. Carl grabbed him. “That’s enough. We’re leaving.”
Rand pushed him back, making him stumble into his seat. Rand raised a fist. “I’ll kick your ass; watch your back.”
Carl was on his feet again, taking Rand by the lapels. “I said that’s enough!”
“Rand, what a man you are.” Sol tsked loudly. “First you attacked Ms. Hardin and now you pushed your employer.”
Fire burned in his eyes. “I didn’t attack her.”
“You know the law of assault and battery is any unlawful contact regardless of how minor. Time for you to go. I’m ejecting you from this firm and you are never to return.”
Rand lunged across the table, and this time Carl contained him.
“Get your file. We’re leaving.”
Rand moved forward, opening his mouth. Carl shoved him. “Shut up!” They moved toward the door. “In my entire career I’ve never seen lawyers act in such an unprofessional manner.”
Sol responded, “First act, counselor. Your cohort fired first and repeatedly. It was only the professional session that kept me from literally kicking his ass.” Sol resumed his deep, professional voice and focused on Rand.
Rand yelled, “You fuck—”
Carl ordered again, “Shut up!”
Sol shook Carl’s hand. “I’m truly sorry for any professional hard feelings you might have, but I think you and I can come to a successful settlement that both our clients can live with, and I’ll leave you with this: Our case has weaknesses, but your case is drowning, and you don’t know it. Your client is withholding critical information and when it surfaces in court that—”
Janet regained her professional decorum. Obviously she came to her senses and played along with Sol’s bluff. “Don’t you dare violate our client’s confidence and reveal that information.”
Sol shook his head. “I won’t reveal it. I’m just giving Carl a courtesy heads-up, so he doesn’t look the court jester at trial, unless he’s willing to meet with me and hammer out a deal.”
Carl’s face contorted with worry, concern, or… what? “Call my secretary on Monday. You and I will meet.”
Janet stood next to Sol. Phil was still there, watched the others drive off, and gave a thumbs-up.
Solomon turned toward Janet. “What the hell do you think you were doing in there? You lost your professional competence after I warned you repeatedly—”
Janet stepped back at his explosive tirade. “I couldn’t stand that—”
His skin prickled in rage as anger and humiliation washed over him. “Diving to his level was the most—”
A hand landed on his shoulder from behind. He cranked his head back.
Phil stood there, his face flooded with concern. “Solomon, not now, please. You’re too emotional. Please.”
Sol seemed to force a conciliatory grin.
“Want some decaf?” Phil joked.
Sol came to his senses with the aid of several deep breaths. He lifted his hands to Janet’s shoulders, rested his forehead against hers, and spoke in a controlled tone. “I care about you. You have my respect and friendship, but you crossed the line despite my warnings before the meeting, at the break, and in the conference room. There will be consequences.”
Janet stepped back against the wall. Her jaw quivered. “I can’t argue with you, just not here, not now, not in front of Phil.”
Phil wore a confused look. Sol shook his hand. “Thank you. You were very correct to stop me, and I appreciate it, but it’s safe to leave now. I’ll do the same in a minute.”
Phil knitted his brows. “You sure? I don’t want to come to work in the morning and find police crime scene tape.” He offered his meek smile, obviously still trying to use humor to quell the situation.
Sol nodded.
Janet squeaked, “It’s okay. Thank you for staying late.”
After Phil left, Sol faced Janet. “I’ll be at your place at 8 p.m. sharp. Be sure you’ve had a light dinner, since you won’t want to eat after.”
She gasped, and after a few long seconds, she nodded. Sol went to his office for his briefcase as a whimper escaped her throat.
Chapter Ten
In his car, Sol speed-dialed Brian. Answer, answer, please answer.
“Hi, Sol. What’s up?” He had the usual melody in his voice.
“I hope you’re free. I need to decompress. I am so fucking angry.”
“What can I do?” His voice turned serious.
“Dinner? The barbecue place?”
“I’m on my way in two minutes.”
“Are you home? I need you to bring dad’s spanking belt and paddle in his leather bag.”
“What? Why? Oh, shit! Really?”
“Yes, really. Thanks.”
Sol steamed at the table of the family’s favorite barbecue restaurant. It had old tables and chairs and dusty Western paintings on the wall, but it had great food. He ordered iced tea as he waited.
Brian strode up and gave Sol a sideways hug. “Bro, what’s wrong? Want me to kill someone for you?”
“You’re a pacifist.”
“I’ll turn for you.”
Sol sighed. “That means a lot to me.” His bro
ther’s wise-assed tone eased his internal tornado.
They ordered food. Brian patted Sol’s hand. “Tell me.”
Sol spoke for twenty minutes and finished his tirade of how the afternoon meeting went so terribly wrong. When their food came, Sol attacked it.
Brian ate politely. “Wow, I don’t know what to say. That was terrible.” He bit into a rib. “So, are you going to quit?”
Sol growled. “You know I’m not doing that.”
Brian teased, “Because you have the hots for her. You spend so much time at her place.” He licked his lips. “You mention her a lot and you’re going to spank her, huh.”
“Yes, in a little while.”
Brian sighed. “She deserves it.”
They ate and drank and then a smile grew on Brian’s face until the Cheshire cat would be jealous.
Sol couldn’t help but laugh. “You have permission to speak, little brother.”
“I’ve been wanting to tell you this for a while. Your firm’s client has been coming into the gallery and checking things out, but especially my stuff. She said Ms. Hardin has been pushing her to find another outlet for me, and she did. I’m going to be in galleries in San Francisco and San Diego, and the woman bought two of my paintings for herself, and she said Ms. Hardin bought my painting that’s in her condo lobby and it’s in her home.” He beamed as he ran out of breath. “Gosh, is this believable or what? It’s every artist’s dream.”
“Brian, I’m so happy for you. What I like most in your work is how you paint eyes, making them a direct link to the character’s soul.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that you encouraged me when mom and dad, well, they wanted me to be conventional.”
“They wanted me to be a doctor and I shamed them by becoming a lawyer. At least they have the gay son to fall back on for pride.” They laughed.
“Sol, don’t be too mad at Ms. Hardin.” His eyes narrowed, and he scrunched his face like he was asking for too much.
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