Текст книги "Mutually Exclusive"
Автор книги: Charlotte Winston
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Текущая страница: 3 (всего у книги 17 страниц)
4
Every word of the contract lay in front of her, instructing Alexandra on what the membership and their agreement expected. She had wanted to tear into it as soon as he gave it to her, but pretended to act maturely while he smugly told her if she wanted him, she would get back to him within a week. Want him? He made her come harder than she had in months. The only thing holding her back was the contract, which the lawyer in her had to read over entirely, particularly the fine print.
She figured it was pretty standard, as far as sex club contracts went, and Roman seemed to be running a clean house. Plus, she had to get tested for STDs—a precaution some may find off-putting—that only made her respect him more. She had one person she wanted to talk to about what transpired, the one who got her in the club in the first place.
“Blair.”
She heard rustling on the other side before Blair responded. “What’s up? Did you get a date with the one-eyed snake?”
“The snake stayed in its hole.” Alexandra settled into the couch with her glass of wine, smiling as she remembered the evening.
“Pity.” Blair tsked. “How did you go to a sex club and not get laid? You’re the only horny woman I know who would go to a sex club for a meeting. You need to be meeting with a cock in a bed.”
“Because I’m not in the mood to hook up with a bunch of randoms. We talked about this. I want a lover, not a harem, and I think Roman is more than up to the task.”
“Roman, huh? Isn’t he the owner?”
“Yeah. I had to twist his arm to get him to do it.” And promise things she didn’t want to have to deliver. “How did you know he’s the owner?” Blair had given Alexandra the contact information but nothing more, and it wasn’t like she would tell Alexandra if she was a member.
The silence spoke volumes while a sneaky suspicion invaded Alexandra’s thoughts. “Oh, I just heard it from my friend.”
“Blair, have you ever been to the club?”
“Maybe,” she hedged.
Alexandra drank her wine, contemplating what Blair had just said, but one question stood out. “How could you not tell me this? I thought you had heard about this from someone else.”
“Tell the girl whose vag has closed shop for the winter her friend is getting her jollies in a back room of an exclusive sex club? How well do you believe that conversation would have gone over? Besides, I didn’t say I went, I said maybe. Derrick and I haven’t been in there, although it hasn’t been for lack of trying.” Derrick was Blair’s husband, so it would make sense they would apply to get into the club together.
“You’re being evasive with half-truths. Either you are members of the sex club or you aren’t. You sex fiends.”
“We aren’t. We applied, but received a rejection letter. Valentine’s is very exclusive, which is why I’m surprised you got in.”
“Well, I have no idea why I got in, or why you guys were rejected. You guys seem like the type he would allow in—rich, gorgeous, and willing. Hell, I propositioned the owner to sleep with me and he didn’t kick me out.” Alexandra looked down at her glass, realized it was empty, and grabbed the bottle for a refill.
“What the hell? I thought you’d go there, get some of the D, and keep it moving. You were supposed to contact him for membership, not offer to sleep with him. You’ve always been ‘go big or go home’, but this is extreme, even for you. Although, I heard he doesn’t sleep with members, so I wouldn’t get my hopes up.”
Blair’s words echoed what she’d heard, and prompted the excitement she felt thinking she was different. “Well…call me a quasi-member, because he promised to get me off on the regular.”
Blair gasped on the other end of the phone. “Go Alexandra. You’re my new hero.”
Alexandra smirked, even though Blair wasn’t there to see it. “I’m your only hero.”
“Still counts.”
She chuckled. “Well, you’ve always been my hero, so I guess we’re equal. And thanks for suggesting it. It still freaks me out, not even going to lie, but desperate times and all that.”
Blair laughed, as she always did when they discussed Alexandra’s sex life. “I know it does. Because straight-laced Alexandra Francis Kane would not do anything to jeopardize making partner and showing everyone she’s just like her famous daddy. But just consider all the endorphins from all the sex you’re going to be getting soon.”
Blair was right, Alexandra wanted to make partner because she wanted to live up to Marcus Kane’s legacy. Her dad had been on the fast track to being a federal judge before he was killed in a plane crash coming home from an event at the White House, leaving his wife and young daughters to grieve. Partnership with her firm was the first stop for ensuring his legacy lived on. She would not fail, and then all the sacrifices she made would be worth it.
