I think it's safe to say, you all are happy with things, yes? Now that they have gotten themselves together, let's see how things go at the office.
The song for this chapter is "Devil's Tears" by Angus & Julia Stone youtu*be/9yQTGyYg0_E and here is the pictease in case you missed it i46*tinypic*com/nqd307*jpg
Thanks to our beta's, karenec, AshesAshes, LJ Summers, and jakeward. Your help with this story has been amazing and we are eternally grateful.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter Twenty-Five: Nerves
The following morning, Edward and I woke up early and went running together. The air was thick with fog when we left his apartment, but by the time we returned, flushed and panting with exertion, the sun had risen and burned the fog away. We showered together after and between the decadent feeling of multiple shower heads and Edward's touch on my slippery skin, I was incredibly relaxed by the time we got out.
It felt odd to get ready for the day with someone other than Riley, yet, it wasn't exactly uncomfortable. It was hard to think of much else besides Edward when he was standing beside me in nothing but a towel. And when he pulled out an old-fashioned shaving kit, complete with bowl and brush, I couldn't help the huge smile that crossed my face. The antique pocket watch he wore, the shaving kit, they were so Edward.
"Did your father shave like that?" I asked as he carefully scraped the stubble from his throat. He met my gaze in the mirror and quirked an eyebrow.
"With the soap bowl and brush, rather than shaving cream? Yes. He claimed you got a closer shave and I have to agree. The few times I've shaved with just shaving cream it didn't end well."
"It suits you," I said.
I dried my hair, making it smooth and sleek as Edward finished shaving and splashed on after-shave. It was a brand I'd never heard of before, but the scent was incredible.
He disappeared into the bedroom and I finished getting ready. It was nice not having to rush home to get ready in the morning after staying over. Edward was dressed when I went into the bedroom. He had on a black suit and a midnight blue shirt and was making the bed. I could feel his eyes on me as I dropped my robe and leisurely dressed in a lacy lingerie set; he came over to press a warm kiss to my shoulder.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered, his fingertips grazing my hips. "I am so glad you stayed last night."
"Thank you. I'm glad I did, too." I turned in his arms and kissed him softly before pulling back, dragging my fingertips across his smooth jaw.
He let me dress, but stood there watching. It was like his eyes were caressing my body, appreciating every subtle dip, curve, and angle. Like I was a piece of art he couldn't tear his eyes away from.
I dressed in a dark charcoal suit with a bright blue silk top underneath. When I fumbled with the clasp of my necklace Edward smoothed my hair off my shoulder and fastened it for me. Warm, lingering lips caressed my neck before he stepped away. I gathered my things and re-packed my bag, but just as I was about to slip the robe in, Edward spoke. "You can leave some of your things, if you'd like."
His voice was deliberately casual and when I paused for a moment, he continued. "If you don't want to, that's fine. I just thought it might be easier not to have to haul everything back and forth when you stay. I won't be offended if you don't want to."
My initial thought had been be to say no, but he had a good point. I knew, too, how hard he was trying to make sure he didn't push me too far. I wanted to show him that I was trying. "Sure," I said. "Where would you like me to put my robe?"
He couldn't hide the momentary look of surprise on his face, but it quickly disappeared into a smile. "There's a hook just inside the closet on the left."
I hung the robe there and we both went downstairs, Edward grabbing my bag to carry it for me before I could even protest. He had an omelet and toast warming in the oven and as I sat at the table, I noticed coffee, a glass of orange juice, and a bowl of fruit.
"This looks incredible, Edward," I said. "But I rarely eat this much for breakfast during the week."
He shrugged and sat down in the chair across from me. "Eat as much or as little as you like. I already ate."
To my surprise, I ended up finishing the entire omelet, most of the toast, and the fruit, coffee, and juice. Edward gave me a pleased smile and I helped him load the dishes into the dishwasher. He walked me out to my car and kissed me goodbye before I left.
~LTOYL~
The morning passed quickly as I worked to catch up on everything I'd let slide in the last few days. I was feeling great, and I'd enjoyed every moment I shared with Edward, but it did cut into the amount of time I spent at work.
My great mood was not enough to stave off my frustration with Lauren, however. I came out of my office to track down Alyssa to ask her a question about some of the research she'd done for the Walker case and saw Lauren's desk empty. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt that she had just stepped away for a moment to use the restroom or was on one of her breaks. But as I passed by one of the conference rooms I saw two people standing close together and on closer inspection, I realized it was Lauren and she was hanging all over Alec. She was wearing a tight black skirt and a hot pink button down shirt, unbuttoned too low. Again, inappropriate for a law office.
