by Chloe Blake
He reached forward and snatched the dossier. “I don’t make bets I don’t consider a challenge.” His words lost some of his impact when he rushed to cover his mouth as another cute sneeze escaped. “Dammit.”
“Feel better,” she teased with a finger wave. And she’d actually meant it. Having worked part-time for a year in college at a hospital, assisting patients to perform their basic activities of living, she hated seeing people suffer from illness.
He whipped out of her office so fast, she expected to hear the door slam. The man hadn’t bothered to close it.
She’d expected something different from their little meeting. He really hadn’t been affected by their one night together. She frowned in disappointment because that’s all she seemed to think about.
Slinking into her seat, Kamilla made a resolution. She didn’t care what had to be done—she’d get the Singletons to stay with the firm. No spoiled, rich brat would stop her.
Chapter 2
Kamilla tucked the gold cookie tin tight to her chest while beaming at the only person she’d ever truly been close to. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had in my life.” She needed the fortifying gift after dealing with Leonardo that morning.
Casey Mendez’s snort distorted her features as they spoke on Skype. “More like the only one. You have a habit of keeping people at a distance.”
Kamilla tilted her head and feigned indignation with a fierce narrowing of her eyes. “I do not. I’m sweet, likable—”
“And possess more than your share of arrogance, which can come off as standoffish,” Cass said with a sharp nod of her head.
Kamilla’s hand rushed to her chest as she took in a sharp inhale of protest. “I do not. The people in the office love me.”
Bunching her hair into a high ponytail for the run she was dressed for, Cass rolled her eyes. “First you scare them into submission when you meet them and then you spoil them with a gourmet cupcake on their birthday. You’re a manipulator. And I say that with respect because you came from nowhere only to work for one of the most prestigious law firms in the state.”
Kamilla cleared her throat in an exaggerated manner and smoothed down the short dark hair at the back of her pixie-style cut.
“Fine,” Cass relented, “the country.”
“Since Peterson, Benton, Monroe and Lanner has a firm in London, you may as well say the universe.” Kamilla opened the tin and inhaled the scent of enticing cinnamon cookies.
Cass chuckled. “You could’ve just said the world. Western hemisphere would’ve been even more humble. Besides, we don’t know about the law firms on alien planets.”
She waggled her finger in front of the computer screen. “You’re not going there, Cass. Not today. You and your Trekkie behind need to change the subject.”
Once again laughter burst from her friend. “How about we discuss what’s been making you act like Ms. Cranky Pants for the past few months.”
Air got trapped in Kamilla’s throat as anxiety tightened her windpipe. Reaching into the tin of homemade snickerdoodle cookies Cass had overnighted, she broke off a large piece of one and popped it in her mouth. The succulent treat would prevent her from having to speak, but wouldn’t stop her friend from utilizing guerrilla tactics. Cass would’ve made a fantastic prosecutor; instead she ended up becoming an editor for a big-time publisher. Kamilla couldn’t be prouder.
Her best friend stared at her through the screen. Ever since becoming a mother, Cass’s gaze had become more powerful and Kamilla felt the cookie settle hard in her stomach. They’d already discussed her incredible night with Leonardo and she didn’t want to rehash it again. Maybe she could get around this conversation. “Speaking of silly nicknames, how are my nieces doing?”
The thought of her two energetic and loving daughters relaxed Cass’s threatening glare a fraction. “They keep requesting their Aunty Kam. If I have to hear them asking when you’re coming for a visit one more time, I think I’ll scream. When are you coming down?”
Three hours wasn’t a long way to drive to see the only people she considered family, even though none of them were blood related. She and Cass had hit it off from the first foster home Kamilla had been tossed into at age seven. They’d lived in the same house for three years before Cass had gotten transferred to another foster home, where the family adopted her.
Fate had been more than kind to them by letting them attend the same schools up until their sophomore year of high school, when Cass’s family had moved. By that time their bond had been cemented. Their friendship had been the only stable aspect of her tossed-about life.
Kamilla sighed, wishing she could take off from work and hang out with the two little girls who thought she walked on water. She gestured toward a stack of files that were just out of screenshot. “The workload is crazy. And you know I need to impress the bosses if I want to be considered for partner anytime soon.”
“Girl, you’ve been working for them for five years as if you owned the company yourself. When was the last time you took a vacation?”
“I came to see you guys a few months ago.”
Cass sucked her teeth. “You were here for two days, that’s including the day you arrived and the day you left.”
Kamilla scrunched her nose. She’d committed to making partner and nothing would stop her. Not even missing the people she loved. “It’s not about the quantity, but the quality of time I spend with you all.”
“That’s a load of puppy poop and you know it. You’ve made yourself a slave to that law firm. And all for what? So you can be partner in a branch of law you don’t even like.”
Kamilla’s eyes snapped up to the door of the office she shared with another associate as she reached for her headphones to plug them into the computer. “Oh my goodness, Cass, are you out of your mind? I’m at the office.”
“So? The truth is the truth. Tell me that you enjoy your job and I’ll take back everything I just said.”
