Page 37 of Reckless Temptation

Two days after I asked Nick if he was a coward, I shoved aside all lingering thoughts of him. It was easier said than done. Despite how busy I had to be, studying and focusing on schoolwork, he crept into my mind too often. More often than I liked.

I couldn’t forget how ruthlessly strong he was, beating up that guy who attacked that woman. I couldn’t let go of the memory of his anger when I asked him if he was a coward. And I couldn’t shake the confusion that shone in his dark eyes when he demanded to know what was wrong with me to want to help a stranger in need.

Guilt tripped me into caring far too much about him. That was why that night, after I walked home, I paid for a delivery of a reusable ice pack to be sent to his art studio. I didn’t know how else to locate him, but it was the least I could do. Hehadhelped that woman, even if he’d been delayed to act. And he had taken a hard hit to his face, splitting his lip.

He wasn’t mine to care about. He wasn’t my problem, my worry.

But when Elise told me that the original videos and photos of “my” painting were taken down, I tried to consider that he might not be all that bad. He was flawed. I wasn’t changing my mind about him to dismiss how much of a bully and a jerk he was. But maybe he was one of those bad guys who had a sliver of decency buried deep inside.

Doubt it.I shook my head, annoyed that I was thinking about himagain. As I checked my appearance before leaving my studio space above the garage, I ignored my wandering thoughts. Today mattered too much to be distracted. My outfit was the same as usual—professional office wear—but I’d taken a little extra care to really impress. In a couple of hours, I’d be in the city as one of the eight internship applicants. We would be tagging along on this trip to see how Lorsen & Spengler represented their clients in action. It wouldn’t be every day that I’d get excited to go to a jail, but this was a huge step in my internship consideration.

Full of energy, I checked in with my parents in the kitchen before taking off. “Are yousureI can use the car?” I asked my mom again.

“Bah. Stop asking.” She smiled. “Benita will pick me up for work, but I did tell Joann that I’d have my car to help load up for this afternoon’s catering gig.”

I nodded, so glad I could use the car to get to the jail today. Dad had already left for work, hitching a ride with a coworker. Mom made plans around mine. I would never take them for granted. Compromises like this were how we worked as a family.

“Will you still be able to help this time?” she asked with a cringe.

“Yes. This trip to the jail and meeting with the client should only take a couple of hours. Then the drive back. Then I’ll help you with this catering gig. And then I’ll be free to make it to the Lorsen estate for the dinner they scheduled for the applicants.” That, above all else, was what intimidated me. Dressing up and staying cool and calm for a dinner then discussion at Professor Lorsen’s mansion? Yeah, that waswayout of my comfort zone.

“Sounds like it’s going to be a busy day, Sabrina,” she said with a smile. “I hope you know I’m proud of you, juggling all of this.”

I grinned back at her. “Thanks, Mom.” With her sweet words, I set out to make myself proud, too.

Traffic wasn’t too bad on the way north, and I was very happy that I found the correct parking lot near the jail and municipal building with plenty of time to spare. The other seven applicants for the intern spot showed up shortly, and the two hours that followed were a whirlwind of activity.

Learning about the law in the classroom was one thing. But being in action, witnessing how lawyers worked in real life, that was something else.

With as big of a group that we were, it was tricky to make us all fit in the room for the meeting with the CEO who had been charged with embezzlement. Still, we all adjusted to the setting.

While the actual discussions between Professor Lorsen, Mr. Spengler, and the client were interesting, I couldn’t help but judge the circumstances. The client was clearly guilty, speaking with his legal team as if it were implied that he’d, in fact, done the crime. There was no shame or regret, though, like he counted on shelling out tons of money so Lorsen & Spengler could dotheir magic and get him out of trouble—even though he was wrong.

Toward the end of the trip, I struggled to tune out the memory of what Elise had told me. That I wanted to practice law to help people who needed help, not to make it easier for criminals to screw others over again.

If I’m the intern this summer, this is what I’ll be dealing with. Smiling and shutting up my conscience is what I’ll have to do regularly.

Just as soon as those thoughts came, I reminded myself of another.

It would just be a stepping stone, Sabrina. Nothing more than that.

I won’t sell myself short.

I would stick with my integrity, no matter what.

We all filed out at the end of the meeting, but as we walked down the hallway, I made sure to tell the guards, the security personnel, and even the doorman goodbye. Because of the short spells of standing around and waiting for access into rooms and for the client to be brought out, I had opportunities to strike up small chats with the employees.

“You don’t have to try so hard to convince people to like you,” Tiffany muttered as we exited the main hallway to reach the foyer. She bumped her shoulder into mine, huffing like I was pathetic to be so personable. It didn’t escape my notice how standoffish she had been with everyone, like she was superior to everyone else.

I opened and closed my mouth, giving up on replying. She would only want to argue with me or try to bring me down.Ignore her. In one ear and out the other.

Professor Lorsen gathered us into a group before we exited. He summed up his opinion about how the meeting had gone, but we would talk about it later. “I will see all of you this evening where we can go over today’s events.”

Just the mention of going to the Lorsen estate filled me with nerves again. Still, I was excited. This trip to the jail was different from sitting in a lecture hall, reading, or turning in assignments, and the real-life aspect of it made me more enthusiastic to graduate and get out there.

To make a difference.

Well, I wouldn’t be making a difference with Lorsen & Spengler.

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