She had on matching bright pink lipstick and heavy eye make-up, more suitable to a club than a law office. She was tall and thin, with pretty blue eyes and although her hair had tacky-looking platinum streaks, the natural color that showed underneath was a honey blonde.
She was laughing breathily and whispering in his ear, her hand just inches away from his crotch.
"Lauren," I snapped and she leaned back quickly, her eyes wide and startled.
"Oh, Ms. Swan." She giggled nervously and glanced sideways at Alec. He smirked and put his hands in his pockets, trying to look nonchalant.
I forced myself to remain calm. "I really don't think whatever is going on here is appropriate for the workplace. Lauren, I'd like to speak to you in my office for a moment."
"Oh, get over yourself, Bella," Alec said, rolling his eyes at me and winking at Lauren.
"Alec, your behavior is no better. You should be setting an example for the rest of the staff here, instead of encouraging it," I said coldly. Lauren backed away, and returned to her desk
"You know, if you would just get laid occasionally, you wouldn't be so fucking uptight," he sneered before sauntering away himself.
I sucked in a breath sharply, completely furious with his statement. Turning on my heels and leaving the conference room, as soon as I saw Lauren I said, "My office. Now!"
She followed me, the sound of her cheap heels clacking on the floor making me even more irritated with every step she took. When we reached my office, I gestured for her to go inside and I firmly closed the door behind me. I took a seat at my desk and she sat in one of the two leather chairs across from me with a petulant huff. The sullen, childish expression she had on her face did nothing to soften my feelings toward her.
I spent a moment looking at her and she sneered at me and looked away. Trying to remember my father's words to be patient with her, when I finally spoke, my voice was gentle. "Lauren, I understand that Alec can be quite charming." I grimaced internally, finding him nothing but loathsome, but I knew women often found him appealing. "And believe me, I will be speaking to him and to Charlie and Aro about his behavior, but I need you to try to act more professional here at work."
She flipped her hair over her shoulder and scowled at me. "I don't see what your problem is, we were just flirting."
"Lauren, your hands were in a less than appropriate place. Perhaps you've never worked at an office of this caliber before, but groping one of the partners in a law office is considered sexual harassment—not to mention the fact that you were away from your desk unnecessarily. What if I had missed an important call? You are here to work for me. Period. If you can't control yourself, we'll have to find someone else to take your place. It will be a great struggle to us, and especially to me, to have to train a new secretary for until Gianna is back, but I won't hesitate to do it, if you don't start acting more professional."
The tone of my voice brooked no argument and although a pouty look settled on her face, I saw a flicker of concern in her eyes. I softened my voice again. "Lauren, I'd like to have a better working relationship with you. Honestly. I want you to do well here. Please, just try a bit harder, and stay away from Alec. If you're still interested in each other once you're no longer an employee here, you can begin something then. But not now. And certainly not here at work."
She fidgeted with the silver bangles on her wrist and nodded. "Yes, Ms. Swan. I do want to keep this job, honestly."
I smiled reassuringly at her. "Just stay away from Alec and you won't have to worry about that."
She nodded and stood up, leaving without another word. I was still irritated with her, but she seemed sincere in her desire to continue working here and deserved another chance.
I got back to work, hoping that the day's drama was over. I called Alyssa to my office and we discussed the questions I had for her about the Walker case. It took several hours to untangle some confusion, and we worked through lunch without even noticing. I had texts from Edward asking how my day was going. I quickly sent him a reply that I was overwhelmed at work and sorry I couldn't talk. He promptly responded with a brief message saying he hoped it was resolved quickly and that he would look forward to hearing from me when I had time later. I took that chance to tell him thanks, appreciating that he never tried to interfere with my work. He understood how important it was to me, and I was grateful.
Unfortunately, my afternoon was far less peaceful than I'd hoped for. I stepped out of my office to use the restroom when I overheard Alec on the phone. He was sitting in his office with the door wide open, with his expensive Italian-leather shoes resting on his equally-expensive desk. He was leaning back in his chair and talking loudly.
"I have this Harcourt case totally nailed. The little minions in the office are running around doing the dirty work to get the lying sap off. The guy told me he strangled his rich, bitch of a wife and I'm going to make him look like a saint. Once I dispose of the pictures of him screwing the hot little number he has working for him, and I play my card against opposing council that I secured last night, the guy's in the clear with a nice payday coming my way. All I have to do is write up my opening argument, get in front of a jury, and work my magic. They'll be back with a verdict of not-guilty for the cheating bastard in twenty minutes.
