Page 62 of The Lawyer
“As far as prison goes, yes. He’s not going there anytime soon, but he needs a focus. What does he like doing?”
“Nothing that I can see.”
“How about I get him a junior role in the company? He could understudy something. He’ll fall back into the wrong crowd reasonably quickly without a purpose.”
She looks at me, eyes wide. “You’d do that for him?”
I steer through the roads that lead to Jackson’s hovel of a base, finally pulling into the underground parking. “Not for him. For you, Willow.”
“Really?”
“There has to be some perks to fucking the boss. My personality certainly isn’t it, and I'd like to help if I can. It might go some way to you accepting my terms as meaningful.”
Her smile widens, and she leans her head back on the headrest as we pull into a space and I cut the engine. “Is this more of your sweet and cute side?”
“Possibly. I doubt you’re going to see anything remotely sweet or cute in a minute, so make the most of it.”
She sighs and looks out of the window, focusing on the door that leads us both into the viper’s pit it could become. “Have you worked out what to do?”
I toss her the car key and get out, watching as she leaves her seat with me. “Whatever happens here, you get back to this car and leave if you have to. Do you understand?”
“What does that mean?”
“Exactly what I said. Do not wait around for me if I go down. I’m serious, Willow. Walk away from me and keep yourself safe.”
Maybe she doesn’t like that idea, or maybe she just wants more clarification, but her getting in front of my face now that I’ve made a decision isn’t going to change my mind about anything. I swing her to the side of me and keep walking, intent on getting to his office to deal with the problem at hand.
The main door opens and we both walk through corridors we know all too well. It’s just as dank and sleazy as it always is, regardless of our two suited frames within it. That part makes me smile a little, at least feeling the lawyer in me at the moment rather than the corrupt man I am on occasion.
On finally reaching the office, we find it empty. My eyes narrow, gaze going to the main area through the next set of double doors. It isn’t somewhere I want her going into dressed like this, nor is it somewhere I particularly want to frequent dressed as I am either, but needs must.
I point at a chair and nod her to it, then get my phone out to call him in here. Four rings later and he still doesn’t answer.
“Stay here,” I say, pocketing my phone. “I’ll be back shortly. And don’t say a word unless I ask you something.”
I stride through the den of iniquity until I find Jamie loitering over by the bar. She looks up at me, enough of a lurid smile on her face that I know this damn suit has made more of an impact than I alone usually do. “Where is he?”
She looks over towards one of the private rooms. “New initiate,” she says, still smiling. “We could take the room next to it if you like.”
Not bothering to answer her, I head straight for the door he’s behind. Unfortunately, I’m rewarded with the sight of his backside rutting into whomever this next girl is. Whatever calm I was managing to keep disintegrates under the thought that he’s done that to Willow, too. I grab his shoulders, hauling him backwards and out into the main area before he’s had a chance to pull up his jeans sufficiently. He stumbles over them around his knees, almost falling to the floor in the process until he gets his fucking balance and then glares.
“Office. Now. I am not pissing around, Jackson.”
Everything that was surprised about him turns sour, and he sneers as he buckles his belt and looks around at the passing patrons and girls. “That was fucking stupid, Landon,” he snarls.
“I don’t give a damn. If your lawyer calls, you answer. Move.”
Both him and his brusque attitude wander to the bar, grabbing a bottle of something off the counter before he does, indeed, go in the fucking direction I’m after. It isn’t until he gets to his office and rounds his own desk that surprise registers on his face again.
“June?”
“No,” I answer for her as I shut the door and lean on it. He looks up at me. “Not anymore. In fact, she’d like to leave. Serious claims of sexual harassment are being put forth. Considering the fact that she's managed to track down your lawyer to instigate this, I would suggest you take the situation seriously.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? I’ve never even touched her, let alone harassed her.” The pent-up breath I was holding releases a little at that at least.
“Still, she says she’s got incriminating evidence. And as you know, incriminating evidence and Jackson Reed do not sit well together, do they? Perhaps the quickest route out of this is simply accepting her right to choose to leave.”
He stands and leans over his desk. “This is bullshit, Landon. She’s always been treated well, and even if she hasn’t, what the fuck has it got to do with you? She hasn’t tracked you down. She’s been dancing for you. Acting like the slut she is no doubt and—”
