Unavoidable Chance (9 page)

My heart sinks in my chest as I start to get butterflies in my stomach. This could be the conversation that I’ve been waiting for. What if it’s bad? What if he’s coming in here to tell me I’m not even in the running for partner? Oh my God, maybe he’s coming in here to fire me! Reagan eyes me and says, “Just relax; I’ll go make you another coffee. You should really straighten up a bit before he comes in here.”

Reagan leaves and I rush around the room fixing the couch and straightening the papers on my desk. Reagan comes back in, deposits a coffee on my desk, then takes the window cleaner and paper towel back in the bathroom. I have to leave for court in thirty minutes and I’m just dying to know what Mr. Foley has to say.

Not two seconds later, Mr. Foley walks into the room. Reagan asks if she can get him anything, he nods a no, so she walks toward the door. She gives me a thumbs up and a cheesy grin, then closes the door behind her.

I stand behind my desk as Mr. Foley walks to the windows and looks outside. He wipes his thumb on a wet spot still left from the window cleaner, then rubs it on his pants. My heart is beating out of control and I frantically wonder if I have a paper bag in one of my drawers, because I may need it at any second. I’m not sure if I need it to stop me from hyperventilating, or to throw up in. He walks over to the couch and sits in the exact same spot where Jax sat while I was riding him not even ten hours ago. Hyperventilate; yes, I need it to not hyperventilate, after that, I’ll throw up in it.

“Have a seat, Ms. Wellington.” I take a seat, and the Sahara desert returns to my throat. “You’re wrapping up the Murray case today, right?”

“Yes, sir,” I nod.

“We’ve just obtained a high profile case and I’d like you to take lead chair. I’m not going to lie to you; this case is going to be the deciding factor if we make you a partner in this firm. I don’t need to tell you that it will make you the youngest partner to date.”

“No, sir,” I nod again.

He continues to tell me all about the murder case and my mind travels at light speed at the ramifications of this outcome. This won’t be an easy case. There’s extenuating circumstances and a severe lack of evidence. It all boils down to convincing twelve people of the jury that one man is guilty of murder. The defending attorney is somewhat of a celebrity and is known for being a shark.

This case will need all of my focus. I’ll have to live, eat, sleep and breathe this case. Not only do I owe the family of the victim justice and the truth, but a goal that I set for myself is also on the line. For the first time, a sliver of regret enters my mind. Maybe I should have considered the offer Asher made to me to work for his company and be a corporate lawyer with my brother, Aiden. No, this is what I’ve worked so hard for. This is what I’ve given up my nights and my weekends for. This is what I’ve given up my social life for. And this is exactly why my dad was so concerned.

Shit.

The promise I made at his graveside weighs on my heart. But it will only be for this case, right? After this and I make partner it will be easy sailing. No more working late into the wee hours of the morning. After this case, then I can honor that promise. I’m just delaying it, just a little.

Mr. Foley continues to talk and finishes by saying, “I’ll have all the files on the case brought in and waiting for you when you get back from court today. I have faith in you, Ava.”

“Thank you, Mr. Foley.”

He leaves my office and Reagan rushes in with a very beautiful and tall yellow orchid. “This was brought in for you, here’s the card. You better get going or you’ll be late for court,” she says, handing me the card.

I shove everything in my briefcase and take one more look at the orchid sitting on the corner of my desk. I glance at my watch and rationalize that I have exactly four minutes to look at the card and I’ll still be able to make it to court on time. I rip open the card and read the last line first,
Jax.

I start back from the top and read.

Ava,

Find the meaning of this and you’ll know just what last night means to me.

Jax

The meaning! Are you kidding me! I don’t have time for games. I drop the card on my desk and my ass in my chair and type in ‘orchid’ in my web browser. Shit, each color of orchid means a different thing. I type in ‘yellow orchid’ and the one word meaning stands out on the page like a sore thumb and rips through my heart. Yellow orchids mean friendship. What a fucked up game to play, and what a callous and insensitive way to tell me that last night was just a freaking booty call. Well, I guess that’s for the best. With this new case, I wouldn’t have been able to fit in a new relationship anyway.

