Snow and Seduction (A Holiday Romance)

by Evelyn Moreau

  Kennedy was all at once both relieved and validated. Adrenaline pulsed in her veins though outwardly she maintained her cool.

  She resisted the urge to tap her fingers on thigh. “Why, thank you. I’m not sure I know what to say.”

  “I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet, dear,” Roberta began. “I was nervous to expand into the corporate tech realm of intellectual property, but you’ve carved out a niche for yourself. And I can’t resist supporting the rise of another woman at this firm.”

  Kennedy tilted her head and nodded. “Why thank you. I think…”

  Roberta leaned in across her desk, her voice low and sure. “In short, we want to offer you the lead counsel role for all corporate tech IP cases moving forward. What do you say?”

  Flabbergasted, Kennedy slowly nodded, positive that she’d misheard Roberta. Lead counsel?

  Was that French for ‘junior partner’? Had to be. Why hadn’t she paid more attention to the damn language she’d studied for four years?

  Her heart beat out of her chest. It was a huge opportunity. One that many other people in her position would jump at. Unfortunately, she wasn’t other people.

  “I’m sorry, lead counsel? Of the CorpTech department?” she blurted out, slightly confused.

  “Of course. No one knows the sector like you do. I couldn’t think of a better choice.”

  “I’m flattered. Truly honored to be even considered,” she said, digging her nails into her palms, “but…” she hesitated.

  Why was she questioning this? Sure, it wasn’t a junior partnership. It was still a step in the right direction.

  Roberta raised her eyebrow with a knowing smile, “But?”

  “But…” she gulped, then steeled her spine. “But to be candid, my work has been exemplary. Stellar. I’m one of the top senior associates and as you yourself said, the clients I’ve brought in have been quite lucrative.”

  Roberta’s smile widened by another quarter of an inch. “I agree with everything you’ve said. Everything. So, you’ll accept the promotion?”

  “Yes. No. I mean,” Kennedy cleared her throat. “What I meant to say, is that after five years of high-caliber work, I believe I’m entitled to more than just lead counsel of CorpTech. Actually, I know I am.”

  Anxiety hacked away at Kennedy’s confidence. She prayed she had gambled correctly.

  Roberta’s blue eyes crinkled with strategic understanding. “Good girl. Always know your worth, then add tax. I’m assuming you want the junior partnership?”

  “I-I, yes. The junior partnership, in addition to the lead counsel role. That is, if it’s on the table.”

  “Don’t be bashful now, Kennedy. Of course, it’s on the table.” She watched as Roberta crossed her legs.

  “This is unexpected. I mean, I thought maybe but… I’m just so lucky.” Kennedy shut up quick to keep from embarrassing herself further.

  “Lucky? Oh, I don't believe in luck. I believe in opportunity. This firm used to be a quintessential boy’s club. To be honest, it still is. Slowly but surely, we’re changing all that. I’m a gal’s gal. Girl power and all that. More importantly, I know a qualified junior partner when I see one.”

  This was a major moment. An extremely important stop in her journey to the top.

  “This is incredible. I was starting to worry that I had been overlooked for the partner track.”

  “Not too worry, Kennedy, my girl. It’s time you were recognized and rewarded. The partnership is yours.”

  Had she ever words so perfect in her life?

  “Wonderful, I accept–” She reached out her hand to shake Roberta’s and solidify the

  deal.

  Roberta didn’t extend her arm. She didn’t move an inch. “On one condition.”

  She slowly took her hand back. Those three words were usually said in movies exactly when the foiled plot revealed itself.

  Kennedy fiddled with her watch. She wondered what the hell kind of junior partnership came with a stipulation? Did it matter, as long as she got the job? And the accompanying pay raise?

  “Name it,” she said much too fast.

  “A dear friend of mine is going through a nasty divorce. I love Madeleine like a sister, but her heart always picks the worst pricks in the city to marry. Then again, I truly doubt it’s her heart doing the picking. Anyways, you studied divorce law at Yale, right?” Her voice, so cheerful and encouraging previously, was suddenly calculated and unconcerned.

