Page 29 of Pride & Precedents
"You have to admit, last night was really risky. I couldn't stop thinking about what would've happened if it had been Mr. Bannister who walked in on us."
His smile spreads wider, revealing perfectly white teeth and turning his expression seductive.
"I couldn't stop thinking about yesterday either, though none of my thoughts included Mr. Bannister."
I clutch the folio in my lap tighter.
"Mr. Park."
He sighs and his shoulders sink the tiniest bit. The rare, glorious smile is gone, replaced by his usual stoic expression.
"Very well, Ms. Sanchez. Back to business as usual."
He stands up to walk to his desk before turning.
"'Usual' means the cold shoulder act is done, too, right? Let's not let a few lapses in professionalism get in the way of our great working relationship."
Right. What every girl dreams of: a greatworkingrelationship with her super hot boss.
"Of course. I think we're even now."
He raises an eyebrow at my wording, and I just wink before heading out of his office.A relationship (even a purely sexual one) might be off-limits, butsome harmless flirting isn't breaking any rules, is it?I hear his chuckle as I close the door behind me.
Back at my desk, I sit down with a wistful sigh. I know it's silly, but I'm actually disappointed he didn't fight back. I mean…just a little, at least. Continuing could have put both of our jobs in jeopardy, plus a partner and his paralegal is the second biggest cliché in the book, right behind a CEO and his secretary, but it was just so…hot. Way hotter than the K-dramas on Netflix.If I can't have Henry, maybe his brother can hook me up with one of his dreamy clients?
Before I can get too wrapped up in another impossible fantasy, Henry's next appointment strides down the hall toward his office. It's Naomi. I shouldn't hate her for her perfectly manicured nails, her designer clothes, or her runway-ready body, but if my balled up fists are any indication, I definitely do. And they have history?Ugh!I may be happy with my big and bold self, but that doesn't mean a part of me doesn't die inside each time a woman who meets America's stringent beauty standards gets the guy. I wish a guy could be original for a change.
To make matters worse, she's been nothing but courteous to me and a model client to Henry. She doesn't even have the decency to give me a flaw to latch onto and pick apart in myhead each time I see her. Instead, I have to smile pleasantly and return her nodded greeting.
"Hello, Ms. Watanabe. Should I let Mr. Park know you've arrived?"
Her perfect hair falls perfectly around her shoulders like it's in slow-mo, and she gives me a genuine smile.
"Yes, thank you, Ms. Sanchez."
I form my lips into the semblance of a smile in return.
"Mr. Park?" I say through the intercom. "Ms. Watanabe is here for your nine o'clock."
"Thank you, Ms. Sanchez," he answers. I wince at being relegated back to my formal title before realizing that's what I asked for.Damn you, Mila, and your prudent decisions!
Naomi floats into Henry's office as he waves her in, shutting the door behind her. Behindthem. God, I need a drink. Since it's not even noon, I head to the kitchen for a coffee instead.
"Hello, Henry. Thanks so much for meeting with me today."
Oh my God. He's left the intercom open! I immediately plant myself back at my desk and hit the mute button, my caffeine fix forgotten.
"Of course, Ms. Watanabe. I'm always available to discuss the case. How may I help you?"
I hear something that sounds like a snort.
"'How may I help you?' Is that the reception I get after it's taken me weeks to even get a meeting with you?"
I snatch the phone off speaker so I can hear without all the ambient noise. IknewI didn't trust this chick. It's about to go down!
"I'm not sure I follow. We met just last week to prep for the mediation."
"Yes, for the mediation, but what aboutus? Are we really not going to talk about it?"