I grab the orchid and hold it over the trashcan, but can’t let go. It is a rather beautiful orchid. I put it back on the corner of my desk, kick the trashcan under my desk, grab my briefcase and head to my car, six minutes later than I should have left.

Jax

It’s been a week since I sent Ava the orchid. We’ve been slammed at the restaurant and I was a little taken aback by not hearing from her about my gift. Not a thank you, a call, or an in person visit. I thought I had made my intentions quite clear. There were many days that I wanted to just show up at her office and tell her she’s been a very bad girl and take her against her office window again.

So here again, I sit in my office trying to concentrate on paying bills, but instead I have Ava on my brain. I don’t know how much clearer I could have been.

Life should not be taken for granted. I know that. I realize that more than the average person. I rush out of my office into the kitchen and tell Parker I have an errand to run, but I’ll be back before the dinner crowd. The lunch rush is over and there is still plenty of food left. I pack up the lunch special and come up with the excuse that I’m dropping off some food for a sick friend. I get in my H3 and drive to Ava’s office. The second I pull into the parking space, I start to feel stupid. So, why is it that I’d be bringing her lunch, unannounced and completely unexpected? Well, I am here. I’ll just go up and talk to her, find out why she never responded to the orchid. I leave the lunch in the passenger seat and head into the office building. I nod at Gus on my way to the elevator. Getting off the elevator on her floor, I see Ava’s door cracked open and her assistant typing away on her computer with her phone in the crook of her shoulder, listening to whoever is on the other end.

She looks up from her computer and the frustration and tension is written all over her face. When she recognizes who I am, a small smile appears on her face, then she looks back at her computer screen.

“Yes, Ava I know. I’m looking. That file should have been in the stack that I gave you this morning. I’m bringing up the information right now. I’ll print it again.” Her hands fly from her keyboard to the stack of files to her right, then she frantically looks through them and finally comes across whatever it is she needed to find. “I found it. Ava, I’m so sorry. I had it this whole time. I’ll come down to the courthouse right now and deliver it to you.” She listens for a few seconds then continues, “Have you eaten lunch? I’ll bring you something. It won’t take that long, I’m leaving right now. I know you only have an hour. But you need to eat. Alright, bye.”

“Is everything alright?” I ask. Reagan is practically in tears, she’s so upset about whatever just happened. She stands, grabs her purse and the file and starts to walk away from her desk, but she runs into the bottom drawer of an open filing cabinet. Her face morphs in pain, then tears pour down her face; she sits back in her chair and grabs her ankle. She plants her face in her hands and starts to sob.

“This is all my fault. I know how important this case is to Ava. How could I be so stupid? I checked three times this morning to make sure she had everything she needed for court today. She’s been working her ass off for this case all week. If I mess this up for Ava, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Calm down for a second, you’re in no condition to drive like this,” I tell her.

“I have to go. I’m so sorry to be rude, but I have to stop and get Ava something to eat and get this file to her immediately.”

“I’ll take it to her,” I find myself saying.

“No, really I should bring it to her,” she replies. She stands, takes one step and winces in pain.

“You need to have a seat. That looks like it’s going to be one hell of a nasty bruise. Is that a break room in there?” I ask, pointing to the open doorway down the hall.

“Yes,” she replies as fresh tears stream down her face.

“You sit, I’ll be right back.” I head into the break room and straight to the refrigerator. I open the freezer and take out the ice tray. I open a few drawers until I find some dish towels and a resealable bag. I put the ice in the bag and wrap the towel around it. I search the top cupboards for meds and find some acetaminophen. I grab everything and head back out to Reagan.

“Here, put ice on it for the next twenty-four hours, fifteen minutes at a time or as much as you can tolerate, but no more that fifteen minutes at a time. Elevate it if you can, too. Take these for the pain. I’ll take Ava the file. I’ll bring her lunch, too. Don’t worry about a thing.” I grab the file from Reagan before she can object again and take the stairs down to my vehicle. It’s funny that I already had lunch with me to give to Ava.

