18. Cade
18
CADE
DAYS LATER
I ’ve always been a strategist. In the courtroom, I can take charge, lead, and, if necessary, bulldoze my way through any situation. I prefer to call the shots. I’ve always been a delegator. Consistency and structure are my trademarks, which is precisely why the notion of suddenly sharing my office with someone feels like an unwelcome disruption to my terrain.
Throw in the fact that the person I’m suddenly forced to share my office with is Kennedy—and it’s like being cross-examined by fate. Being around her messes with my head, especially after the whole “panties incident.” Plus, those mysterious messages I received a few nights ago have prompted me to reconsider all the things I’ve been trying to keep out of my mind.
It’s risky territory, to be having dangerous thoughts at any time, much less when she’s working just a few feet away from me at a desk that’s been unceremoniously shoved into one corner of my office.
I should have said no to this arrangement.
Tension hangs thick between us, palpable even in the smallest gestures.
If she clears her throat or shifts in her seat, I catch myself staring at her. I watch the way she twirls her hair, which shifts between dark brown and reddish depending on the light, and the way she runs her hand up and down her neck. Even if she’s only stepping out of the office or handing me a file, I’m captivated by her every move.
It’s not only not good, it’s driving me fucking insane.
After lunch, it’s silent during one of our stints of focused work. Aside from small sounds here and there, all you can hear is the ticking of the clock on the wall and the occasional noise from outside.
Luckily, my phone lets out a fwip-thunk-hehe! that cuts through the silence.
Kennedy perks up at the sound.
That specific fwip-thunk-hehe! comes from the ridiculous anonymous messaging app Oliver and Miles convinced me to download—a whimsical sound as if an arrow were being loosed and then hitting a heart, symbolizing Cupid’s arrow finding its mark, followed by the cherub’s playful giggle. I’d never used the app before the other night. But it’s obvious that Kennedy recognizes the specific sound.
“Heard of this app before?” I ask her.
“What app?” She looks back down.
“This app where you can shoot off messages incognito? CupidLurks?”
“No,” she says stiffly, not glancing up from her work.
The atmosphere feels more charged than before. I tilt my head. “Sure?”
“First: The name is just dumb. Second: Why would anybody want to use something like that?”
Apparently, I’m using it to replay my sexual highlights reel.
Despite my glaring suspicions the other night, Kennedy seems innocent enough. Yes, she’s thirty, but she wouldn’t have told me her real age if she was trying to hide her identity on the app. Or would she have? Nah, too obvious. It was a long shot, anyway, ridiculous to think she’d be using the app to reach out to me and talk about things she couldn’t bring herself to say otherwise.
But then again, something feels off.
The panties in my desk drawer… they’re a vibrant shade of fuchsia.
My Spidey sense is clearly telling me that?—
And I’m interrupted by my phone buzzing, this time with a call from Harris. I’ve been expecting him.
Harris wastes no time getting to the point. He has possibly “discovered” a list of former employees who experienced the same kind of inappropriate behavior from the top dogs at Mary Larkin’s firm. It’s going to be a challenging endeavor, no doubt, but the potential payoff makes it very attractive.
As I end the call, I notice Kennedy listening intently—but pretending not to. I chuckle to myself. She’s something else.
“That sounded promising,” she comments casually when I put my phone down.
“And challenging,” I say, nodding. “Following up with all these contacts and getting a draft ready pronto will be key. Are you in?”
“Me?” She laughs and seems excited. “Of course! Why the sudden urgency, though?”
“Harris uncovered information suggesting that the firm may be attempting to suppress or intimidate potential witnesses. We need to confirm our suspicions and ensure their cooperation before they’re silenced or coerced.”
Her jaw drops open. “Count me in. I’m totally ready! It’s about justice, and we’ve got a moral obligation to stand up for people who’ve been wronged.”
“Agreed,” I affirm. “Let’s swoop in and save the day.”
An email pops into my inbox. It’s Harris’s list, so I forward the file to Kennedy. “Let’s dive in. I have a court appointment scheduled at the end of the day that takes precedence, but right now, my focus is here.” I’m prepared for Humphries v. Ecclestone, and I can manage my time effectively to handle both.
“I can work late all week.” She smiles, brimming with excitement. “I better stock up on coffee for us. Any other requests?”