“Okay,” Ruby says, walking over to where she keeps the file. “When do you need it?”
“Right now,” Ron says. “He’s here, and wants to talk.”
“He does?”
Ruby looks as surprised as I feel. And Ron himself looks pretty taken back by it as well. This Damien guy sure acts in mysterious ways.
“Yeah, he’s here and I don’t know how good of an idea it would be for you to join us,” Ron tells Ruby. “Sorry honey. But he’s still a bit pissed about the fact that we know how much he really makes.”
“Oops,” says Ruby, with a fake apologetic look on her face.
“Ruby is one skilled hacker,” I say. “She deserves a raise, Mr. Sanchez.”
“Very funny, Katie,” Ron says. “Actually.”
He looks at me for a minute and then continues.
“Since Ruby can’t help out on this and Jim is in court as usual, I could really use your assistance.”
“Mine?” I ask, flabbergasted.
Usually I would protest that I’m not a floater. I’m assigned only to Jim and he might get mad if I help someone else, even if he doesn’t need me right now. But really it would just be an excuse to read more of my book and get a bit more stoned.
And right now I’d love to see Damien again, obviously.
So I just say, “Sure, Mr. Sanchez, whatever I can do to help.”
“Since I’m banned from the meeting, I’ll just be in here picking up on where Katie left off on Faulkner,” Ruby says, fake-pouting.
“Thanks honey,” Ron says. “I knew you’d understand.”
“Neruda,” I pipe up.
“What?” Ruby asks.
“I finished the Faulkner book and I’m onto Neruda now. Hope you have daddy issues so you can enjoy Lolita the way it was meant to be enjoyed.”
“Katie!” Ron reprimands me, but he’s smiling.
“Wow, you’re a fast reader,” Ruby says.
“I’d already read The Sound and the Fury a bunch,” I tell her. “So it was more like skimming than reading.”
My statement is true, but I don’t tell her the embarrassing truth. That I have nothing to do outside of work except read books and watch movies all the time. Escape my reality. I don’t have something I’m passionate about— coding— like she does. I don’t have a guy like Ron.
Although I’m still rather suspicious of him, I’m starting to come around to Ruby’s way of thinking and I’m glad that she’s happy. Maybe she’s actually found the real thing with Ron.
Who am I to say? I’ve never even had a real relationship, physical or emotional. I’ve only thought that only trouble can come from that, because of my own family history. But at least if I could find the right guy, I wouldn’t be lonely or bored anymore.
“Let’s go meet Damien then,” Ron says, bringing me back to the reason I know I’m even having these thoughts at all. I don’t know what the hell has gotten into me but it’s crazy.
“I already have,” I tell him, as I follow him to his office. “Briefly.”
“That’s good then,” Ron says. “He’ll know we’re not trying to bring in yet another young legal assistant to infiltrate his secrets like Ruby did.”
“Hey!” Ruby calls out from the file room. “I heard that!”
“I know,” Ron says.
The flirtation level is palpable with those two lovebirds. I’m almost fucking jealous.
But as we walk into Ron’s office and I see handsome Damien sitting there in a nice suit with a smug smile on his face— as if he was expecting to see me here all along, as if he’d requested my very presence— I have a feeling that I have nothing to be jealous about.
I think I might be about to experience the very same thing with Damien that Ruby has experienced with Ron. And I think I’m about to like it.
Chapter 7 – Damien
As Ron re-enters his office where I’m waiting with Asher, with Katie trailing behind him, I smile with smug satisfaction. I knew they would bring her to me. That’s the whole reason I set up this meeting. I just had to see her. To know that she can be mine.
Ron and Asher have been calling me daily— which is more annoying than the Michelles and Monicas who leave me pathetic voicemails— asking me to come back into the office so we can negotiate. It’s clear that I have the upper hand. But just like with the trail of girls who leave me voicemails, I haven’t really wanted to talk to them.
Knowing that they will capitulate to my demands makes everything a lot less fun. I like a challenge. But I still haven’t been able to think of any other girl other than Katie. So that’s the real reason I’m back here, even though Ron and Asher don’t know that.
Once I sat down I’d told Ron I wanted to discuss what happened with his secretary— or girlfriend, or whatever he wants to call her— hacking into my accounts and I’d also told him that I think we need someone to take notes. These two statements combined assured me that I would get a secretary in here other than Ruby.
I’m not stupid enough to ask for Katie by name but I figured she would be on top of the list of people on hand to join us. She doesn’t seem to be fully utilized around here.
“Hello, Mr. Hudson,” Katie says, nodding in my direction.
“Hello, Katie is it?” I ask her, as if I don’t fucking know. As if I haven’t been jerking off to the thought of being with her every fucking day since we last ran into her.
“Yes.”
We just stare at each other, like two love struck teenagers— I guess she has more of a right to be acting that way than I do— until Asher clears his throat.
“Well Damien, here we are, at your request,” he says, trying to appear important and powerful. Except I know I have him right where I want him. He’s the one who’s been calling to meet with me and not the other way around. Sure, I’m the one who set up this meeting but they’re the ones who wanted it.
