Page 10 of The Lawyer
“I’ll have a Costa latte, large. And a glass of tap water.” I can’t help myself, and even though it’s childish, I’m sick of his superior attitude.
A laugh titters out of me as I stifle a grin and cross my legs.
“She’ll have a decent coffee, Malcolm. And a bottle of Perrier.”
“Landon I …” but the waiter has already left.
“I believe I told you that I wouldn’t drop you at Costa. I’d certainly never order you one. This was your suggestion. If you aren’t happy about the venue, I suggest you leave. As you said, I'll see you on Monday.”
My breath hitches at his directness. It’s the most he’s spoken to me in the last week put together.
“I apologise. Thank you for the offer of a drink.” My heartbeat is thrumming in my chest. Hell, all I wanted was for a smoother, more relaxed working environment. Now, the tension between us is like a physical wall, and all I’ve done is add more bricks to reinforce it.
We sit in silence. The room around us is nearly empty, but the darkness of the décor gives it a personal vibe, almost sensual. I knock that word right out of my head and smooth my skirt over my knees.
Landon is busy on his phone, the frown still in place. Multiple lines run through my mind to break the deadlock, but the waiter relieves the situation with our drinks.
I pick up the mug of coffee and take in the aroma. It’s a little late for coffee, but the caffeine hit shouldn’t stop me sleeping. When I'm tired, I crash and sleep for ten hours straight, no problem.
I watch as Landon swirls his wine before taking a sip.
“Do you come here often? I hadn’t seen this on your schedule.” I try for some work-related conversation, which hilariously started out like some pickup line.
“I don’t schedule all of my activities, Miss Etherington.”
“Please call me Willow,” I interject.
He sighs a little. “Miss Etherington.”
“Landon.” I lock my gaze, and once again, our eyes seem to storm at each other, grey clouds and icy sky.
“Very well.”
“Here’s to a successful week. And to your new home.” I raise my glass of water to signal a toast, but he pops my cheerfulness with a raised brow as if he’s too good for simple pleasantries.
Right. That’s it. I’m trying too hard. He’s a jerk. I just need to accept it and learn to work within that without quitting. After all, Ash doesn’t seem able to support himself and has grown accustomed to our income. My income. Regardless of him being old enough to stand on his own two feet, I can’t quite bring myself to issue that ultimatum.
The coffee is delicious, and I curse that I now know what proper coffee tastes like, while Landon drains his wine.
“We have a busy week next week,” I comment.
“Yes, I do. Arrange for all my belongings to be shipped to the new apartment. The paperwork needs to be complete, and I expect to be in on Monday. Nina has all the details.” With that, he drains his wine and stands to leave. “I suggest you make sure you’re up to speed.”
Looks like I’ll be working this weekend, as well.
Chapter Five
LANDON
“Here’s the return schedule from finance, Mr Broderick,” Nina says, as she walks into my office. “The author will be here for your meeting in ten minutes. She’s already waiting downstairs.” My brow twitches. I’d forgotten about that. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to arrange the boardroom for that rather than in here?”
I sign off the last of the final documents relating to a deal coming through with a French fashion channel and stretch my neck, pushing the folder towards her. “Here is fine, Nina. I can carry on working while she’s asking whatever questions she has to ask. Take these and send them down to legal. Tell them Pierre Heroux's lawyers will need them returned by next Thursday.” I hand another two over. “And these are relating to The Foxton Herald. They need to be with David to send through.”
She nods and starts walking from the room, papers clutched under her arm. “I’ll go and organise the ball staff rota a little more then, if you don’t mind? I can send Miss Etherington in for the minutes on the meeting. I’ll probably be gone by the time you finish with that.”
My hand waves her off, and I get back to the next stack of requirements that I have to deal with. Having something attractive to look at while I’m pretending to be interested in a family matter could make the whole fucking ordeal more interesting, I suppose. I doubt it, but even I have to acknowledge that this pick of Nina’s is worthy of glancing at. In fact, she’s been quite the distraction.
I chuckle lowly at the thought and circle some clauses that are of no fucking use to us as a business. Those shoes of hers should go. I've almost pulled her up on them twice, but that would spoil my view of the heels and legs somewhat. And then there's that mouth of hers. It seems she’s not overly happy with my preferred style of working, which is minimal conversation with anyone unless absolutely necessary.
