Page 120 of Dirty Rich Cinderella Story

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Lori

After a night of lying awake thinking about Cole and everything my mother said, I decide I need to talk to him. I’m pissed at him for ignoring my request, but I know in my heart, he came to me because he cares. And I don’t want to push him away. I just need to be sure this is real, and I don’t know how to do that, but it’s not without him.

When I arrive at work, I barely sit down at my desk, when Cole buzzes through my intercom. “My office,” he orders, his tone sharp, crisp, professional.

My stomach clenches with nerves I shouldn’t feel with Cole, but I do. I stand, straightening the basic black skirt that I’m wearing with yet another basic black blouse, that all feels more basic today than other days, when suddenly Ashley is in my doorway. “I’m a bitch. I’m such a bitch. I was a wreck last night and I have no excuse for my behavior. It’s not me. I promise. Please forgive me.”

“You’re forgiven,” I say, that embarrassment of last night oddly not here now. “Let’s forget it.”

“You know there is nothing between me and Cole, right?”

“Yes, and can we please not have this conversation here?”

“Right. I’m sorry. Just—based on Cole’s mood—”

“Lori,” Cole says over the intercom. “Are you coming?”

“On my way,” I reply, and Ashley shakes her head. “That mood. He’s never like this.”

“Yes, well,” I say, “we’re making it worse, huddled in here.”

“Right again,” she says, and we both make a path toward Cole’s office.

“Good luck,” Ashley says, before claiming her seat behind her desk while I open Cole’s door and walk inside. He’s standing, every inch of him perfection in a blue three-piece suit. He glances up at me and starts shoving files in his briefcase. “One of the junior partners under Reese fucked up a case to the point of fucked up being fucked up. As in, he left evidence off documents that he knew existed.”

“Isn’t that grounds to be disbarred?” I ask, stopping in front of his desk.

“Yes. Exactly. It’s also a black mark against our firm. Reese is in court today. I have to go to the courthouse to meet with the judge and convince him that me taking over fixes the problem.”

I hurry across the room. “What do you need me to do?”

He hands me a file. “Prepare paperwork for me, have Ashley file it, and text me the minute it’s done.” He hands me another file. “There’s another three things in that file that are self-explanatory I’d planned to do myself.” He grabs his briefcase. “It’s all time sensitive.”

“I’ll handle it.”

He looks at me then, really looks at me, and his eyes are hard. “I know you will. Because I trust you.”

His message is obvious: He doesn’t believe that I trust him. “I trust you, Cole,” I whisper.

“You’ll have a chance to prove that soon, so we’ll see.”

He doesn’t explain himself. He rounds his desk and leaves.

***

Cole

My day spirals into chaos from the moment I walk out the door, and keeps spiraling. It’s three o’clock when I make it back and Lori walks into my office. Ashley follows. “There’s a man on the line that says he has information on that professor you’re representing. Says he’s a reporter speaking off the record.”

I pick up the phone and answer the call. “Cole Brooks.”

“He’s innocent,” the man says.

“Who am I speaking with?”

“I’m not going to give you my name on the phone, but I’ll meet you.”

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