“Yes, here we are,” I tell him. “And my first demand is that if I’m to work with your firm, you’re to stay out of my business. I don’t want your little girlfriend snooping on me anymore.”
I look at Katie.
“Write that down,” I tell her. “No more snooping. Not by young tech geniuses and partners’ girlfriends masquerading as legal assistants, not by anyone.”
She scrunches up her eyebrows at me— I love that defiant look— but then nods and takes down the note, appearing obviously conflicted.
“And next, I want a 50% reduction in my fees,” I tell the partners. They look shocked but immediately try to persuade me to change my mind.
“Our costs alone—”
“The manpower and the staff needed—”
“All our time will have to be dedicated to your case—”
“Gentlemen, this isn’t up for discussion,” I tell them, cutting off their protests and dissent. “If you want my business, you’ll agree. If not, there are plenty of other firms who would love to have it. As you know my patent case is significant, and thanks to your snooping girlfriend, Ron, you know I have other businesses with legal work I can bring your firm.”
“Fine,” Asher says, shrugging his shoulders. “We agree.”
“Very well.”
I knew they would, despite their complaints. It was a done deal before I even walked in here. They knew they would accept whatever I offered. And fifty percent is still a good deal considering that originally Ron had been thinking of representing me for free.
Before his meddling girlfriend Ruby got involved. If he wasn’t fucking her I’d demand he fire her. But I know that that would complicate matters more than necessary right now. By having Katie in here, I accomplish two purposes— I send a message to her friends not to fuck with me anymore, and I also get to look at her.
As we go over the various details of the case and strategy for my case, I can’t keep my eyes off of her. I can’t believe I’m this close to her and I can’t have her. I’m not used to having to wait to get what I want. But I definitely want her. Just once. That’s
all. Then I’ll get bored of her like I do the rest.
Won’t I?
Looking at her curvy hips and large breasts, I’m not sure I will. And that could be a problem.
I also get the sense she wants me just as badly as I want her. Or at least I originally got that sense. But as the meeting nears to a close, she looks impatient, ready to leave.
“Do you want to go down to Manny’s with us and iron out the rest of these details?” Asher asks me.
“No thank you,” I tell him. “I think we’re pretty close to being done.”
“So then Mr. Sanchez, can I go now?” she asks, as she raps her pen against her notepad. “It looks like you guys don’t need me anymore.”
“Sure, Katie,” Ron says, as if he’d forgotten she was there. I guess he doesn’t have the same motivation to pay attention to her as I do. “Just type up those notes and put them in a memo in Damien’s file. I’ll speak to Jim but I think I might ask you to work on it some while he’s in court.”
I like that idea. I’d rather anyone but Ruby work on my file and it gives me yet another excuse to be close to Katie again in the future.
But what bothers me is that she doesn’t seem to be as excited about the idea as I am. In fact, she looks like she dreads it.
“Alright Mr. Sanchez, but you know how Jim gets. Territorial about his staff members. You might want to extra confirm with him before you say anything in front of the client.”
She winks and nods her head obviously in my direction.
“But, oops, too late for that, right?”
Ron lets out a strained chuckle, as if he can’t believe the nerve of this girl. I can’t either. I’m not used to a woman not wanting to be near me. I usually have to run away from them.
But as Katie stands up and walks out, I realize that apparently, she’s not like most other women I’ve known. She’s got a strong mind of her own and I can’t figure out what’s on it.
After I hash out a few more things with Ron and Asher, Ron says, “Well Damien, we’re really glad to be working together and we think we should be friends. Enough of this quibbling over money.”
“Hmmm.”
I don’t really do friendships. Just like I don’t really do relationships. But if it’s important to these guys that I pretend to like them socially, I can go along with it. I don’t particularly like or dislike them either way. It’s just a business arrangement: I need their legal services and they need my money.
“We know you’re not a big drinker but you should come with us to Manny’s sometime since you can’t come now. We’ll buy the first round,” Ron continues.
“And you should come to my wedding,” Asher says. “It’s in two weeks.”
That makes me perk up and pay attention. Not just because it’s kind of odd that he’s inviting me to his wedding— he must really want me to stay on as a client— but also because I assume Katie will be there. I’ve gotten the sense that she’s friends with this Ruby girl whom I assume will be there along with Ron.
“Thanks, Asher,” I say, as if it’s normal to be invited last minute to someone’s wedding when they’re still practically a stranger. Although we did just enter a complicated and hefty legal representation arrangement. I guess in that way we’ve bonded. “Send me an invite and I’ll see what I can do.”
“I would be honored,” he says, and he looks like he means it.
“See you soon, then,” I say, and leave Ron’s office.
But first I must find Katie. I’m not leaving here again without getting her fucking number.
Chapter 8– Katie
As soon as I leave Ron’s office I head back to the file room. Ruby’s still there, thank goodness.
“Oh my god,” I tell her, nearly running into the shelf in my hurry to get to her. “I’m so sorry.”