“Damn right, I’m going to be partner. And between hip hop dance and spin class, I get enough endorphins, so that’s not a good reason.”
“Who wants exercise endorphins?” Blair scoffed. “I want the sexy kind, where you’ve been fucked ten ways to Sunday and can’t move because your legs are jelly. You want to talk about feeling good? Those will make you feel damn good.”
“How did I miss you were such a slut?”
“It’s my alter ego. She doesn’t come out to play in mixed company but she loves to pop up when I’m drunk, which is why Derrick never complains when I go out for girls’ night. He always says he wants a freak in the sheets and a lady on the streets.”
“Ew, TMI. How am I going to be able to talk to your husband again knowing that?”
Blair laughed off her complaint. “You’re the one who brought it up.”
“Much to my dismay, Sister Slut, I did follow you down that rabbit hole. But your inner slut is going to have to play by herself, because I have to finish prepping for this case before I go to bed and tomorrow’s a long day.” She didn’t, but she wanted to get off the phone so she could finish reading through the paperwork Roman gave her.
“Of course you do. Tell me this, though. Is tomorrow long as in ‘I have a lot of stuff to do’ or long as in ‘Roman is long and I get to see him’?”
Alexandra shook her head; some things never changed. “Goodnight. I’m not telling you about any of my sexy time.”
“Yes, you are. I will hunt you down and force you to tell me.”
“Hanging up now.”
“I don’t know what stopped you in the first place.”
***
Alexandra rushed into the office the next morning, clutching the venti coffee with a splash of hazelnut creamer as though her life depended on it. If she could ingest coffee intravenously, she’d hold out her arm., Having lain awake most of the night after going over the documents, wondering what to do, she was exhausted from lack of sleep. Roman would be her guy, but there was enough holdover from childhood guilt to tell her she shouldn’t have to contract anyone for sex. She needed a sign to give her direction and absolve her of potential guilt.
She’d just sat down when the phone on her intercom buzzed. “Alexandra, they need you in the conference room,” chirped Yvonne, her boss’s assistant, too happy for 7:30 in the morning.
“Be right there,” she answered, guzzling the coffee, hating the burn but needing the quick jolt of caffeine. She walked into the office where the other three partners were sitting at the table. It was a bit alarming, but she remained composed as she went to the other side of the table.
“Have a seat, Alexandra.” Henry Granville, founder of the practice, pointed at the seat in front of them. Henry and her father had worked together, and he’d given her a job straight out of law school, telling her Marcus Kane’s daughter would make a damn good lawyer. He’d taken a chance on her, and she hadn’t let him down yet. He’d been hinting at the partnership for months, so she didn’t think there should be trouble, but this felt like a job interview. She sat on one side and they on the other. A lead ball of fear settled in Alexandra’s stomach. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but no one liked going to the principal’s office, which was how facing all three partners felt.
She sat straighter, folding her hands over the table. “How can I help you?”
Henry shuffled the papers on his desk, stopping on the one he wanted. “How is the Williams case going?” Franklin Williams, the current bane of her existence and the owner of a multi-million-dollar tech corporation, was being sued due to a trademark dispute. A smaller computer company founded prior to Franklin’s claimed he stole their name, and she was knee-deep in preparation for the case. Franklin was rude, arrogant, and condescending, and for some reason had requested her.
She breathed a sigh of relief. Although Franklin was a pain, she did her job well, and she was going to kick the plaintiff’s ass.
“It’s coming along well. Although the other company who’s suing did trademark their name, there is a discrepancy with regard to the date of the filing, which should work in our favor. Technically Eclectic filed for the trademark two weeks after Franklin’s company was created. I believe it’s a matter of Jonathan being jealous since Franklin was recently one of the top twenty tech companies, and wants to see if they can capitalize for an issue that’s gray.”
“Well, let’s make sure the gray area doesn’t murk up our business,” Barrett, Henry’s brother and other founding partner, piped up.
“Understood,” she agreed. Too competitive to lose a case, she wasn’t going to do so with Franklin. He requested the best, which was what he got, and also why she’d worked so hard to be this successful.
Henry picked up the folder by his right arm, extending it for her to grab. “We didn’t call you in here just to talk about the Williams case, although that was the biggest reason. You have the next pro bono case, and we just received it from the Public Defender’s office. It’s about a guy accused of robbing a store where the owner was shot. Corey Walker allegedly committed armed robbery where the owner was shot. The store owner’s injury is not life-threatening, but serious nonetheless.