  “Yes. I did.” Not bothering to hide her anxiety, she drummed her fingers on skirt, trying to work out how this any of this figured into her becoming junior partner.

  “Perfect. Madeleine needs a lawyer to represent her in her divorce negotiations. It should be rather simple since her husband cheated. She’ll fill you in on all the sordid details.”

  She huffed out a breath. “While I’m competent in my abilities, divorce law is not my area of expertise. Not to mention, I have so much work of my own to do here before the winter break.”

  Roberta didn’t hesitate to respond. “Not a problem. I’ll have some of your colleagues do the grunt work. As I said, this would be a favor, a personal favor, to me. If you get Madeleine an ideal divorce settlement, the partnership is yours. Guaranteed. I’ll even double your end-of-year bonus.”

  Kennedy sighed. Roberta’s answer was beautifully well-rehearsed. She had been expertly played. “Why me?”

  “That’s the tricky bit, dear. I have it on good authority that you know the attorney representing Madeleine’s husband. As he’s one of the best divorce attorneys in the state, we need any advantage we can get.”

  She tried, and failed, to contain her dread.

  Please, not him. Anyone but him.

  She clenched her teeth and forced herself to concentrate on Roberta’s words. There was no way that type of coincidence could happen in real life.

  “Hold on. Let me get his name.” She rifled through a stack of clutter. “Yes, here it is. Does the name Luke Simon, ring a bell?”

  She was going to be sick. For a day that started with a Christmas miracle, it sure was ending with a Christmas catastrophe.

  She blinked and gave a half-smile that probably bordered on a grimace. “Yes, we were classmates. Friends too, at one point.”

  Kennedy didn’t like thinking about that name. Or the man attached to it. He probably had forgotten all about those stupid years in law school.

  At Yale, they’d been friends, true, but they’d also tried being something more too. And failed. God, this entire situation was ridiculous. And from the looks of it, it was completely inevitable.

  “Excellent. You’ll represent Madeleine?” There was a gleam in Roberta’s eye that said she knew how problematic this situation was for her.

  Her choices were bleak. Agree to help a client outside her realm of expertise to secure the promotion she’d worked so hard for, or, say no.

  Compromising her professional acumen was a set up for failure. Then again, if she didn’t help Madeleine, her career at Briggs and Bancroft was likely kaput.

  Kennedy opened her mouth to say no, only she ended up saying, “Of course, I’ll do my best.”

  “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, Kennedy.”

  “When’s the next negotiation meeting?” Kennedy didn’t bother fixing her face.

  Roberta held out a folded piece of paper. “Tomorrow afternoon. Three o’clock sharp. Here’s Madeleine’s contact information. She’s expecting your call today.”

  Roberta studied her for a moment, her steely blue gaze adding to Kennedy’s trepidation..

  “Remember, negotiate favorable terms in the final settlement and the partnership, promotion, and bonus, are all yours.”

  More importantly, Kennedy heard what wasn’t said: fail to deliver on those favorable terms and you’ll be stuck as a senior associate.

  Or you may not have a job at all.

  Despite herself, she smiled, assuming a fraudulent air of confidence. She finally sho
ok Roberta’s hand and quickly exited the luxurious office.

  What had she gotten herself into?

  She looked at her watch. She’d have to cancel dinner with Maya-Rae. She could fit in fifteen minutes for a celebratory cat nap. Then, she’d attack her new challenge with the same gusto she’d used her entire life.

  Luke Simon.

  Her gut clenched. He was the one that got away. The one she pushed away. It seemed like a lifetime ago. She’d prioritized ego and rigid career plans over a shot at love. It had worked. She had the career along with an enviable amount of failed relationships.

  Fuck love. And fuck Luke.

  She was not going to let one little negotiation meeting derail her life plans. Even if it meant working with the man whose heart she’d obliterated.

  Chapter 2

  Luke Simon swished the sugarless, unsweetened coffee, savoring the slightly bitter brew in his mouth, before glancing around the crowded break room.