“So sorry for what?” she asks.
“For ever— um…”
I was about to say for ever being into Damien Hudson but then I realize she doesn’t know I’m into him. I’ve been her confidante but I never spill the goods about my own life.
“…for not being able to get here sooner and tell you,” I say. “But Damien Hudson is really mad at you. It sounds like he kind of wants you gone. Or at least off his cases.”
She considers this and nods, as if it doesn’t surprise her very much.
“Well, I did hack him,” she shrugs. “But I did it for love. So I’ll take whatever consequence I get.”
I start laughing and so does she.
“It’s not like I really need this job all that much,” she says. “Cameron just likes to have me close by and likes my help. I don’t think I’ll get fired but if I do, oh well.”
We laugh again but I’m thinking, must be nice. I need to work here until I can afford to move out of my parents’ house and even then, I’ll still need to slave away to be able to afford rent.
“So why do look flushed?” Ruby asks, changing the subject.
“What?” I ask her, playing innocent.
“I know that look,” she says. “I know all about this. You’re in looooooove.”
“I am not,” I insist.
“Well, you’re at least in like. In lust?”
I laugh. I can’t help it.
“You like Damien Hudson, don’t you?” she demands.
I shrug.
“I may have, but since he’s not fond of you, I don’t like him that much any more.”
“I knew it,” she says. “And don’t let me ruin a good thing.”
“Oh, just because you had sex with an older man, now it’s a good thing?” I ask.
“I certainly think it is,” she says. “Not that I have anything to compare it to.
I don’t either, but I don’t admit that.
“I bet he’d know what to do to you,” she says, the corners of her mouth turning up in a smile. “And I bet you’d enjoy it.”
“Very funny,” I tell her, but I know she’s right.
I wish I could just let go and be with Damien but I still have too many hang-ups. Most notably being that he’s out to get my friend. She may not care, but I do.
“Well, I have to go deliver these files to Cameron,” she says, holding onto the files she had gathered while I was in his office.
“Uh huh,” I tell her, with a teasing grin. “You mean you have to go deliver yourself to him.”
She giggles and says, “Maybe,” as she leaves.
I reach into the small bag with a shoulder strap that I carry with me and retrieve my vape pen. I’m not supposed to do this at work. But I’ve had quite the day. First I get to see the man I’ve been crushing on, fantasizing about, since I met him. Then I find out he has it out for my only friend here at the firm. I think I deserve a little hit.
But as soon as I take one, I hear someone clearing their throat at the entrance to the file room. I jump and then shove the vape pen into my pocket.
Turning my head, I see that it’s him. Damien.
I had a feeling it was.
I don’t know if he saw what I had been doing or not. But he doesn’t look too happy.
I remind myself that it doesn’t matter because I’m not too happy with him either. One look as his muscular build and tall stature is enough to make me wet, and embarrassed, remembering how I touch myself thinking at him when I’m at home alone. I have to keep my wits about me.
“I came to talk to you,” he says.
“Well that much is clear,” I can’t help but snap back at him.
At first he looks a little wounded but then he looks defiant.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks, shutting the door to the filing room behind him.
I can’t help but feel a little excited. Why did he close the door? What does he want to do to me?
“Nothing,” I respond.
“I want your phone number,” he says.
As he says it, he reaches out and grabs my ass. I straighten up, my head and my heart at war with each other. Logically I think I should slap
him or scream. But emotionally I want him to keep doing it.
“My phone number?”
“Yes,” he says, looking as surprised as I am that that’s what he’s asking for. “Your phone number.”
He puts his hand back on my ass.
“You can’t have it,” I tell him.
“Why not?”
“You don’t like Ruby.”
“What?”
He looks at me like I’m insane. And maybe I am.
“You want her canned.”
“I do not.”
“Yes you do. I heard you.”
“She’s not my favorite person in the world and I want her out of my private information but I don’t want her canned. Who Cameron decides to employ— or fuck— is none of my business.”
When he says “fuck” he looks me straight in the eyes. My panties get even wetter than they were.
But I’m determined not to give into him. I’m no pushover. And I don’t trust him. Even though I want him.
He leans in, bends down and kisses me. I kiss him back, despite telling myself not to. His grip on my ass gets stronger.
I want to kiss him forever. But I know he’ll respect me more— and I’ll respect myself more— if I don’t.
I break free from his tongue, which requires all the will power in the world.
“It’s the end of the day and I need to go home now,” I tell him, as if to remind him how much younger than him I am. “My dad will wonder where I am.”
And just like that, I walk away from him, telling myself to forget all about him, but knowing that I’m not going to be able to.
Chapter 9 – Damien
ONE WEEK LATER
My heart sinks as I pull into the home for developmental disabilities where my mom resides. It’s been over a week since I’ve seen her so I’m making myself visit but I don’t fucking feel up to it.
It’s also been over a week since I’ve seen Katie and I know my bad mood is tied to that fact. I can’t believe she wouldn’t give me her number just because I’m not particularly fond of her friend who hacked me.
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