What is with women? First Sabrina fucking with me and now this lawyer is playing with my mind. What if Sabrina paid her off? Odell’s muscles move under the thin fabric of her skirt and suddenly all I want to do is stroke the curve of her ass that I got to know so well last night. But then I realize she's glaring at me in our reflection in the mirrored wall of the lobby. She shakes her head, sharply but almost imperceptibly, but it has the opposite effect she intended. I don’t like it when women tell me what to do, and I can't suppress the wicked smile from growing on my face. Fuck it. If a game is what she wanted, then she'll find out she's met the best player of them all.
I reach out and pinch her ass surreptitiously just as she enters the conference room. She does a little skip, but nobody saw me do anything.
“Hello, Gryphon,” says an older man, getting up to shake my hand. His grip is firm, but I’m careful because I could crush him. “Welcome to Smith Williams Smith. We're absolutely delighted to take on your case. I see you've met our new partner, Odell Williams.” He nods to Odell and I take the opportunity to check her out again, drinking in her beautiful brown skin and flashing angry dark chocolate eyes. “She’ll be handling your case. She’s one of the brightest and best young lawyers in the business! You guys had a chance to introduce yourselves in the lobby I trust?”
“Why yes, we certainly have introduced ourselves.” I leer at Odell who is now giving me a nasty look but I can’t help it. She’s the one who didn’t want to tell each other our names. Was that because she figured I might know she was my lawyer if we did? The older gentleman seems a bit taken aback, looking from one of us to the other slowly before continuing, smooth as silk. Clearly a pro.
“I'm Carlton Smith, a senior partner here,” he resumes in a mild tone. “Now why don't you tell us about this terribly unfortunate business that's brought you to us. Just say everything in your own words, and don’t leave anything out. Remember, in this room, and in all communications with your lawyers, you are covered by attorney client privilege, so everything you say here is confidential.” I wonder if the way Odell looks when she sucks my cock is also covered? I think as he’s talking. “Also, don’t forget that we are here to help you in any way we possibly can. We have a great team here at Smith Williams Smith, and we are committed to minimizing any discomfort brought on you by this charge you've found yourself facing.” He turns toward Odell who is still glaring at me. “Isn't that right, Odell,” he says pointedly, staring at her. “We’re here for Mr. James and will help him any way we can?”
“Of course, Carlton, I couldn't agree more,” Odell tries to smoothly fill in the silence, but I can tell that she is fuming inside, and not just from the shade she's throwing whenever the old dude isn't looking her way. She is royally pissed. But so am I. She doesn’t have a leg to stand on here. I’m the famous one. I didn’t target her.
Carlton pulls out his heavy chair, gestures to all of us and we sit. “Odell, tell me—how long have you been with the firm?” I ask, shooting her a look.
“Why do you ask?” she snaps back. “Long enough.”
“You just seem so young. I wouldn't have pegged you for a lawyer from just laying eyes on you for the first time.” One side of my mouth curls up, and she looks away.
“Odell here graduated summa cum laude from one of the best law schools in the country,” Carlton says magnanimously. “We're very lucky to have her as a new partner in our firm. She’s high in demand, this one! You’ll be very happy with her I’m certain.”
“I bet.” I run my fingers through my hair and lean back. I'm going to make her suffer. “And do you have a lot of experience with this kind of charge?”
“Do you?” she immediately retaliates. This is going to be fun.
“Odell,” Carlton says quietly, holding his hand out. She glares at him now but continues to speak.
“Mr. James,” she says, voice as ominous as a growl, “I can assure you that I will give my all to this case, as long as you can manage to be open and honest with me in every way.” She punctuates open and honest by annunciating them too strongly. “I need to know every detail of what you went through with Sabrina Forbes.”
Is she jealous? “Hey, I'm no liar,” I spit back. “What you see is what you get with me. I don’t sneak up on people. I don’t hide.” I watch her eyes carefully.
