Christmas Candy(41)

“I have all the pleadings you asked for, including their discovery responses from March of last year.” I placed the neat stack of pages on the corner of his well-organized desk.

He leaned back in his plush leather chair. “Have a seat, Jess.”

Shit. At this rate, I’d barely get to see Michael at all and the next day would be filled with tons of pre-wedding preparation. I did as instructed and sank onto his leather couch, but perched on the edge. Maybe he would notice my anxiousness and let me go for the evening.

Mr. Avery was a fit fifty, attractive with only light graying in his dark hair. He wore a dark gray suit and a tie, always impeccably dressed.

“Jess, as you know, I’ll need someone to help me cover the depositions in the Frost case next month.”

I couldn’t stop my smile. The Frost case concerned an electrical infrastructure project that had gone bad based on improper voltage specifications. Seemed boring, but the case—and all the witnesses—was located on the island of Maui. I had never dreamt of getting such a plum assignment so early in my career, though I’d daydreamed about it with Michael. He’d assured me that if I got a chance to go, he’d come along with me and show me the sights. He’d been to Maui several times for shoots.

“So, is that something you’d be interested in?” He stood and walked around his desk before sitting beside me on the sofa.

“Yes!” I exclaimed before calming my tone. “I mean, yes, Mr. Avery. I’d love that.”

“I would need you to be available at all hours. The contract workers with the most information about the project problems work all sorts of different shifts. We’ll have to take testimony on their time. So it’s a twenty-four hour job while we’re out there. Can you handle that?”

“I can do that.” I tucked a lock of my dark brown hair behind my ear. “I’m so excited.”

“I’m glad. You’ve been an exceptional associate so far.” He smiled, something he rarely did.

I didn’t think I could grin any bigger, but I did. He rarely praised anyone. “Thank you, sir.”

“And I hope that on this trip.” He put his hand on my knee, meeting the bare skin beneath the hem of my black skirt. “We can get to know each other even better.”

My grin faded and my cheeks heated with something other than excitement. Oh, god. “Mr. Avery, I don’t think you mean—”

“I know exactly what I mean.” His grip tightened on my leg. “You’re exceptional. We’ll be spending a couple of weeks in the most beautiful spot on the planet. When I said I needed you at all hours, Jess, I meant it.”

I batted his hand off my leg and rose, my heart racing. “I think we’ve had a misunderstanding.” Disappointment warred with anger inside me, and I couldn’t look him in the eye.

He stood. “Come now, Jess. Walking around here in those short skirts, batting your eyelashes at me—I haven’t been imagining these things have I?”

“I-I’m afraid you have. I’m getting married in two days to the man I love.” I finally met his eye. “I have no interest in you other than professionally speaking.”

He frowned and stepped closer. My gorge rose but I swallowed hard.

“That’s a shame. I suppose I’ll have to give the Frost case to Emilia.” He placed his finger under my chin. “Unless you’ll reconsider your position?”

My skin crawled. “No, I won’t. I’m not here to be your mistress or to fuck my way up the ladder.” Anger rose inside me and spilled into my words. “Don’t give me the assignment. I don’t want it with its extra duties.” I was burning my bridge with this firm, possibly getting myself blackballed, but I would never agree to what he was suggesting.

Before I had a chance to back away, he kissed me. I shoved at his chest but he wrapped his arms around me, pressing me against him. He tried to stick his tongue in my mouth, but when I tried to bite him, he let me go.

“Jess?”

I whirled. Michael stood in the doorway behind me, an inscrutable look on his face.

Fuck.

“Michael. It’s not what it looks like.” This was bad. Why would I say the thing that the guilty party always says?

Michael strode into the room, his presence filling the room to bursting with what I realized was rage. Mr. Avery cleared his throat.

“Really? Because what it looks like to me is a dirty old man threatening a young female associate to try and get her to sleep with him. Sound accurate?” He held his hand out to me.

I ran to him and took it. He pulled me around behind him and placed a hand on my hip.