Stuck with my Enemy Protector: An off-limits, Forced Proximity Romance

1. Paige

A heavy bass rhythm pounds through my eardrums as I focus on the windows revealing the first light of dawn. It’s five in the morning and I”m already in motion. This is my time—the hour where the world is still asleep, and the gym is my sanctuary. The rhythmic pounding of my feet on the treadmill sets the pace for the day ahead, each step a declaration of determination.

It’s my morning routine. If I cannot get in a workout before work, I don’t feel right. The pace is easy for me. A seven with a slight incline. It’s enough to get my heart pumping and my body sweating. The music pumping through my ears motivates me, but even while half my brain is singing along, the other half is thinking about the deposition I have on the schedule for later in the day. I was reciting questions, wanting to be completely prepared.

Mid-stride, a voice interrupts my solitary rhythm. “Hey there, beautiful. Mind if I join you?”

I glance sideways, catching the lingering gaze of a man I”ve seen around the gym before. I offer a polite but firm smile. “Sorry, I prefer to work out alone.”

Undeterred, he persists. “Come on, don’t be like that. I can spot you, make sure you’re pushing yourself.”

“I don’t need any help pushing myself.”

That was laughable. I was thirty-one, a bulldog in the courtroom and one of the youngest associates to get on the partner track at my law firm.

I needed no help getting motivated.

Ignoring his advances, I increase the speed on the treadmill, leaving him behind in a cloud of determination. I learned long ago that I have no time for distractions, especially not in the form of unwanted attention from gym regulars. They were looking for a quick lay. The last thing I wanted in my life was distraction. Especially from a man that thought hitting on a sweaty woman was the way to get in her pants.

I push hard for the last ten minutes of my run. Sweat trickles down my face and back. Never once do I lose my focus. It’s a challenge I relish and of course, I absolutely kill. I slow the speed and start my cool down. I reach for the towel and wipe away the sweat. The gym was in my building, which made it very convenient. With my busy schedule, convenience was important. Not just important, but critical. I work eighteen hours a day a couple days a week. I didn’t have time for things like traffic or grocery shopping.

After the intense workout and a quick shower, I put on one of my power suits and pulled my sleek black hair into a high ponytail. It was my usual look. My Manolas added a couple of inches to my usual five feet six inches. When playing in a man’s world, every inch counted. I didn’t want to be known as a ball buster, but I did need to make it clear I could handle myself when facing off with some cocky dude with a Harvard Law degree.

I park my Tesla in the parking garage and make my way inside. I love striding through the towering glass doors of my law firm. It never gets old. I knew I wanted to be a lawyer from the time I was very young. Every morning, I walked into the place; it was like a little pat on the back. I made it. I achieved my dreams.

Almost.

I wanted to be a partner. I knew it would happen soon, but not yet. That meant I had to be half an hour early every day. I had to put in the long hours. My sole focus was on impressing the partners. I stop by the juice bar in the lobby to get my usual green smoothie.

When I walk into the office, Jeff, my boss, waves me into his office as soon as I step foot on the floor. “Be right there,” I call out.

I quickly go to my office to drop off my briefcase and drink and then rush back to see him. “Good morning,” I greet with a bright smile.

“Good morning. Have a seat.”

I doubt I’m in trouble, but there’s always the possibility. I take a seat and wait for him to tell me what he needs.

“Paige, I”ve got something big for you,” he says, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

“What’s up?”

“We’ve been contacted by a whistleblower,” Jeff reveals, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “And they’ll only speak to you.”

My interest is immediately raised. Whistleblower cases are high-stakes, and they come with their own set of risks and rewards. I loved working the big cases that would get my name in the papers. That was always a trigger effect. More whistleblowers came forward. Sometimes the cases turned out to be cash cows and sometimes they were wild goose chases.

“What’s the scoop?”

“It’s against Finance Wise Bank,” Jeff says, leaning back in his chair. “Insider trading, potentially worth millions.”

“Is it legit?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. I did some checking and there have been rumors about the bank, so it could be. I know I can trust you to talk with the whistleblower and see if there’s anything to it. It’s one of the big ten financial institutions. This would be big. Huge.”

I can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins at the mere mention of such a high-profile case. “When do I meet them?”

Jeff’s next words send a chill down my spine. “They’re hiding out in Hawaii. The man feels like he’s in danger if he stays in Seattle. He’s incredibly careful. Maybe a little paranoid. I want to believe him, but you’ll need to feel him out. You’ll need to travel to Hawaii to meet with him. He refuses to step foot in Seattle or the mainland in general. If we don’t accommodate his wishes, he’ll take the case to another firm.”

My heart sinks. Hawaii might sound like paradise to most, but to me, it’s nothing more than a hurdle—a thousand miles away from my meticulously planned schedule. “Hawaii?”

