someone knocked up yet. Well, he could have a love child out there for all we knew. The man

swapped women more than he changed underwear. It was no wonder they had dubbed him

‘Casanova.’ He wore the titles like a badge of honor rather than a plague of shame. There was

no hope for my friend.

“Just come out tonight. I am tired of drinking with Michael ever since he started dating that heiress. The man has been a piece of work to be around.”

Michael was another colleague under my payroll. He was good, and I had managed to steal him along with William, but he wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The man tended to be a little…peculiar. That was the nicest way of putting it without being offensive.

“Speaking of, how is that new paralegal that I hired? She is quite the smoke show.”

I didn’t like the way he said that. I would make sure that Selena and William’s paths never crossed.

“She is fine, but she called in sick today, so she won’t be in for a few days.”

William leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply, “Pity. I would have loved to meet her and get to know her better. I have a case coming up, and I would love some help.”

“No.”

“What?” He looked at me innocently, “Is that not why we hire these paralegals?”

“Not, Selena. You can have Lisa on your team.”

William visibly winced. “Lisa would chop my balls off the first chance she got. She is mad about Amber, and besides, I want to get to know Selena, that’s all. I want to make sure she lives up to your impossible standards.”

“The same way you tried to get to know Amber?” I cocked an eyebrow, “You do realize the whole reason I made the no- fraternizing rule was because of you.”

“How was I supposed to know that she would go bat shit crazy on me? It was just sex, after all.” He pleaded his case, but we both knew that he was in the wrong. “I’m nowhere near ready to settle down with anyone. I still want to live my life and have my fun.”

I shook my head, “Fair. And fine, be a manwhore and sleep around but keep that shit out of the office.”

A loud silence passed over us; neither one was filling it with words until, of course, my friend decided to open his mouth.

“You need to get laid; you’re so uptight it’s scary, really. When was the last time you had sex?”

“None of your business.”

“A week? A month?” When I didn’t answer, his eyes widened, “No, don’t tell me it’s been a year?”

It was almost a year, but I was not about to admit that openly to this sex-crazed man who needed sex like he needed air. It wasn’t like I held sex to this high regard like it was something sweet and special and should be shared with someone you loved. Sex was simply a means to an end for me. But the women I was surrounded by here in Chicago were not ideal.

Once they learned my name, I was nothing but another conquest for them to level themselves up the societal ladder. I had learned my lessons the last time, and I would not be dumb enough to make the same mistake twice.

“Can you leave my office now?”

He shook his head, “We will celebrate my win today. You dragged me here to Chicago to help you with your firm. I left my entire life behind for you; you are my only friend. I don’t care if you aren’t in the mood. You will get in the mood for me because we will sip expensive scotch on your tab and see where the night takes us.”

He stood up from his chair in a very dramatic fashion and turned on his heels, making his grand exit. But before he opened the door, he turned to me with an almost wistful look, but he didn’t say a thing. He just looked at me and then left the office without another word.

I always had the option not to go, but I knew William. He would come to my house and drag me out if needed. There was no escaping him.

Chapter nine

Something Isn’t Right

Selena