I get to the courthouse and see Ava standing impatiently on the front steps. Her eyes find mine instantly and it’s a mix of shock, anger and lust. Before my feet hit the bottom steps, a breeze catches her sunshine sent and the memory of her flashes in my brain. I close my eyes and picture her naked body and heel clad feet spread open for me, leaning against the glass with the dark, Seattle skyline in the background. Just beautiful. She rushes down the steps and stands on the third step so we’re eye to eye.

“Where’s Reagan?” she asks, brows furrowed, eyes narrowed.

“She hurt herself, so I offered to bring your lunch and your file,” I say, holding up the lunch bag in one hand and then the file in the other.

“She was just fine when I talked to her on the phone.”

“She was. She was also upset and hit her ankle when she was trying to rush over here.” She tries to grab at the file, but I hold it just out of reach.

“Ah, ah, ah. Lunch first,” I chastise.

“Jax, I don’t have time for this,” she says, trying to grab the file again.

“What have you eaten today?” I ask, holding the file behind my back. She looks up to the right then to the left and comes up empty. “Just as I thought. Sit with me for ten minutes and eat, and then I’ll give you the file.”

She sighs, and then takes the three remaining steps down to my level. “Fine, five minutes, but that’s it.”

“Ten or no deal,” I counter.

“Fine, bossy pants,” she says under her breath.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” I ask.

“Fine, ten minutes, but not one second more.”

We walk over to a bench in the courtyard and have a seat. I open the bag and take out today’s lunch special. A smoked turkey wrap with baby spinach and cucumber cream cheese. I hand it to her and she immediately wrinkles her nose.

“Are there any secret ingredients in this?” she asks.

I take it back from her, look it over knowing full well she’ll love it. But just to give her a hard time I raise my eyebrows at it, then hand it back to her.

“Nope, Sky would eat it, so you should like it,” I tell her.

“Who’s Sky?” she asks, taking the wrap back. She brings it to her nose and gives it a little sniff, then takes a tiny bite. A tiny bite so little I don’t even know how she could taste any of it.

“My oldest daughter, Skylar, she’s a picky eater, too. You saw her briefly at the mall, remember?” She nods her head, and then takes a huge bite and her eyes roll in the back of her head.

“I really have to get going. I need to review that file and get ready for afternoon court.”

“Nope, hasn’t been ten minutes yet. We had a deal, ten minutes.”

She rolls her eyes and takes another bite. A couple walking on the sidewalk catches my eye.

“What are you smiling at?” she asks.

“Oh, nothing,” I answer.

“I’m stuck here for another,” she looks at her watch, “six minutes. You can at least entertain me, too.”

“Alright, it’s just something I’ve liked to do since I was young. See that couple over there holding hands. I like to people watch and try and come up with their story.”

Her face changes to a blank expression and her mouth hangs partially open. “But, you’re…”

“I’m what?” I ask amused. I know what she’s thinking. A guy like me, who looks like me, doesn’t people watch.

“So, that couple that you were looking at, what’s their story?” she asks, taking another bite.

I smile, knowing she’s eating and answer, “Those two are just going in for a marriage license. See the smile on her face? Their families have been torn over two different religious marriage ceremonies, and they’ve had enough, so they’ve decided that they’re just going to elope.”

“Really? You got all of that from two people walking on the sidewalk holding hands?”

“Yep.”

“Alright, what about those two,” she says, pointing to a woman walking rather angrily down the steps of the courthouse. She’s being followed by a man who’s yelling at her back as she walks.

“Them? Oh, those two are getting a divorce and fighting over child custody,” I say.

“No way,” she says, taking the last bite of the wrap. Twenty seconds later, the couple stops directly in front of us and has a heated discussion about custody over their three young children.

“Over my dead body,” the woman says.

“That can be arranged,” the man says.

Ava turns to me and gives me a shocked look. I open a bottle of water and hand it to her. She takes a drink, then turns her face back to me once the couple has moved on.

“How do you do that?” she asks.

“It’s a gift,” I answer sarcastically. She elbows me in the side, then looks at her watch.