Page 47 of Legal Attraction

“Sure, I’d like that.”

Rand almost groaned but instead lifted his hand. “A whole group of us are going. I thought we could find a place with dancing and karaoke.”

Jaden’s mouth dropped open but she closed it again and said nothing more.

As he’d hoped, he urged a smiled from Coral but it was a small one. She lifted her phone, casually, but it was the burner, and she made eye contact with him finally. “I’d like that. I could use some good distraction I think.”

“No video. On threat of extermination.” He laughed. “And then I just might take my turn on the stage.”

“This I gotta see.” Jaden laughed. “I’ve got to get back to work. But I’ll see you tonight.” She looked as if she would wait for Rand but he stayed. So she left them blessedly alone after looking over her shoulder twice.

But Rand couldn’t linger. “You okay?”

She shook her head, just enough and then said, “Sure. I had a productive lunch. And then meetings here until now. I’m gonna need to really push to get some of this work done before dinner though…” She moved to circle her desk and sit.

“Of course. Glad things are working out here. See you tonight.”

She lifted her hand but her head was already dipped into her laptop. But her hand rested on top of her phone. He pulled his out of his pocket as he left her office.

Mr. Goldstein turned the corner. “Ah, Rand, just the man I wanted to see.”

Rand pocketed his phone and followed the man into his office.

He closed the door and then turned with a smile. “Sit. I’d love your thoughts on some of our new associates.”

“Of course.” He crossed an ankle over his knee.

“I’d particularly like your thoughts about Coral Anastas.”

He lifted his eyebrows. “I don’t share any cases with her. I don’t know if I’m particularly suited to having an opinion.” He shrugged.

“I’d like one all the same.” Mr. Goldstein’s eyes were emotionless and pointed.

So Rand nodded. “I enjoyed her fire in our new associate meeting. She stood up to me and had good arguments. I think she might be ready before the others to handle a client. But is perhaps too bold? Might need some mentoring on how to handle the delicate balance of client expectations and what is impossible to deliver.”

“Excellent. I’d like to assign you both the Monroe Company.”

Rand almost choked. But then he smiled. “The yacht company?”

Mr. Goldstein leaned back in his chair, more relaxed. “The very one. We need the two of you to do a client relations type visit this weekend. Take a few extra days. They’ll take you out on the boats. Take them to dinner. We need this client. And I think the two of you are the ones to retain them.”

“Has there been some difficulty?”

He tilted his head and then shook it. “Not really. I’ll let you read the files. They’re new. And you could handle another client. They were referred to us by Muskanza. Coral works with them. We felt like it was a good fit.”

Anything closer to Muskanza was a good move in Rand’s opinion. And more than that, he thought it was excellent timing to get Coral out of town and to be at her side twenty-four seven. He didn’t know what her security would think though. And he wasn’t sure how much he’d love travelling with all of them. But he wouldn’t complain. “Should I give Coral the details and get travel from Gladys?”

“Take the jet. It’s a quick one-hour flight, but we felt it advisable.”

“Excellent.”

“You’ll leave tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Will that be a problem?”

“Actually, no. I’ll bring some casework with me, but could someone check in with Melanie and Jaden while I’m away?”

---