Jeff nods solemnly. “This case is too big to ignore, Paige. You’re the best person for the job.”

I think about the stack of files on my desk, the names of my loyal clients waiting patiently for my attention. “What about my other cases?”

“I’ll have the junior attorneys oversee the paperwork,” Jeff reassures me. “This is your moment, Paige. Seize it.”

Reluctantly, I agree. “Fine. When do I leave?”

“Tomorrow morning,” Jeff replies. “And the whistleblower suggested you fly private—just in case someone is following you. I told you, he’s paranoid.”

Flying private feels excessive, but I understand the need for caution. If Finance Wise Bank is as powerful as they say, they won’t hesitate to silence anyone who threatens their empire. “Okay, when?”

“Now.”

“Now! I have a deposition in an hour!”

He smiles, telling me he was joking. “I’ll call the company we normally use. I’d like to get you out there as soon as possible. Does tomorrow morning work for you?”

It wasn’t like I could say no. “I’ll be packed. How long should I clear my schedule?”

“Let’s plan on three days,” he answers. “We’ll play it by ear. If it looks like this is real and we might need you there longer. There will need to be interviews to dig into his story.”

I nod, my mind whirling. “Who’ll be my co-counsel?”

“No one. Not yet. I can’t afford to send two of you out of the office. We’ve got that class action suit to work on. If this looks like it’s going to pan out, we’ll go from there. For now, it’s just you.”

Inside I’m jumping for joy. I mean, hello, my own case. My own really big case. This might be my chance to prove I’m ready for partner. “Okay. I’ll be ready.”

“Pack a bathing suit,” he says as I get to my feet. “You might be able to enjoy a little fun in the sun.”

I snort at the idea. “Sir, I’ll be there to work.”

“No one expects to fly all the way to Hawaii and work around the clock. Seriously, take some time to enjoy the beach. It’ll do you good. You work too hard.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say.

As I leave Jeff’s office, my mind races with the possibilities—and the risks—of this new case.

I make it to my office and close the door behind me. As usual, rain drops slide down the windows with gray skies as far as the eye can see. It”s Seattle. It truly does rain all the time, especially in the late spring. I am lost in the thought of what this could mean for my career. I sit down and take a deep breath. I need to mentally prepare myself for the undoubtedly chaotic task of rescheduling appointments and doing some homework on insider training. And I”ll need to pack.

In the process of clearing my desk, I find myself staring at the giant stack of case files - each a client depending on me. With a sigh, I summon my assistant, Harper, to delegate some of my workload.

”You”re leaving?” she asks with horror all over her face. ”It”s the middle of the week. You”ve got a full schedule.”

”I know. I need you to push back the ones you can. Anything that absolutely must get done this week will need to be delegated to others. If you aren”t sure if it”s possible, get to me. I”ll talk to Jeff. Now, I need that file, the one for the disposition today.”

Harper, the efficient assistant, hands me the file quickly. ”Just yesterday you told me that you could never leave your clients hanging, what”s changed?”

”I have no choice, Harper,” I reply, and explain about the hush-hush case in Hawaii. She nods, understanding but still upset.

”All right then,” she says finally. ”I”ll make the necessary calls. And I”ll also need the documents for the cases to be passed on.”

”Thanks, Harper,” I respond gratefully. It”s one less thing to worry about.

With her gone, I turn my attention back to my desk. It has always been comforting in its organized chaos. Piles of documents, each neatly stacked and labeled by case. Today, it looks more like an impending storm than my safe harbor. Shaking off the nerves, I start pulling files for Harper to distribute. I know all the junior associates. I have spent time collaborating with them and know who is better at what.

My phone pings. A reminder pops up for the deposition. I glance at the clock—only forty minutes left. Inhaling deeply, I try to refocus on the task at hand. The deposition wouldn’t take long, hopefully, and then I could immerse myself in preparing for Hawaii.

The meeting goes smoothly enough, despite my preoccupied thoughts. The opposing counsel is a feisty woman, sharp as a tack and with a memory to match. She keeps me on my toes, every question drowning out the thoughts of Hawaii. By the time we are finished, I am mentally drained but satisfied.

I give Harper a tight smile as I walk past her desk back to my office, where the first thing I do is fling off my blazer. My white blouse is sticking to my back, and I long for the sunshine and tropical breezes Jeff mentioned. Shaking off the thought, I get out the manila folder containing information on the new potential client. There is very little information to find. I don’t even have a name. I’m supposed to meet the guy at a hotel. Apparently, he knows me and will seek me out. I would love to be prepared, but I just don’t know what to prepare for.

While I work, I can”t help but let my mind drift to the trip. Maybe it wouldn”t hurt to take that new bikini I bought last year and never actually wore. Even an hour on the beach would be an absolute delight. I could take a case file to read. Then it wouldn’t be totally indulgent.