“The DA seems to have substantial evidence against him, so it should be easy to inquire about a plea bargain. He was arrested yesterday, and arraignment is in two days.” In order to share the case load, cases from the Defender Services Office were rotated between local firms, then through lawyers in each office. She opened the folder, irritated when she saw the two pathetic pieces of paper for her upcoming case, one of them being her client’s previous arrest record.
“Where is the rest of the information?”
“That’s all they sent,” Henry told her. “I don’t know what else you’ll find. From my understanding, the client is less than cooperative.” Alexandra made a few of notes, one of the first a reminder to meet her new client. She wasn’t stupid; people committed crimes all the time, but it wasn’t her job to judge. Pro bono or not, she was there to provide them with the best possible defense.
“I’m on it,” she assured them.
Henry smiled at her like she was an obedient child and glanced at the other partners. “I know you are. You don’t have to get him the best deal, but don’t make us look bad.” His blasé attitude bothered her. He hadn’t even met the guy, and he was already passing judgment? Had he practiced law so long he’d forgotten the concept of innocent until proven guilty? She gathered the items, wanting to get on the new case, before Henry stopped her.
“One more thing before you go. We’ve been thinking about the future. Now, we all know I’m no spring chicken.” Henry chuckled. He was approaching seventy and had told her he was done. Her stomach fluttered for a different reason, the excitement of a new case almost overshadowing his next words. “We think it’s time to consider making you a partner.”
“I would be honored, sir,” she sputtered, wanting to pinch herself to make sure it was true. She’d dreamed of this, working toward this moment since she’d started.
“Some of us,” he glanced at Wesley, the third partner she’d nicknamed Weasley in her head, with a scowl before redirecting his attention on her, “believe you need a little more time, so we’re putting you on a trial period.” She’d bet her first-born child, if she had children, that Weasley put them up to this. He was a snake oil salesman, slick as spit and ready to steal from anyone, including his own grandmother. She didn’t approve of all his practices though he’d never done anything unethical or illegal, but when you skate the line enough you’re bound to cross it.
Her smile stayed in place while her mind ran rampant. A trial period? How often does that happen? Damn you Stupid sexist.
“For the next six months,” Henry answered the questions in her mind, “you are going to be acting as a partner. That means a heavier caseload, longer hours, and an elevated commitment to this law practice.” Heavier caseload and longer hours were not the magic words she wanted to hear, but she’d known about the sacrifices when she first signed up.
“Of course,” she answered maturely, but inside she was dancing to the latest boy band like a girl who’d just been asked to prom by her high school crush. She wanted—no, needed—this opportunity to showcase her talent. If Wesley doubted her, it was no big deal, because he was about to be her bitch. She would show them all she could handle it.
“Great,” he answered. “If no one has anything else,” he glanced at Wesley and Barrett, who both shook their heads, “then we’ll let you go. I know you have a lot of work to do if you want to win the Williams case.”
She stood, holding out her arm to shake all their hands. Barrett and Henry were their normal selves, shaking her hand and smiling, but when Wesley gripped her hand between his cold one, a chill ran down her body. “I will do my best.”
“See that you do.” Wesley’s nasally voice grated on her nerves. “And make sure you don’t make us look bad on the new case from the Public Defender’s Office.”
“Get with Yvonne tomorrow. I’m going to look over my cases and make sure you assist me on a couple,” Henry told her before she left. She agreed, leaving the room with a pep in her step. Her opportunity came sooner than she believed, but becoming partner was going to mean long days and longer nights. She’d crack under the pressure without some relief.
Alexandra, here’s your sign, she thought, making a note to call Roman’s doctor for an appointment.
To: Roman Valentine
From: AK
Subject: Valentine
9:45 a.m.
Dear Roman,
I will be making the requisite appointment with your doctor for tomorrow. How shall we proceed?
Sincerely,
Alexandra
After firing off her email, she got to work. Everything for her more pressing case was ready for court, so she continued of her list of things for her robbery case, fooling herself into believing she kept her email open because a client would contact her. Good one, Alexandra. It has nothing to do with Roman Valentine.
She wasn’t going to pay him for sex, but she was paying for a membership to his club. Not the same thing, she chided herself, ignoring the guilt she felt because it could cost her the partnership. She was not a risk-taker, but everything seemed so illicit and made it hotter. Plus, no one would find out; it was just Roman and her, nobody else.
