Page 20 of Inadmissible
Once I was composed, I made my way into the office and spoke to the receptionist before grabbing a cup of coffee out of the breakroom and heading to my office. I took a few sips of coffee, checked my emails, then made my way to the conference room.
My smile was genuine as I entered the conference room. I recognized Gregory and his assistant, of course. My gaze locked on an older man whom I assumed to be Martin . . . and then there was Tristan. What the hell was he doing here?
As he stood, the action gained the attention of everyone else.
“Good morning, Taj.” Tristan spoke, and the sound of his raspy, deep voice had flashbacks of our night together replaying in my mind. I could feel my nipples hardening as I stepped further into the room, and I prayed no one else noticed them or the chills that covered my arms.
“Good morning, everyone. Tristan.”
“Glad you could join us,” Gregory said. “Martin, this is Taj Sanders, the lead on your project. I have to tell you, I still can’t believe she’s who you wanted. Taj is a great defense attorney, but this isn’t her usual lane.”
Martin stood and extended his hand for me to shake as he said, “Well, I wanted Tristan, and his stipulation was that Taj be on board too.” Martin returned his eyes to me and gripped my hand a little tighter to keep me from pulling away as he said, “I hope you are flattered by that and not offended. I’m not familiarwith you, but I’m very familiar with Tristan and his firm. He would not work with me unless I brought you on as well, and that gives me confidence in you too.”
For a while, I was speechless. So what? Since I said I didn’t want a relationship, Tristan planned to get close to me professionally? With a smile, I removed my hand from Martin’s.
“The honor is mine, and I can guarantee you what I lack in land development experience I make up for in knowledge and common sense. I have also already picked my team. One attorney is proficient in land development deals. The paralegal I selected is great with research. And my strategist?—”
“Will be replaced with Tristan,” Gregory said quickly. “That was Martin’s non-negotiable and the only way we were able to even get in on this deal. Tristan’s the best strategist in Rose Valley Hills. You’ll work well with him.”
It was usually easy for me to maintain my professionalism and not get emotional, especially when I was in a room of men. This felt different. This felt like I was a pawn in Tristan’s game. It felt like I was put on this case just because Gregory wanted our firm attached to it. I understood his strategy of partnering with MPWG attorneys because of their prowess and demand in the South but still. I wanted to actually feel like a valued member of the legal team. Now, I felt like I was here just because Tristan wanted me.
On the bright side, Martin seemed kind and genuine. I don’t know. My excitement definitely took a hit. With a huff, I sat down so we could begin the meeting. I tried to pay attention and be present, but I was over it. It felt like I wasn’t the real lead attorney and that Gregory or Tristan could usurp whatever decisions or suggestions I made, and that wasn’t how I operated. I was so excited for this opportunity, this meeting, and now . . . I couldn’twaitfor it to be over.
Tristan
Gregory and Martin were oblivious to Taj’s emotional state, but I wasn’t. I could literally feel the heated anger radiating from her body. By the time the meeting was over, I could tell she felt not only bamboozled but probably unheard too. Almost every idea she suggested, they either undermined or rejected unless I cut in to agree. I was over the shit, and I knew if I was, she was too. Seeing the way Gregory talked to and treated her further confirmed I’d made the right move.
My strategy and plan may have been unexpected to her, but if she heard me out, she’d understand why I did what I did. Judging by how quickly she hopped out of her seat and exited the conference room, I could tell it was going to be easier asked than done getting her to listen to me.
“So you’re a runner here too,” I acknowledged, trailing behind her.
I heard her huff and saw the quickening of her steps. All that did was amuse me. I followed her to what I assumed was her office, and before she could slam the door in my face, I caught it.
“Will you let me explain, sweetheart? There’s nothing sinister afoot here. I’m actually looking out for you.”
“Looking out for me?” she shrieked, opening the door wide. “By setting me up to be some kind of puppet?”
“That’s not what I’m doing at all. I’m a very logical man, but I feel your emotions right now. If you have the mental capacity and emotional bandwidth to listen to me right now, I’d like to explain my plan.” She stared at me for a few seconds. “Please, honey. You know you can trust me. That hasn’t changed.”
Her body relaxed as she sighed and nodded, stepping to the side so I could enter her office.
“You look beautiful,” I complimented as she plopped down in her seat and released a tired breath.
Her hair was flowing in its usual wavy curls, and I wished I’d fucked her from the back so I could have pulled it. The red pantsuit showed off her toned yet curved frame. A part of me wanted to ask her what led to the significant drop in her weight. If it was related to her breakup, I imagined working out was a part of her healing process . . . or something worse—her not eating because she was so hurt and depressed.
“Thank you, angel. I’m not doubting your intentions. I’m used to men doing things to betray my trust in them, but I know you won’t do that. Or at least that’s what my intuition tells me for some reason. It still was triggering being blindsided like that.”
“I know, and I apologize,” I said, sitting across from her at her cherry oak desk. “It wasn’t my intention to blindside you. I was actually hoping to speak with you before the meeting started, but Martin asked for it to be earlier, and I didn’t have time to track you down.”
“So what’s going on, Tristan?”
The sight of her serious expression as she cupped her hands on top of her desk should not have been as attractive as it was.
“I pulled you onto this project for a personal and professional reason. Personally, I wanted to be close enough to you to proveyou can trust yourself with me. I figured this might be easier for you to handle than me actively pursuing you romantically.
“Professionally, I looked into your background and cases when I learned you were best friends with Emilia and a lawyer as well. Just like I believe she’s too good for this law firm, I believe you are too. Because of our noncompete and nonrecruiting clauses, I can’t offer either of you jobs outright, and neither can my partners. The only way the two of you would be able to come to my firm is if you work on a case that takes at least a year and have more billable hours at my firm than here. Now this developmental deal may not be your lane, but it will take one to three years, and it will give you far more billable hours at my firm than here. After a year has passed?—”
“I’ll be able to leave and not have to worry about breaching my contract.”