“Is that so? So you wouldn't have a bunch of tattoos under that suit?” Her lip curls. I want to kiss that smirk right off her face, bend her over this conference table, and make her scream with pleasure. Carlton looks at her sharply again.
“And what if I do? I'm one of the most successful QB's in the league. Business suits are not my usual uniform. My job is to call the plays, and to intimidate the other team. I’m a good player, but suits are not exactly my thing.”
“Yes. I’m sure you usually make do with far less,” she mutters almost under her breath, but I can hear it.
“Odell,” Carlton interjects, “Is everything okay here? Do we need to suspend this meeting and have a conference on our own?” Maybe I’m playing with her too much, but she asked for it. Perhaps she’ll be fired, if I’m lucky.
“Absolutely not,” she snaps. “Let’s get started—we’ve wasted enough time with this back and forth. Now Gryphon, why don't you do what Mr. Smith asked you and tell us your side of the story on this charge?” Her chocolate-brown eyes narrow so much they look even darker. “And remember, don't leave anything out.” She stares me down. “Not a thing.”
“I'd be happy to,” I answer. “I'll start at the beginning.”
“Please do,” Carlton says, confused. “Odell and I will keep track of everything.”
“Damn right we will.” She mutters. She snaps a recorder on, and starts taking notes.
I know I'm getting under her skin now. I'm going to get her just where I want her.
That's what she gets for playing with me. I’m not going down easily, that’s for certain.
6
Odell
That goddamned huge, gorgeous, bastard. I am absolutely irate. Who in heaven’s name does he think he is, coming in here and acting like he owns the place? Like I’m his servant? This is my turf and I just won it for crying out loud. Just because we’ve practically gone straight from his bed to the office, doesn't mean that he owns me or can treat me badly. Far from it. After all, he did it too. He’s no angel. And if he can't give me the respect that I deserve, then he can take a long walk off a short pier. I don’t care who he is! How he can throw a football, or what team he plays for! Or for that matter, what his salary might be! He can’t order me around.
Carlton is being an enormous pain in the neck, however. I can't tell a senior partner in the middle of a meeting, “Hey this guy just pinched my ass and doesn't deserve your respect, even if we can get him off.”
Get him off. Oh Lord, now I'm thinking of his cock. Don't think of his cock, Odell, don't think about how much you needed to feel him inside you last night, how he stretched and filled you like you've never been before, how you want him to bend you over this conference table and take you over and over again. How you want him to use you for his satisfaction, moving around deep inside you, his hands spreading you open.
Dammit. I should be paying attention. He’s talking about his case. I force myself to take note after note, as he talks, but my mind is still wandering to that body of his.
When Gryphon sits back, Carlton is still looking at me strangely.
“Well, that’s quite a story,” he says. “Thank you Mr. James, for being so open and candid. I think we've done all we can for today, wouldn't you say, Odell? We can let Mr. James get back to the field where he can forget about all this?”
At the mention of my name I realize that I haven't been paying much attention to the last few minutes of Griff’s monologue. My hands kept writing what he was saying, like they were trained to do from law school, but my mind was everywhere else. Thank heaven for the recording, as well. All I can do is agree with Carlton, so I nod. Dammit, this footballer has me acting like a grade schooler again. And on my first day as partner too! Get it together, Odell, I tell myself. “Yes, Carlton, I think we have more than enough for now. I can certainly sink my teeth in this case and come up with a strategy for Mr. James.” I grab my papers and let the stack fall through my fingers to line them up. I hit them against the oak a few times, perhaps a little more strongly than I would normally, which causes a few to fall on the ground. I look up and smile stupidly, trying to hide my embarrassment.
Carlton manages to stand up and hold his hand out to shake Gryphon’s again. “Thanks for coming in, Mr. James, I don’t mind saying, it's a real pleasure to meet such a superstar. A champion of one of my favorite pastimes. One of America's favorite pastimes!” He’s laying it on super thick, and I can feel it, I’m in real trouble now. He’s not impressed with how this meeting went, and he’s trying to repair the damage.