She was pulled out of her musings by a call on her private line. Only a handful of people could be calling her.
“Alexandra Kane.”
“Darling.” Her grandmother’s soothing southern voice came through loud and clear. Victoria Kane was a woman with a steel spine, who could make you a casserole then tear you down in one fell swoop and make you like it. Alexandra had been eight when her father died, and her grandparents ensured Alexandra and Parker retained their father’s legacy. It made her close to her gran, who had been her connection to her father since her world had been ripped out from under them. Her mother was her rock, Alexandra’s own version of Rosie the Riveter, while her grandmother was her biggest cheerleader.
“It’s been too long. You never come and see me anymore, and Parker told me it’s because you’re working too hard.”
“I know.” She sighed. “I’m going to come up and see you guys soon.”
“See that you do, or I may have to cut you off.” Alexandra laughed at the old threat. There was no way their grandmother would ever cut her off, but she always made it seem like the end of the world if Alexandra or Parker went two weeks without seeing her. It had been a month since Alexandra had last visited, but to Victoria Kane it was equivalent to two years.
“I know. I’ll make a long weekend after the upcoming event for Granddad.” Her grandfather sponsored a charity for children who had lost their parents, to provide support and guidance for those with limited resources, saying he was too blessed not to give back. Alexandra and Parker were lucky because they’d had their mother and their grandparents, but if there had been no support system when her father died, Alexandra had no clue where they would have ended up.
“That’s the other reason I’m calling, to ask if you’re bringing a date to the event.”
“Of course, I’m bringing a date. Kemper and I will be there, as usual.” Kemper was one of her best friends. They’d never had sex, but he’d always been willing to dress up and go to one of these events with her. She’d need to remind him about the event so he would make sure to be there.
The ragged sigh came through loud and clear. “When are you going to get a real date? Not Kemper, who I love, but a man you’re actually dating who could possibly give me some great-grandchildren. I know your mother wants grandchildren; she told me the other day.” Of course her mother, Queen Guilt herself, wanted babies around, reminding them she wasn’t getting any younger and wanted grandchildren while she was sane enough to play with them.
“I didn’t know Kemper wasn’t good enough for you.”
“Oh, hush. I love that young man, and he can come on his own. When was the last time you went on a date?”
“I have one this week.” For sex. With a hot man. Who gave me an amazing orgasm last night.
“When can I meet him? If I have to wait for you, I’m liable to be half-buried by the time you introduce me.”
“Gran, we’ve only just started dating. We’re not ready for charity events or matching china. I promise if we continue, you will meet him very soon.” Or not, because it’s not that kind of relationship.
“See that you do,” she muttered. “And don’t work too hard. There is more to life than making partner.”
“I just want to make you guys proud, Mom and Dad included.” Alexandra ran her finger around the picture of her parents she kept on her desk, their bright smiles evident they’d only had eyes for each other. They truly had loved one another, and she wanted that for herself someday, after she’d carried on her father’s legacy.
“I know you do, baby, but your dad would be the first to tell you all work and no play makes Jane a dull girl. It’s why she ends up alone with her cat starter kit. Ask your mother, that man was always throwing a party. It used to drive her batty.”
“Good thing my name’s not Jane.”
“And now she thinks she’s a comedian. Stick to law, darling; you’ll never make it on stage.”
“Love you.” Alexandra smiled, her grandmother always made her feel better.
“Love you, too. See you in a couple weeks.” Alexandra hung up, then noticed the message light for her email. She clicked on the one from Roman, smiling for a completely different reason.
To: AK
From: Roman Valentine
Subject: Valentine
10:30 a.m.
Alexandra,
Excellent. Let me know after you’ve had your tests and we’ll proceed from there. The additional contract about our specific relationship is attached to this email. Be sure to bring the signed agreement with you the next time you come so we can file it.
Roman
Alexandra worked blissfully through the rest of the day, her mood too high to be brought down by the enormous caseload she’d inherited. She loved law, every case her own personal puzzle to solve. You win some, you lose some. Thankfully, she won most of the time because she prided herself on finding the tiniest piece to work in her favor. It was one of the reasons she was looking at making partner before she turned thirty. And after that, she’d settle down, find her a decent man, and make some babies.
