Page 4 of Silver Fake

"Speak of the devil," she murmurs.

CHAPTER2

Lisa

My back is facingthe door when John walks into the conference room.

I don’t even need to see his face to know he’s in a bad mood.

John Barton is not the type of person who shows up to anything at the time it's supposed to start. He's always early. The fact he's arriving now means something went wrong during his trip in Boston.

I hope everyone has their files in order if that's the case. John won't cut anyone slack while he’s in a mood like this.

I can hear the deliberate thud of John's footsteps as he walks behind my chair, each step echoing with an undercurrent of frustration. The sharp scent of his aftershave wraps around me like a warning as he finally comes into view and walks around the conference table to the only open seat, which happens to be directly across from me.

For a moment, I can't help but get lost in how handsome he is.

John's appearance is always immaculate, but today, there's a raw edge that makes him even more stunning.

His thick hair is flecked with grey and a little tousled as if he just ran his fingers through it in frustration. His striking blue eyes are icier than usual, and the sharp lines of his handsome face cast dramatic shadows under the bright conference room lights. Despite his travels, his tailored suit is perfectly pressed and fits him like a glove, emphasizing his broad shoulders and thick thighs.

Today, John Barton doesn't just look handsome – he looks like a force to be reckoned with.

I start making a mental list of everything he’s had me working on the last couple weeks, trying to think of anything that may set him off. I was really hoping for an easy day today before leaving for my vacation. But I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. Something tells me it’s going to be a long meeting.

John's eyes briefly meet mine before they zero in on my bandaged hand.

Instantly, his frown deepens.

The muscles in his jaw flex, and I see him fighting the urge to ask me what happened. I look down at the bandage and feel myself blush. He’s probably unhappy that I showed up to the meeting looking unprofessional since it could reflect poorly on him.

I quickly tuck my injured hand under the table, out of sight. That seems to be enough for him to forget about it because he pulls his laptop and files out of his briefcase. As he does this, Melissa rises to her feet, clearing her throat to attract everyone's attention.

"Alright, let's get this meeting started," she announces, her confident voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

"Before we begin with our regular agenda, I think I speak for all when I say, we should acknowledge the efforts of a certain team member who has done an outstanding job last week," she says, her gaze shifting across the table, finally resting on John.

The room falls silent, all eyes turning to follow Melissa's gaze.

"John, your phenomenal work on the Patterson case has not gone unnoticed," Melissa continues. "We all want to express our congratulations on your big win. It was a challenging case, and the way you handled it was nothing short of impressive."

John's eyes soften a bit, the corners of his mouth turning up in a small, appreciative smile.

"Thank you, Melissa, I appreciate the recognition," John says, his voice firm yet restrained. "But we're here to focus on the tasks at hand. So, let's not waste any more time."

His gaze sweeps the room, a clear indication that he's shifting gears.

"I'm going to go around the room now, and we'll discuss everyone's assignments. I want updates on all ongoing projects and need to hear plans for the upcoming week. Let's start with you, Tom..."

One by one, each lawyer goes over their assignments. Melissa and John both take notes even though I’m recording the meeting minutes. They are both meticulous like that. It’s why they are two of the youngest partners this firm has ever had.

Fortunately, as we go around the room, most team members seem to have a solid handle on their assignments.

Until we get to one of the junior lawyers, Ethan Gordon.

Ethan is the newest attorney on our team and the typical hotshot type. He's only twenty-five but thinks he knows way more than he really does. I try to give him advice on his work product and how to impress John, but Ethan never listens. Instead, he treats me like I'm beneath him because I'm a secretary.

The audacity of it all would have irked me in my earlier days, but twenty years in the firm has taught me a thing or two about people like him. Arrogance and lack of respect never end well at this firm. And watching Ethan strut around, oblivious of the impending reality check, makes it all the more amusing.

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