Page 4 of Hooked on Mack
“Janai, I need you,” I called out, my voice echoing through the empty hallway of our law firm. If anyone could help me dig up the dirt on Mark and Ava Kennsington, it was Janai Carlan—my loyal paralegal and best friend.
“Here I am, your legal fairy godmother!” she announced cheerfully as she appeared in my office doorway, her auburn hair pulled back in a messy bun. “What's the plan, boss lady?”
“Operation: Take Down Mack,” I declared, motioning for her to take a seat across from me. “We need to uncover every last bit of information on Mark and Ava. I know there's more to their story than meets the eye.”
“Ah, so we're going full Nancy Drew on this one, huh?” Janai grinned, pulling out her notepad and pen. “Where do you want to start?”
“Let's start with Ava. She's the one who's been playing the victim card, but something about her just doesn't sit right with me.” I tapped my fingers on the desk, trying to recall the details of our previous encounters. “She's bold, brash, and rude—not exactly the damsel in distress she's trying to portray.”
“Got it,” Janai nodded, scribbling notes. “And what about Mark? Anything specific you want me to look into?”
“His infidelities, obviously,” I replied, rolling my eyes at the thought of yet another cheating husband. “But also his business dealings. If he's hiding anything, that's where we'll find it.”
“Consider it done,” Janai said, snapping her notepad shut. “I'll get started right away.”
“I don't know what I'd do without you.”
“Let's not find out,” she joked, giving me a small salute before disappearing down the hallway.
As Janai set to work investigating Mark and Ava, I began to prepare my arguments. Every so often, my thoughts would drift back to Mack—his charisma, his confidence, that infuriatingly handsome smile. I shook my head, trying to focus on the task at hand.No distractions.Alright, Larissa, you've got this. I cracked my knuckles, ready to dive into case law. “Let the battle begin.”
The next morning, I walked into the office, coffee in hand, and immediately noticed the hushed whispers that seemed to follow me as I made my way to the conference room. In an attempt to ignore them, I took a deep breath and plungedheadfirst into our firm's daily attorney meeting. As I sat down, there was some gossip about Mack Harrington.
“Did you hear about his last case? He exposed that CEO's secret love child and won the entire settlement for his client.”
“Rumor has it he's never lost a case,” another chimed in, her eyes wide.
“Please. That's just a rumor perpetuated by his own ego. Besides, we all know how much he loves to dig up dirt on anyone who goes against him. I'm not worried.”
“Really?” Jeremy asked, raising an eyebrow. “You should be. Mack is known for embarrassing rival counsel by exposing their darkest secrets.”
“Let him try!” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “I've got nothing to hide. And I'll be damned if I let some pretty boy with a winning smile distract me.”
“Bold words, Larissa,” Jeremy replied. “So, what's your plan?”
“Simple: two can play at that game.” I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing. “You think he's good at digging up dirt? Well, I have Janai on my side, and she's even better. Whatever he throws at me, I'll throw right back at him, tenfold.”
“Ooh, I like this side of you, Larissa,” Jeremy teased, smirking. “Just make sure you don't get too caught up in the battle and forget about winning the case.”
“Trust me,” I replied, taking a sip of my coffee and meeting his gaze. “Winning the case is all I care about. Mack Harrington won't know what hit him.”
I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead—even if it meant going toe to toe with the infamous Mack Harrington.
“Alright, everyone,” I said, clapping my hands together and standing up from the table. “Let's get to work. We've got a case to win.”
The door to the conference room swung open with a flourish, and in strode Calvin Stockton, my boss and owner of Stockton & Associates. His tailored suit screamed expensive, his full head of salt-and-pepper hair impeccably styled, and his presence demanded attention. The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees as he entered; everyone knew when Calvin was around, it was time to put on your game face.
“Montgomery,” he said, nodding in my direction as he made his way to the head of the table. “I trust you're ready for today's proceedings?”
“Of course,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the sudden knot in my stomach. “I've been preparing nonstop.”
“Good,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “This case is our opportunity to show the world what Stockton & Associates is capable of. We need to win, and we need to win big.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words settle on my shoulders like a lead blanket. It was one thing to face off against Mack Harrington for my own pride, but now I had the law firm barking at me. Talk about pressure.
“Understood,” I managed to say, offering him a weak smile. “I won't let you down.”
“See that you don't,” he replied, his gaze piercing straight through me. “You've got the talent, Montgomery—now it's time to prove it.”
