The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1) (5 page)

“
Yes, without a doubt. You know wha
t’
s in order
?
”

“
Of course. You must pick how we commemorate the occasion. Add a placard to the former peace vas
e’
s pedestal? Blaze an orange-fruit carpet out the front entry? Hire a trumpeter to announce your entrance and departure wit
h‘
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
?
’”

“
Is that really a song
?
”

“
Yes, by the Andrews Sisters. Alfred had it on last week
.
”

“
I was thinking w
e’
d splurge for lunch and go to Chestnut
.
”

“
Done. I guess
I’
ll hold those gems in reserve for my next celebration. I wonder how much a custom teal carpet would set me back. Would it qualify as a business expense? Could I find teal velvet robes to set alongside it
?
”

“
Yo
u’
re ridiculous and possibly insane
.
”

“
Some say
I’
m a dreamer
.
”

“
Only those who have
n’
t seen you in action
.
”

“
Such flattery will get you a fancy lunch. Coli
n’
s craving Thai food. I suspect an upgrade to Chestnut wo
n’
t be a problem. Since you plan to steal my intern, do you want to check out the application for toda
y’
s prospect
?
”

“
Sounds fair
.
”

“
PSC engage, retrieve intern applications and display on Screen Four
.”
Ruby perused the digital folder on Cassandr
a’
s wall screen
.“
Open Jasmine Sinclai
r’
s application
.”
She turned to Cassandra
.“
That nam
e’
s familiar.
I’
ve met her. Do you know her
?
”

“
No
.
”

“
Okay, not a mutual acquaintance. Let me place her. Ah, yes, that day I verbally sparred with my colleagues in defense
.
”

“
That really narrows it down, Ruby
.
”

“
Well, it did
n’
t start out as usual. You know, calling me honey, sweetie, beautiful as they looked me up and down like an ent
ré
e
.
”

“
What happened
?
”

“
It started out bland enough. One slicked-back hairstyle asked another how cour
t’
s been. Jim claimed he got him out of this and her off of that. Their usual banter about sweet deals. Then Larry brought up a probation officer
.‘
She has a lucky bastard of a husband
,
’
”
Ruby parroted.             

“
Did he mean Cynthia? Her husband Mark is a health activist and a professional caregiver
.
”

“
I know it. Larry figures that means Mark plays golf all day and coaches little league all night. Mark spearheaded overhauling his distric
t’
s school-lunch program
.
”

“
Did you know his blog is wildly successful
?
”

“
No, but
I’
m not surprised
.
”

“
What happened next
?
”

“
Larry told Jim he shoul
d’
ve seen her in that skirt. He appreciated how she felt free to express her femininity. You kno
w—
hubba hubba
, elbow poke in the ribs. They shoul
d’
ve bagged a woman like her and played golf. Larry figured sh
e’
s quite the tigress out of the courtroom
.
”

“
Let me guess. You could
n’
t just sit there
.
”

“
Why would I? My clien
t’
s shifting in her seat. Jenny the court clerk turned beet red. I could tell from across the courtroom. Somebody had to say something. I was polite about it, Cass
.
”

“I’
m sure you were
.
”

“
I excused myself for interrupting their degrading conversation. Then I, very politely, informed them my clien
t’
s a lady. If the
y’
d emerge from their makeshift man cave, the
y’
d see there are other ladies presen
t—
all could hear them, and none appreciated their debasing banter. Though inappropriate anywhere, i
t’
s better suited to a bar than a courtroom. I gestured toward those standing to applaud, said I present Exhibit A, and told them I rested my case
.
”

“
Wha
t’
d they say
?
”

“
They asked me who the hell I thought I was
.‘
Ruby Miller of Miller Law Office
,’
I said. They may have seen my teal billboard off the interchange. Women have taken notice. I have a few ideas why they prefer my representation over theirs
.
”

“
You have a knack for making friends
.
”

“
Sure do. I have no desire to muddy myself by playing in the pigpen. It turned out Larr
y’
s client had joined in the ovation. She went in front of the judge and fired her attorney
.
”

“
What was her reason
?
”

“
Unprofessional behavior. She approached me after court for my card. And she was
n’
t the only one
.
”

“
What does this have to do with Jasmine Sinclair
?
”

“
Jasmine approached me, too. She told me she appreciated
I’
d said something. And now here she is coming in to interview for an internship with me
.
”

“
You
?
”

“
Us, intern snatcher. Yo
u’
ll like her. PSC, open resume
.”
Ruby scanned the document
.“
Sh
e’
s well-qualified for the position
.
”

“
Geez, does she ever sleep
?
”

“
If not, sh
e’
ll be a perfect fit for my firm. A bit of an overachiever for yours
.
”

“
Hey, who beat you in this morning
?
”

“
Only because the rule is bogus.
I’
ve been meaning to talk to you about it
.
”

“
No, Ruby. Your ass on your home chair does
n’
t count
.
”

“
You have
n’
t considered my new arguments
.
”

“
Buy me sinfully dark chocolate and
I’
ll take them into consideration
.
”

“
Deal
.”
Ruby rose
.“
Do
n’
t you have work to do? Or are you going to rest on your laurels? At this rate, it might be a while before your next celebration
.
”

Cassandra tossed a pen at Ruby, who caught it effortlessly
.“
Damn it, I forgot you played softball
.
”

“
Center field, baby. Captain. MVP
.
”

“
Yeah, yeah. Enough about your glory days
.
”

“
I heard you bragging me up last week before we crushed the Steffen firm at league. Besides, you should be thankful I have catlike reflexes. You coul
d’
ve stabbed my eye with your atrocious aim
.
”

“
Who said that woul
d’
ve been a miss
?
”

“
Nice. Be more careful, Cass.
I’
m trying to make this the new face of criminal defense
.
”

“
Thank God you caught it. You saved me from having to hire a scumbag to combat assault charges
.
”

Rub
y’
s PSC chimed twice before Coli
n’
s face appeared on-screen
.“
Ms. Sinclair has arrived
.
”

“
Thanks, Colin.
I’
ll meet her in the conference room
.
”

“
PSC to standby
.”
The wall image disappeared as Ruby turned to Cassandra
.“
Would you like to join us
?
”

“
I have to make calls, and finish prep for an OFP at nine. Bring her by if yo
u’
re going to hire her
.
”

“
Now that it comes down to the legwork, sh
e’
d be my intern.Well played, Dayton
.
”

“
I do
n’
t know what yo
u’
re talking about. I happen to be swimming in work this morning
.
”

“
Yo
u’
re swimming in something. Try getting up at midnight. I
t’
s amazing what one can accomplish before dawn
.
”

“
Yet still cannot manage to beat on
e’
s suitemate into the office
.
”

“
Savor your small taste of glory. By the way, your name plaque is crooked. You would
n’
t want to give your clients the impression yo
u’
re off kilter
.
”

“
Is that the best you can do
?
”

“
No, i
t’
s a tiny warm up. It took me an hour to get those shreds out of my office. Yo
u’
re not getting off that easy, Cass
.
”

“
You told me to take care of shredding our discards when you made me go virtual. I was perfectly fine using hemp paper
.
”

“
Ho
w’
s the virtual system working out for you
?
”

“
Great
,”
Cassandra acknowledged.

“
Wish you woul
d’
ve held off on that little prank
?
”

“
A tad. Although you have to admit it was hilarious. Colin enjoyed it
.
”

“
Only because he was out sick, and did
n’
t have to participate in the cleanup
.
”

“
Sheer coincidence
.
”