Untitled #4
He blinks for a few seconds, then jumps up, and I'm scared that he's going to deck me.
I'm not scared because I think he's going to hurt me, I'm scared because I know if he does punch me, I will fight back and have him on the ground within minutes, and the last thing I need is to be in the newspaper for beating up Whittaker Matlock.
He definitely would not become my client then.
He stares at me for a beat, and I wait for the first blow to hit when he bursts out laughing and squeezes my shoulder.
"You're all right, man."
"What?" I say in surprise.
"I like it when a man speaks up for his woman. Yeah, she's cute, and yeah, I would've loved to have had her tonight, but I respect the fact that you spoke up to me."
"Okay," I say, wondering what the hell is going on.
"Most men, they don't say shit because I'm Whittaker Matlock, and I make fifty million a year, sometimes more."
"Okay."
"Men are intimidated by me. I've got it all. The looks, the money, the cock." He grins as he looks over at Skye. "Honey, you're missing out on a pretty thick, hard cock."
Skye blushes and looks down.
"Dude," I say.
"Sorry." He grins. "I was just letting her know. I mean, you guys open to it?"
“Open to what?" I snap.
"Me fucking her."
I take a deep breath and count to five.
"Excuse me?"
"Look, I'm just saying there's plenty of men that let me their fuck women and like to watch. I don't know if you're one of those dudes."
"I'm not."
He grins. "Okay. Well, if you want my autograph, where's the paper or something?" he asks her.
"I guess I can get one," she says, looking over at me.
I can tell she's uncomfortable, and I feel really bad putting her in this position.
"Hey, dude, my name is Kingston Chase. I'm an attorney for a top law firm here, I know that you're looking for new representation, and I'm interested in signing you as a client.
"Oh." He frowns. "Is that what this was about?"
I'm surprised that he doesn't sound angry or pissed off.
"Kind of." I nod.
"Okay. I like your honesty. I'm not going to sign any paperwork with you right now, but I guess we can have a meeting next week or something."
"Really?" I’m surprised by his answer.
"Really. Honestly, this is not the weirdest way I've been approached to do business." He laughs. "I like working with people that will act like desperados to work with me. It shows me that you'll do anything that I ask."
"I mean, within the law, of course," I say.
He chuckles. "Of course." He looks back over at Skye.
"You're a pretty thing, aren't you?" She blushes again, and he chuckles.
He wraps his arm around my shoulder and squeezes.
"You're lucky to have a pretty one like this.
" He grins. "But now, get out of my space.
Me and my boys here are talking about something that I don't think you're going to want to hear if you're about to become my attorney. "
"As your attorney, it would be better that I know everything about—"
"I don't think you're going to want to hear this," he says. "Plausible deniability. That's the term, right?"
"It is a term," I say, nodding my head.
"Great." He sniffs, and I can see that he’s studying me. "If I were you, I would go back to wherever you were sitting because I'm pretty sure that Anastasia will be over here in a couple of minutes and kick you out if you don't leave me alone."
"Okay." I slip him my business card. "Looking forward to hearing from you next week."
"You will," he says.
I grab Skye by the hand and guide her back to our table. I can feel her pulse racing as we make our way to the other side of the club.
"Whoa, what just happened?"
"I'm actually feeling the same way that you are right now." I shake my head in disbelief. "Did I really just get Whittaker Matlock to agree to come into the office?"
"You did," she says. "After you defended me." Her voice sounds wispy. "You didn't have to do that, you know."
"I did. I put you in this position, and I feel bad. You're not just an object. You're not just a hot, sexy woman that can be talked to any old way."
She’s watching me, not speaking. "What are you thinking?" I ask her.
"I mean, sometimes you talk to me any old way."
I realize that her words are true, and I feel guilty.
"I know, and I—"
"It's okay," she says. "I kind of like going back and forth with you. I kind of like crossing those lines with you. Maybe because I feel comfortable." She presses her lips together. "I mean… You know what I mean?"
I nod slowly, because I do know what she means, and I also don't know how to voice it.
"Shall we finish these drinks and leave?" I say.
"Yeah. I guess we do have paperwork to do."
"Yeah." I reach over and grab her hands. "Thank you for being here with me tonight. I'm sorry that I made you cancel your plans. I'm sorry that… You know. Things are weird between us."
"You have nothing to apologize about. It comes with being your assistant." She smiles. "Plus, if you sign Whittaker next week, I'm going to get a huge bonus, and you know what that means?"
"No, what does that mean?" I say as my lips twitch.
"That means I am going on an around the world trip." She laughs at the expression on my face. "Don't worry, I'll give you my two weeks’ notice before I go."
"You better?" I ask, smiling.
For some reason, I feel comfortable and happy with her. For some reason, I feel more alive than I've felt in a long time, and it has nothing to do with signing Whittaker Matlock, or potentially doing so.