Page 99 of Lorcan's Obsession

“Thank you. You’re not too bad yourself,” Tristen replied coolly with sparkling eyes. She enjoyed the effect she had on me. I pulled out a chair for her, once again resisting the urge to feel that glorious ass.

But now, we had to focus. Once Tristen settled in, the three of us finalized strategy plans for the session. Tristen sorted through the papers, highlighting sentences as quickly as she spoke. How the hell could she do it so fast?

During a lull in the conversation, Schaffer got a phone call and had to step away. The perfect opportunity for me to talk to Tristen and check if she was still pissed about last night.

“Did you sleep okay last night?” I began.

“No, not really.”

She shut that down quickly. I guess she wasn’t in the mood to chat.

“However,” Tris said, “I’d like your help going through some of my findings.” She handed me a bunch of papers. “I’ll tell you the keywords to look out for. We don't have much time before the arbitration.”

She wanted me to read a couple of pages in ten minutes?

“Uhm…didn’t we all agree our defense was solid?”

“It is, Lorcan. But I triple-check everything. C’mon, let’s go.”

How was I going to do this without disclosing my dyslexia? I scratched my head, messing up my sleek gelled locks. “Erm, I don’t think that…I—”

“It’s less than twenty pages!” Tris snapped. "Get to it."

I pulled my chair closer until our knees touched. “It’s not that I don’t want to help, it’s just… There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Lorcan, it's not the right time. We’re due in court any minute now.”

“Reading is a challenge for me,” I blurted out.

Tristen’s brow furrowed over her green eyes. “You are a CEO of a major corporation. You go through hundreds of emails every day.”

“I listen to the contracts and most emails,” I said, avoiding her gaze by staring at her towering black heels.

“Y-you mean you have—”

Tristen’s phone buzzed on the table with a message from Schaffer. The arbitration session was about to begin. She gathered up all the papers.

“Come on. We’ll talk about this later.”

“I only need two minutes,” I insisted, shoving my laptop into its bag.

“Tardiness is the fastest way to lose the judges’ favor. Now, move your ass.”

She was right. Like always. We needed to focus on the problem in front of us. I buttoned up my suit jacket and walked with Tris to the new room. No sooner than we took our places at the enormous conference table, the three arbiters walked in, dressed in sharp black suits. Jackass One and Two were sitting across the table with their team of lawyers. Tristen sat between me and Schaffer, who was flanked by our two lawyers.

No matter how hard I tried to focus, my brain continued spiraling over her sulking demeanor. First, my screwup last night, and now this.

“Is it a deal breaker?” I whispered to Tristen. She stiffened but kept staring straight ahead. “Do you still want to date me, knowing the fastest thing I can read without a struggle is a menu?”

“Not here,” she hissed.

“Please,” I begged, my shoulders sagging with the weight of what she might say.

“It wouldn’t matter. I’ll still date you. I am dating you.”

A gavel banged, plunging the room into silence. We wouldn’t be able to talk about this until after the session. One of the arbiters led the opening formalities, introducing the panel members and plaintiff and defendant teams.

“This controversy has been submitted to me for hearing in accordance with the code of arbitration procedures. It is suggested that no interruptions be made during any testimony. Parties will be entitled to make objections and cross-examine at the allocated times. Furthermore, unless otherwise directed by the law, all awards rendered pursuant to the Code will be final and not subject to appeal." He turned to the Gremco CEO sitting to his right. "Plaintiff, you may begin."

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