Page 14 of Hooked on Mack
“Morning. I’ve got to run out for a meeting. Hold down the fort, will you?”
“Of course,” she answered with an understanding smile.
As I gathered my things and prepared to leave, my thoughts turned back to Mack. What would his reaction be to this new development?
I took a seat in the corner of the cafe. A few minutes later, Mack strolled in.
“Hey, Larissa, hope you didn't wait long,” he said as he sat down across from me.
“Only a lifetime or two.”
“Alright, let's not waste any more of your precious time, then,” Mack said with a grin, opening his laptop and spreading out the documents we'd need to discuss. This was one of the many things I admired about him—his ability to dive right into work without hesitation.
As we analyzed the information regarding the secret assets, it became clear that this case was far more complicated than either of us had anticipated. We spent hours combing through every piece of evidence.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked Mack, looking up from my notes.
“Positive,” he replied, meeting my gaze with unwavering determination. “We've got to follow every lead, no matter where it takes us.”
His confidence was contagious. Together, we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at Mack's office, bringing our teams together to tackle this unprecedented situation.
Mack’s office was a stark contrast to mine. Warm-toned walls were adorned with framed photographs of his loved ones and a large wooden desk that seemed like a relic.
“Alright, everyone, we've got a lot to do and not much time,” Mack announced as we all settled in, phones in hand and laptops fired up. “Let's get to work.”
We made phone calls, compared notes, and brainstormed possible approaches to the case. Despite the stakes, there was an undeniable camaraderie that permeated the air; it was clear that both our teams were determined to see this through, together.
As the evening wore on, I stole glances at Mack. There was something about the furrow of his brow as he concentrated, or the way he'd run a hand through his hair in frustration. It was a side of him I rarely saw, and I found myself increasingly drawn to him.
“We need to request an emergency hearing as soon as possible.”
He looked up from his notes, his eyes meeting mine. “I agree.”
“Exactly.” I nodded as we both got to our feet. The rest of our teams continued their diligent work.
“Let's get on it, then,” Mack said, and we moved toward the conference room to prepare our arguments for the judge.
As I walked past the break room, I overheard two members of Mack's team engaged in a hushed conversation. Their words caught my attention, my curiosity piquing as they mentioned Mack's ex-girlfriend.
“Seriously, we have to make sure she doesn't show up here again,” one said, a note of annoyance in her tone. “She's nothing but trouble for Mack.”
“Agreed,” the other chimed in. “He's been so much happier since they broke up. We can't let her ruin his progress—or this case.”
I hesitated by the doorway, biting my lip as their whispered words sank in. Did they truly believe that Mack's personal life could jeopardize the case? Was there more to their concern than mere gossip?
My thoughts raced as I entered the conference room, trying to focus on the task. Mack was already there, pacing back and forth as he formulated his argument. He paused when he noticed me, offering a warm smile that momentarily chased away my concerns.
“Hey, we've got this.”
I forced a smile. “We do.”
But as we continued to work side by side, our professional rivalry seemingly forgotten, I couldn't help but wonder about the conversation I overheard. And as much as I tried to dismiss it, the thought of Mack's ex-girlfriend—and my own growing feelings for him—lingered stubbornly at the back of my mind.
“Have you gone through all the documents?” Mack asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Almost. One more to go,” I replied, focusing on the screen before me. My fingers flew across the keyboard while my heart pounded against my rib cage.
“Great. Let's wrap this up and celebrate with some takeout.”