  “Is it true?” Blake Holden asked, with wide-eyes and a grin. A senior associate, he was Luke’s most tenured employee.

  With a shrug, Luke held his silence and took another sip from his mug.

  Impatient for a response, Misty, the newest member on his team, spoke up, “Are Rex and Madeleine Jones getting a divorce?”

  At twenty-two years old, she had finished law school before she could even legally drink. Misty was young and a tad too eager at times, but she was a natural negotiator. Luke admired her hustle.

  “Yup. And Rex hired Simon, LLC to take on his soon-to-be ex,” he replied with a full grin teasing his lips. Rich, new clients had that effect on him.

  He sipped his coffee as the infectious excitement of his team multiplied. The ending of a high-profile marriage had a way of making everyone in the office insanely chipper.

  Adding Rex Jones to his client list would be a boon. Not that Luke needed the additional workload. He was already barely keeping his head above water as it was.

  Business was good.

  Truth be told, it was great.

  Even the upcoming holiday tidings couldn’t stall the influx of failed marriages. Honestly, it was a shame. November and December were some of the most romantic times of the year. Especially with the decadence of the Big Apple as a backdrop.

  Not that he knew from experience. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been in a relationship spanning over the winter holidays. Then again, he could barely remember the last time he’d been in a serious long-term relationship at all.

  At thirty years old, Luke’s life revolved around prenups, postnups, and occasionally, his clients’ celebratory nip-tucks. With his professional life focused on the romantic entanglements of the wealthy, reckless, and horny, he just didn’t have time to worry about his own love life.

  Luke didn’t let any of that get him down. His own discipline, tenacity, and inability to take ‘no’ for an answer, was exactly why clients flocked to him. Not having a love-life of his own probably worked in his favor, given the type of law he practiced.

  He drained his coffee then threw the cup in the recycling bin. “As a matter of fact, Rex is coming in this morning to iron out the terms of the settlement.”

  Blake and Misty proceeded to pepper him with questions about the splitting up of the Jones’. If it wasn’t their job, he’d start to wonder if his staff had any compassion or empathy at all. To be fair, he could understand the odd fascination with the duo.

  The Jones’ were one of Manhattan’s elite couples. They were the prototype of wealthy, one-percenters. Ken and Barbie in the flesh. Instead of the stereotypical 2.5 kids, they had 2.5 yachts. The tabloids splattered pictures of them canoodling around the globe. They were the ‘it’ couple that so many people emulated.

  At least, they had been before they’d called it quits.

  Piping hot coffee and asset divisions. According to Luke, there was no better way to start off the morning.

  He didn’t delight in the failures of peoples’ marriage. Quite the contrary.

  Luke was a hopeless romantic. A pure sap. Day after day, he saw insurmountable evidence that real love was dead, that commitment had been replaced by temporary lust. Even after he’d had his heart put through a meat grinder, he still believed in true love.

  Nevertheless, a divorce should be handled as delicately as the dissolution of a business venture. Love was one thing. Marriage under the eyes of the law?

  That was a contract.

  The combining, sharing, and division of assets had to be expertly handled. Emotions couldn’t afford to be involved. Which was why his divorce firm had been so successful in the past few years.

  Crazy enough, Luke knew people would be surprised to know that the state of New York had one of the lowest divorce rates. Probably because it was too damn expensive to split up.

  “Airtight pre-nup?” Blake asked, leaning against the refrigerator.

  Three sets of eyes turned Luke’s way. “Yup,” he said.

  “And they don’t have any young children?” Misty asked. Always prepared, she pulled out a small notebook from a pocket in her dress.

  Before Luke could respond, his well-prepared assistant, Sasha cut in. “Their daughter just started college at Princeton. No terms of custody need to be negotiated.”

  Misty gave Luke a smug look. “So, it’s an open and shut case then? Well, besides the bitching and moaning over property, payouts, and custody of designer puppies.”

  Luke fiddled with his tie. “Not necessarily. There was some infidelity.”

  “Shit. Rex?” Blake shook his head in disbelief.

