Page 16 of Hooked on Mack
The cold reality of our situation began to seep in as I stared into Mack's vibrant blue eyes, as we still held on to each other. My heart raced and my cheeks burned; I couldn't believe what just happened between us. This wasn't like me—losing control and kissing in the middle of his office. I could practically hear Janai scolding me in my head.
“Listen,” I started, gathering my thoughts and trying to sound professional, “this… this can't happen again.”
Mack nodded, his expression serious but tinged with sadness. “You're right,” he agreed. “Our careers are too important, and we have clients relying on us.”
“Exactly,” I said, forcing myself to step back from him and create some physical distance. “This was a one-time thing, a momentary lapse in judgment. We can't let it interfere with our work.”
“Of course not. We'll just put this behind us and focus on the case.”
“Right. Now, let's get back to work.”
We both attempted to refocus on the task at hand. I couldn't help but sneak glances at Mack, remembering the feel of his lipsagainst mine and the way his hands cradled my face. It was hard to shake the memory, and even harder to ignore the lingering desire that stirred within me. My mind kept replaying the kiss, making it impossible to concentrate. What if someone found out? How would this affect our reputations, our relationships with our teams? I forced myself to push those thoughts aside, reminding myself that it was just a kiss, and nothing more.
“Hey,” Mack called from across the room, drawing my attention to him. “Could you take a look at this document? I want to make sure I'm interpreting it correctly.”
“Of course,” I replied, grateful for the distraction as I crossed the room to join him.
As we bent over his desk, our shoulders brushing slightly, I wished things could be different between us. But as much as I wanted to explore whatever sparked between us, I knew it was too risky. Our professional rivalry and the potential consequences on our careers simply outweighed any personal desires. So, with a heavy heart, I focused on the document in front of me, determined to keep our relationship strictly professional.
10
Mack
As I stood in the empty courtroom, the judge's bench before me, my heart pounded like it was about to escape my chest. It wasn't the emergency hearing that had me on edge—I’d faced countless cases throughout my career—but rather my opposing counsel.
“Mack, are you even listening?” Ava snapped, waving her manicured hand in front of my face. “I swear, if you're not going to take this seriously…”
“Of course,” I assured her, forcing my attention back to the matter at hand. “I'm just running through some last-minute strategies.”
“Damn right, you better be,” she huffed, crossing her arms over her designer blouse. “I am not about to lose everything to Mark because you're too busy daydreaming.”
The truth was, I wasn't daydreaming about winning or losing Ava's case. Instead, I was watching Larissa as she crossed the room, her dark hair cascading down her back and her piercing green eyes locked on a stack of documents. She was formidable, fierce, and utterly captivating.
“Mack, focus!” Ava hissed, clearly annoyed by my lack of attention. “You seem… preoccupied. Is there something you're not telling me?”
My mind raced, searching for a convincing excuse. “I'm just trying to ensure we have all our bases covered. This is a crucial moment for your case, and I want to make sure we're prepared.”
“Good, because if I find out that you're holding out on me, we are going to have a serious problem.”
I nodded, swallowing hard as I watched Larissa approach the table where we'd soon face off. The thought of pursuing a relationship with her sent a shiver down my spine, followed by an overwhelming sense of guilt. I was supposed to be focused on winning Ava's case, not fantasizing about the woman on the other side of it.
“Alright, then. Let's do this.”
“Remember,” Ava whispered as we took our seats at the table, “I'm counting on you.”
As the judge entered the room, I couldn't help but steal one last glance at Larissa. Her eyes met mine for just a moment before she looked away. The stakes had never been higher—not only did I have to win Ava's case, but I also had to figure out what to do about my growing feelings for Larissa.
We each presented more of our case, but the judge called for a short recess. I seized the opportunity to escape the tension in the courtroom. My feet carried me down the hall, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I needed some fresh air—and fast.
“Mack!” a familiar voice called out just as I reached the heavy double doors leading outside. I turned to find Tanner Dixon, a friend and fellow lawyer, striding toward me with a grin on his face. “Man, you look like you could use a break.”
“Tell me about it.” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. “This case is driving me up the wall, and I don't even want to think about Larissa right now.”
Tanner clapped me on the back, easing the weight of the world off my shoulders. “Hey, I've seen you work miracles in thecourtroom before. You'll get through this one too. Just take a deep breath and trust yourself.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Alright, spill it,” he ordered. “What's going on between you and Larissa?”
