Indecent Encounter(155)

“Okay, so this is how it's going to work. Due to our current situation, we aren't going to do our usual six-week training period. I don't have time to coddle or baby either of you. Figure out how to swim, or you're out. Be prepared to learn and learn fast. We hired you because we assumed you could do the job without us having to hold your hand along the way.” She paused, her eyes sliding over to me. “Will that be a problem?”

My spine stiffened as her gaze locked with mine. It felt like I was getting singled out, and I didn't care for it. But I didn't let my reaction show. “Of course not.”

She flicked a look at Pierce and arched one perfectly plucked eyebrow.

“That's how I work.” He gave her the same slow, smug smile he’d given me earlier.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, but just barely. What a schmuck. But every office, firm, classroom, had a guy like him, if not two or three. I learned how to deal with them years ago, and generally it was best to ignore.

“Good.” She pushed a button on her phone and when a voice came on, she said, “Darcy, I wanted those files now.” She looked up at us again. “I've got a lot of cases on my desk, and basically, the two of you are going to do all of the scut work I don't trust to the paralegals. You won't say a word to a judge until I've determined you won't fuck up my cases.” She gave me a condescending smile. “Is language an issue for either of you?”

I had a few choice words I wouldn't have minded sharing with her.

“Of course not.” I smiled blandly.

“Excellent.” She gave a short nod as the door swung open and a rather harried young woman stuck her head in. “Bring in the case files.”

While Bethany addressed the person I assumed was Darcy, I mentally sighed over the fact that I was back to being the bottom rung on the totem pole. Part of me had anticipated it, but it was still grating. I might not have argued criminal cases before, but I'd been presenting to judges on my own for a couple of years.

As Darcy stepped out again, Bethany turned back to Pierce and me. “As you’ve probably figured out, I’m your direct supervisor, which means I'll be deciding if and when you're ready to take on cases of your own. You do a good job and I'll get you into the court room. Screw me over and you'll be lucky to argue shit in traffic court.”

Darcy shuffled in with an overflowing file box, looking like she could barely hold on. I was petite, but this skinny wisp of a woman looked like she was about to fall over. Instinctively, I moved to help, taking it from her as I glanced toward Pierce, waiting for him to step in.

He didn't, solidifying my opinion of him as a total asshole.

“Thanks for taking the initiative, Dena.” Bethany gave me a cool smile. “There’s a list in there that details everything I need. I also had Darcy send it to your email so there aren't any excuses. Pierce, you’re with me.”

The box gouged my hips with its sharp corners as Bethany strode out of the office, Pierce at her heels. Staring at their backs, I briefly imagined giving into the childish urge to stick my tongue out at them. I didn’t, of course, but it would've been satisfying.

“You have an office.” Darcy gave me a small, nervous smile when I looked at her.

“Excuse me?”

“You already have a space to work. I'm not sure I'd call it an office, but it’s yours.”

I nodded and grimly tightened my grip on the box. “Lead the way.”







Some nine plus hours later, I collapsed face-down on the couch in my apartment, more thankful than ever that I didn't have a roommate. I had a sweet little place in Chelsea, and it was my pride and joy. Just then, though, I couldn't take the time to appreciate the restored brick walls or the view, or anything else for that matter.

All I wanted was peace and quiet, and maybe in a little while, a glass of wine.

Fuck that. I might just have the whole damn bottle.

My first day as an ADA hadn't exactly been what I could call glamorous. It hadn't been exciting. I couldn't really even say it had been fulfilling. I could have handled the lack of glamour and excitement. Those stars had been wiped from my eyes a long time ago. But it would have been nice if the day hadn’t completely sucked.

Once Darcy had shown me into my office – it was hardly more than a closet – I had spent the first hour dealing with a computer that had come straight out of the Stone Age.

Then I’d spent several hours going blind on legal briefs. There were filings and reports, things that were generally handled by paralegals. Except Bethany didn't seem to have any paralegals around. I knew things were tight since they'd let Pierce and I slide on the usual training, but it still seemed excessive.