10
Odell
I do my best not to bite my lip—I know it makes me look unprofessional, but damned if Carlton hasn’t pegged exactly how to make me feel unprofessional. Breathe, Odell. I place my purse in my lap, one hand resting on my phone inside, ready to hit record at any moment. Carlton is going to try to intimidate me, and I’m ready for him.
“Now whatever's going on between you and Gryphon James has got to stop, and quickly, Odell, or you're off the case.” His eyes look about twice their normal size, and his face is a fiery red.
“To what are you referring, Carlton?” I say coolly, and take a slow sip of my coffee. Don't choke. Don't choke, I tell myself. I manage to swallow it and look back at him, chin high. “You know, I’m thinking of recording this conversation.”
He scoffs. “Do what you like, Odell. Our conversation certainly isn’t going to be painting you in a good light. After your, what should we call it…your little performance in the conference room,” he says, “and our conversation, I thought that we understood each other.” He shakes his head. “But that was before I knew that you went home with Mr. James after the football game—a man who is a client in our law firm! I expected so much more of you, Odell.” He shakes his head in a parody of paternalistic outrage. “Honestly, if your father only knew what your reputation had in store.” He huffs and puffs, and revs himself up for another attack. “Personally, I’ll have you know that before any of this happened, I never wanted to see you made partner, or at the very least, not this early in your career. I told them you weren’t ready, that you might never be ready.” I try to keep my cool. So he’s had it out for me all this time, has he?
“You've only been working here for a short time for crying out loud, and it’s already been made one hundred percent clear that I was absolutely right in all regards. It’s just shameful.” He shakes his head ruefully, disbelief warring with sheer anger on his face.
“Where do you get your information, Carlton?” I ask. I don't want to accuse him, but I won’t admit to an unproven charge against me. How could he have any clue what happened without spying on me and Gryphon both? It seems that Carlton Smith has a little too much interest in my business. Whatever he’s up to, I don’t like it.
“That's not really your concern, Miss Williams, but I suppose you should know that we do keep a pretty close watch on our associates here. And why? Because your reputation affects our firm’s reputation. In fact, that's the biggest reason that I’m firmly of the position that women do not even belong in the workplace. But, you’re here now for the time being at least. You are a partner, and you should start acting like it. And if you don't take things absolutely seriously, then you will be the one who pays for it. And you’ll pay for it with your job.” He skewers me with another big-eyed stare. “Neither the client nor the firm will suffer because of your unprofessional activities. Just you, Odell Williams. Just you.”
“Nothing I do in or out of the office or courtroom will ever, and I do mean ever, negatively affect our clientele. I resent the implication that because I am a woman that I might jeopardize the firm. I have worked extremely hard to be here and regardless of what either of my parents might think of any of my behavior, I did become partner because I deserve it. I won my position at Smith Williams Smith fair and square.” I'm fuming now. “And if you were watching me, you would know that nothing that’s any of your business happened when I went to Gryphon James’ home. I took care of my client, my case, and found out more of what I need to know about his situation with Sabrina Forbes. And that has resulted in a lead for our case.”
I stand up now, warming to the subject. “And I'll have you know that I will win this high profile case for our firm. Even if I were to fall in love with the client, which would also be none of your business, I will always stand up for justice and my profession before anything else. In short, I won't be bullied out of my position here at the firm by you or by anyone. So you can take your sexist and regressive attitude, and stuff it!”
I walk out the door, and this time, I don't wobble on my high heels. Nor do I drop anything on my way out. It's as dignified exit as I’ve ever made, even if I am screaming inside. Even if I am terrified that Carlton is going to find a way to get rid of me and as soon as he can.
But, I have my recording as a secret weapon should I ever need it. My suspicions paid off, and my finger pressed record on the cellphone in my purse as he was talking about his ridiculous beliefs. It may not be admissible in a courtroom, but no HR in the country will support his sexism. Carlton Smith can take his 1950's attitudes and shove them under his hair plugs as he tries to talk his way out of trouble with HR.