Her shoulders slumped. Without ever having to speak the words to her best friend, she’d already figured it out. “I’m excellent at corporate law and I make a lot of money.” She brightened. “I’m almost finished paying off my student loans. Just six more months and I’ll be free of the system.”
Cass shook her head slowly as a frown disturbed her mixed-heritage light brown skin. “At what cost, Kam? Nothing in your life has been easy, but you’ve succeeded despite the hardships.” Cass’s eyes took on a glossiness. “I just want you to be happy. Out of all the people I know, you deserve it most. Working for that firm isn’t making you happy.”
Kamilla swallowed hard to get rid of the lump. She hated getting sentimental. Weakness hadn’t been accepted in the foster care system, so she’d never had the luxury of delving into her feelings. “Who in this world enjoys their job?”
Cass raised her hand and began to speak when Kamilla cut her off. “Other than your lucky-assed self. Most people do what they have to do. Making partner at this firm is what I need to do to make sure I have a job forever. I’ll pick up a hobby or something once I get the position.”
“I just wish—”
“I live in the real world, where wishes don’t come true, so I stopped believing a long time ago.” Why hadn’t things gone differently in her life? She sometimes wondered what type of person she’d be if she’d been adopted instead of tossed around the foster care system until she broke free. Then she’d remember it didn’t matter. She’d defied every single one of the odds set against her and made something of herself.
With her lips pursed, Cass nodded. “I hear you, but I won’t stop hoping you get the better that you deserve.”
Kamilla smiled. “You’d better not. I’m relying on your positive thoughts to catapult me toward partner. Keep these homemade care packages coming, too.” She broke off another piece of the cinnamon-and-sugartopped treats and held it up to the screen. “I think
these might be the best you’ve ever made.”
“Thanks.” Cass perked up. “The girls said they put an extra helping of love in for their aunty.”
She placed a hand on her thudding chest. She loved those girls as if they were her own. She’d have to take at least a day to go see them. Then she glanced at the amount of work she had to do. One day. “Tell them it made the cookies extra-special and that I miss them loads. I’ll talk to them on Saturday. Enjoy your run and burn some calories for me.”
Cass gave her a pointed look. “Is that your way of getting off the phone before talking about what’s been bothering you?”
Uh-oh. “I’m fine.”
“My ass,” Cass mumbled.
Kamilla’s eyes widened. Her friend never cussed. Once she’d learned about the parroting nature of children, she’d refrained from saying anything she wouldn’t be proud to have them say in public.
“I see you’re still in denial about that one-night stand you had with him.”
Her heart sped up as heat raced to her face. Her dark skin hid her flush well. “It happened two months ago and you promised to never speak of it again.” Fifty-four days had passed since she’d made the biggest mistake of her life with Leonardo Astacio. She’d paid for it every time he walked into the room and he seemed unaffected. Sure the sizzle of attraction that had been building since the first day they’d met a little over two years ago still swirled between them, but that was it.
He may have gotten her out of his system that night when they’d torn each other’s clothes off after bickering while working alone. Damn those partners for seeing how good they were together. Damn Leonardo for a sexual experience so exceptional, she still throbbed when he came near. Damn them all.
“It was one—” Kamilla cleared the huskiness from her throat “—time. It didn’t mean anything. Besides I can’t stand his arrogant ass.” Why did it bother her that they’d avoided each other rather than discuss the incident like two responsible adults?
“I’ve been around you two and I think you’d make the perfect couple.”
“No, Cass. You will not go down this road again. He’s a flipping heir to the damn Astacio dynasty. That family is worth billions. I still for the life of me can’t figure out why he works for this firm, but he’s good. Almost as good as me, and that makes him a threat.”
“Whatever. You can deny that you like him, but I know you. You might even be in love with him. That’s why he bothers you so much.”
“Pah,” Kamilla spat. “Love, my behind. He’s a fine specimen of a man and we had a great time together, but that’s all it will ever be.” She wouldn’t focus on how her fingers had caressed his tightly corded muscles under his glorious brown skin that almost matched hers exactly. No, the thought of him looking into her eyes with passion blazing as he drove into her would not help her case at this point in time. She shifted in her seat to reduce the unexpected moisture to her core.
“It was a onetime...mistake after a dry spell of three and a half years. Any man would’ve gotten the job done. Plus we were both exhausted from those late-night hours.” The excuses she’d used to comfort herself after doing the unthinkable still didn’t feel right. “If you’d stop bringing it up, I would’ve forgotten it by now.” She crossed her fingers under her desk at the barefaced lie. “He’s a gruff, spoiled, conceited bastard who wants to take my job. One-night stand or not. I won’t let him. I’ve worked hard for that position and no one’s going to steal it from me.”
Cass raised and pushed out both palms in Kamilla’s direction as she smirked. “Calm it down, girl. Obviously you aren’t in love with him since you don’t even seem to like him.”
She chose to ignore the blatant tone of sarcasm and gave a sharp nod of agreement. “You’re talking sense now.”
“On that note I’ll let you get back to work so you can catapult up the ranks. I love you.”
“You, too.” Without a formal goodbye, they clicked to discontinue the call at the same time.