  Misty scoffed. “Don’t be an idiot, of course Rex cheated. Madeleine wouldn’t be dumb enough to ruin a picture-perfect marriage over some penii.”

  That caught Blake offguard. “Penii? Don’t you mean ‘penis’?”

  Misty scrunched up her face. “Ew. Who still calls it that? Too clinical.”

  “Damn millennials,” Blake muttered under his breath.

  Their petty argument was nothing new. Blake and Misty were constantly at each other’s throats. Luke chuckled at the nonsensical argument.

  “Now now, children. Play nice. Rex dipped his pen into another inkwell, doesn’t mean his assets shouldn’t be protected.”

  “Monogamy is such a foreign concept to men nowadays,” Misty muttered and closed her notebook.

  Blake didn’t resist the bait. “Not true. Monogamy can be boring. It turns into monotony, which inevitably results in infidelity. It happens.” He shrugged.

  “Well, his ‘inevitable’ infidelity fucks up our built-in advantage before we’ve even started negotiations.”

  “It all depends on if Madeleine lawyers up.” Shuffling to the mini-coffee bar a few steps away, Luke grabbed another cup and filled it up with inky caffeine.

  Sasha paused between bites of her breakfast sandwich. “Boss, I meant to tell you. She found representation.”

  “One of the usual suspects?” he asked.

  Not to toot his own horn but Luke knew all of the local competition. None of them could beat his track record for securing favorable settlements for his clients in mediation. And in the rare case of litigation, he was undefeated.

  “Nope, somebody new actually. Never heard of her before,” she said before sticking the last bite of her breakfast in her mouth.

  Sasha handed him the client folder and he skimmed through it. Everything was routine about this case. Then he double-checked the top sheet again: Madeleine Jones had indeed found representation. He immediately spit out his coffee when he read the name.

  Kennedy ‘Barracuda’ Notyce.

  He read and reread her name. After a few seconds, his mind still refused to compute what was happening. Despite his disbelief, the paper in his hands didn’t lie. He slumped against a counter. Moving slowly, he grabbed a napkin to clean up his spilled coffee.

  “You okay, boss?” Sasha asked.

  Luke smiled wryly then posed a question of his own, “When did Mrs. Jones arrange for
counsel?” The break room was eerily quiet as he waited for Sasha to answer.

  “I’m not…exactly sure. I just pulled the file yesterday like you asked.”

  Skimming over the paperwork, he answered his own question. Kennedy only submitted the paperwork two days ago, which meant she probably wasn’t caught up on all the particulars of the case. He grinned.

  “Is there a problem Mr. Simon?” Sasha asked, concern etching her face.

  Hell yes, there was a problem. Sitting across a table from the heartless woman that crushed his heart would be torture.

  Even as he told himself that, an odd urge to see Kennedy again, in the flesh, clouded his brain. Was being in the company of a gorgeous woman really a bad thing?

  It had been five years since he’d last laid eyes on her. This morning, that name had been buried so deep in his psyche he’d almost forgotten it entirely.

  Now it was the only thing rattling around in his brain.

  Luke saw beautiful women all the time. He wasn’t shy about enjoying the city’s samplings. Some were one-night stands, others were longer romances.

  Nothing ever lasted more than six months. Exhausted, he’d taken a break. Romance could wait until the new year. He truly hadn’t been tempted.

  Until now.

  He could look and not touch. Memories and his imagination could fill in the gaps. As for his emotions, the pain from that heartache was long gone. He could handle a professional relationship with Kennedy. For his client’s sake, he had to.

  He looked over at his assistant, the beginnings of a smirk twisting his lips. “Not at all. I’m just surprised that a corporate lawyer would come to the dark side. Can you do me a favor?”

  “Of course,” Sasha responded instantly.

  “When Rex gets here, show him directly to my office. Then, confirm with Ms. Notyce that the initial client negotiation meeting is Friday at three o’clock.”

  “Sure thing, boss. Anything else?” Sasha asked, then waited for him to answer.

  “Bring me all of Ms. Notyce’s case history for the past two years.”

  “You got it.”