I stomp back to my office, feeling like a high-fashion model scowling her way down a catwalk. Who has he had watching me all this time? It's not fair. Did he have a Private Eye on the case? Who does he know that would PI for him? All he can possibly have on me is that Gryphon and I went to Gryphon's place. He can’t know that we slept together unless of course Griff is on his side, which I can’t imagine being true. And as I’m fairly certain there was no PI hiding in the closet watching us, I think with a rueful smile at the absurdity of the image. He’s really got nothing. It's all supposition.
Then it hits me. A private investigator would be the perfect thing for Gryphon’s case! I bet I could find out everything that I need to know if I get in touch with my father's old buddy, Kent. He was a professional PI back in the day, but retired early. He knows his stuff. I can keep him untraceable by the system by contacting him and paying out of pocket, so if he comes up with nothing, I won’t be disciplined for that too. But if he does come up with something, it could be just enough to save not only Gryphon's career, but my own. It's also starting to look like I need to have someone watch me to make sure that I am not being further targeted by Carlton.
That old snake, I grumble inside. He set me up. Giving me those tickets, bulldozing me into going to the game to apologize, and then using it all as a way to spy on and then try to ruin me.
Once I get in touch with my father's private investigator friend, I'll have this Sabrina Forbes followed and her past examined. Everything about her will be up for his eagle-eyed scrutiny: what she’s doing to Gryphon and everything she’s done in the past. If it wins the case as I suspect, I’ll expense it to my account so it’s on record as a brilliant move by a young partner, and Carlton will have to be impressed. It’s the perfect plan: win the case, win Carlton over, and fast track my career. I quickly MMS my father in Switzerland with a request for Kent's number.
Luckily for me, he sends it in a flash. “I hope you're not in trouble, kid,” comes the text back. Kid. It never stops.
“Not anymore,” I say. “Love you papa, will talk later.” I put the phone back in my Birkin bag and go to sit down to plan my next move, when suddenly I get a flashback of last night with Gryphon. I almost double over with the wave of pleasure that runs through my body just thinking about the way he touched me, his large hand gentle but firm on the small of my back, pressing me to him, feeling his undeniable desire against my stomach, matching his wicked look and devilish smile.
He wants to take it slow. At first blush that hurts, but the more I learn about his investigation and his past I figure, who can blame him—the man is at risk of losing his whole life in football, his career. It’s a charge that could get him kicked out of the league, and from what I can gather, it’s likely false—but it’s up to me to prove it. It may seem ridiculous to me that someone who has that kind of gentleness and charm in bed could possibly do such a thing, although I suppose better people have done worse, but the court needs more than the thoughts of a girl who might be falling in love. There might be a first time for everything, but if Griff had ever done anything like that, wouldn’t it have surfaced in some other way, in some other relationship? Even hints of abuse?
A pro career in the big leagues is stressful, but nothing like the stress of every day before fame struck. If he dealt with his stress by hitting women, I would wager it would have surfaced earlier—when he barely had enough to eat and his teenage college hormones were running amok. Now he's on top of the world. Sure, he has more to lose these days, that's for certain, but I can't imagine that he would risk the only security that he's ever had in his life—his own money, his career.
I believe's telling the truth—Sabrina Forbes is a liar and wants to take him for all he's worth. I'm going to satisfy my gut instinct, and get Kent Cameron not only to find out everything there is to know about Sabrina Forbes, but also Gryphon James.
I need to know.
Sandra calls me to meet for lunch. “Hey babe,” she says. “Let's go to that new burrito place, and do it up right.”
“Sounds good,” I say. I grab my bag and sunglasses, and leave the office before anyone can ask where I'm going. I’ll cancel all my meetings and reschedule when Kent can report back on both Sabrina and Gryphon. I need all my ducks in a row the next time I deal with Carlton and the other partners. He may see my cancellation as another sign of being unprofessional, but he can see how “unprofessional” it is when I can get Sabrina Forbes and her lawyer to drop the charges altogether.