Kamilla sat back in her seat now that she no longer had to defend herself against allegations she didn’t want to deal with. She and Leonardo getting involved in a relationship would be a joke of massive proportions and she wouldn’t be the one laughing.
Chapter 3
Leonardo glared at Kamilla when she waltzed into the room. Interacting with her shouldn’t satisfy him as much as it did. As always she looked good. A more tailored outfit would fit her better, but the cut of the navy blue suit emphasized her small waist, which flared out into curvaceous hips. He hardened recalling how his hands had dug into her flesh as he’d driven into her. He snatched his gaze away and thought of poisonous spiders crawling up his arms in order to get his lower body under control.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” she said with a full smile before sparing him the slightest glance. “Leonardo.”
He didn’t have time for her particular brand of fire. He’d let his temper cool over at least five cups of tea with lemon, honey and ginger last night. Even with the fluids and bowls of chicken noodle soup he’d ingested, he still felt like crap and would rather be home in bed, but nothing outside of being knocked over by a semitruck and landing in the hospital would make that happen.
Patrick Benton, one of the firm’s founding partners, waved in the direction of the aged dark leather chair angled toward Leonardo and the main desk. “Please have a seat, Kamilla.”
Henry Lanner sat on the couch, while Patrick occupied the seat behind his desk.
Henry made eye contact with each of them in turn. “We’ve heard that Singleton Financial, a major client, has sent out feelers to other law firms.” He leaned forward and, resting his elbows on the desk, steepled his fingers. “You’ve both worked on their account. I don’t need to tell you how horrifically it would affect the firm if they left. Not only financially, but our hard-earned reputation would be downgraded. We’ve been attempting to figure out what has dissatisfied them and have come up with nothing. Our work is exemplary.”
Leonardo held back a grunt. Didn’t he mean the associates’ work?
Patrick shifted on the couch. “We can’t lose this client. Having them sign their contract next month is our number one priority. That’s why you two are here.”
Henry nodded. “It’s no secret you’re the superstar associates of the firm. You have the most billable hours of any other associate.”
Was the man talking to him or Kamilla? Leonardo would feel better if he knew. Kamilla spent as much time in the office as he did, but obviously it had to be him. A quick glance at the woman with her proud grin told him she might’ve come to a similar conclusion with her as the victor.
“Don’t think we haven’t noticed just how good you are apart, but together, your work is impeccable. You get the work done in record time,” Patrick said.
Because we can’t stand each other. At least that had been the case before they’d had sex on his desk. Now he didn’t want to be around her for other reasons. The longing desire to delve his tongue inside her sarcastic mouth ranked number one. He had to keep reminding himself that her status as the sole impediment to his making partner should’ve ranked as first. Yet something had changed. At least it had for him.
Henry tagged in on the conversation. “You’re a perfect combination. A dynamic duo. That’s why we’ve decided to pair you. Your duty is to secure the Singletons and ensure that they sign their contract.”
The hint of desperation in Henry’s tone told Leonardo of a whole lot more going on than they’d explained. Was the firm in trouble? Even if they lost Singleton Financial as a client, they should be fine. It’d be a hard blow, but nothing that their other prestigious clientele couldn’t cover. The mystery of why Singleton Financial wanted to leave pressed on his curiosity.
Kamilla scooted to the edge of her seat and opened her mouth to speak. She must’ve thought better of it and closed it. Leonardo never
thought he’d see the day when she’d keep her trap shut.
Henry leaned back into his tan leather chair. “Teamwork is absolutely necessary if we’re to win the Singletons over. Kamilla’s more personable approach with a no-holds-barred demeanor will complement your harder, more driven method of getting what you want, Leonardo.”
He ignored Kamilla’s pointed glance in his direction. Why was everyone attacking his personality this week? He could be charming. Okay, so maybe he couldn’t, but it didn’t make him an ogre. He worked well with people. Especially those who didn’t need to be babied.
They wanted them to work together. A hell no sat on the tip of his tongue. He could get Singleton Financial to sign on his own. Without being tortured by her damn lavender scent. Fighting the need to smooth his fingers through her short hair. Nibbling on the sweet spot he’d discovered on the side of her neck that had made her moan. Tasting her succulent lips like he’d done in his dreams. Something he’d neglected to do when they’d had sex. He’d been kicking himself over the lost opportunity ever since.
Hauling out the tiny bit of humility he possessed, Leonardo rubbed his chin and cleared out some unwanted phlegm from his throat before speaking. “I’m not sure about working with Ms. Gordon. Of course she’s an intelligent and hard-working woman and has been an asset to the firm.” He ignored the choked sound that came from her direction at his genuine compliment. “But I firmly assure you that I can and will be able to gain the Singletons’ confidence enough to sign with us again if I work alone.”
Kamilla pasted on her fake grin. The kind that didn’t set her eyes twinkling as she touched her palm to her chest. “I beg to differ. I would appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Mr. Astacio. He’s been nothing but an exemplary inspiration over the years and I believe we’ll work well together, as we have previously, to keep Singleton Financial with our firm.”
Couldn’t they see her teeth gritting as she lied through them?
“Thank you so much for considering me,” she continued. “His reputation precedes him and it’s always a learning experience working by his side.”