"Opposing council doesn't have a clue what I'm about to throw her way. I'll eat her alive in that court room. You should have seen her pretty little lips wrapped around the dude I hired to pick her up last night. He had her singing like a canary and even got her to spill some information on the case. I'll flash a few of those pictures her way, throw her completely off her game and she won't have a prayer in hell. Pity really. Jessica would have made a nice asset to our firm. Now she'll be lucky to get a job as a law clerk at a legal aid office."
He laughed loudly and I forced myself to walk away and step into the restroom to compose myself. Flying off the handle wasn't going to help the situation. If I was going to expect proper behavior for a law office from Alec, I had to remain calm.
Jeremy Harcourt was the doctor accused of strangling his wife. It was an extraordinarily high profile case, even for our office, and Alec's cavalier attitude infuriated me. I knew the police had some very solid evidence and there were rumors of a string of mistresses and violent behavior in Jeremy Harcourt's past. There was no way it was an open and shut case. There was too much media speculation surrounding it and there was bound to be negative press if Alec wasn't able to succeed. Particularly if he did shoddy work.
His attitude about the case galled me, but what worried me even more was his lack of discretion. He had been openly gossiping about a client, which violated attorney-client privilege, regardless to whom he had been speaking.
And resorting to blackmail to win a case? I shuddered at the thought. Knowing Alec, it was possible he was just talking out of his ass and hadn't actually done that. But if there was even a chance of him having done something that would not only get him disbarred and potentially in legal trouble of his own, I had to know. Afraid that if I jumped the gun, I'd never be able to catch him, I decided to work harder to find evidence of what Alec had done. I had sacrificed so much for this firm and I would do whatever it took to protect my family's legacy.
When I had calmed down, I walked slowly to Alec's office. He had finished his phone conversation and was idly flipping through a luxury car brochure as if he had nothing better to do. I ground my teeth together in frustration and rapped quietly on the door. He looked up and gave me a mocking smile as he tossed the brochure onto his desk.
"To what do I owe the dubious honor of a visit from you? Come to scold me for being naughty with the help?"
"May I come in?" I asked, trying be as polite as possible.
"Go for it." He rolled his eyes and lowered his feet the floor. He leaned back and steepled his hands together in a gesture that reminded me of his father. Only, instead of finding it amusing, coming from Alec I found it aggravating.
After closing the door, I remained standing, resting my hands on the chair across from his desk.
"Alec, I know you and I haven't always gotten along, but I think it's important that we at least remain civil." He raised an eyebrow at me and didn't reply. "However, that doesn't mean that I'm going to just sit by while you do things that risk the reputation of this firm. This Harcourt case is the real deal. If you fuck this up, we're in big trouble. And I won't let you take this office down with you."
"Is this about Lauren?" he asked.
"That's part of it," I admitted. "You can't tell me that you think groping an employee in the conference room is really appropriate behavior at work."
He gave me a laconic smile. "Did you see me actually doing any groping, Swan?"
I ground my teeth to keep from shouting at him. "Alec…"
"God, you're so fucking uptight, Bella. I meant what I said earlier. Get laid a bit more often, and you'll be a hell of a lot more fun."
"My personal life is none of your business, Alec," I snapped.
He smirked at me. "So you do actually have one? We all thought everything between your thighs had shriveled up after Riley left."
Instead of slapping him like I wanted to, I gripped the back of chair tighter. I tried to remind myself that he was acting like such an ass just to get a rise out of me, and that I didn't need to stoop to his level.
My words came out cold and hard. "Stop right there if you don't want me filing a sexual harassment suit against you, Alec. You're an immature, spoiled brat, and nothing like your father. You're a disgrace to him, to this office, and to the entire field. You've been riding on your father's name and your looks for a long time, but it isn't going to last forever. Get your shit together."
I stalked out of the room, trying not to mow down anyone in my path. Even Lauren gave me a terrified look as I stormed into my office and closed the door. I managed not to slam it, but barely. With an aggravated huff of frustration, I took a seat at my desk and pressed my fingers to my temples. The confrontation with Alec had given me a raging headache and I wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep it off. Preferably, in Edward's bed. Just the thought of slipping between the soft sheets, breathing in his scent, and feeling his arms around me was enough to slow my heart rate a little.
Unfortunately, actually climbing into bed with Edward wasn't an option. I spent a few minutes taking slow, deep breaths, then popped a couple of painkillers and downed a bottle of water. I massaged my temples for a few minutes and got back to work. Alec might be a fuck-up, but I wouldn't go down without fighting. I had given up so much for this firm. It was one of the biggest reasons why I didn't follow Riley to Washington D.C. It was about so much more than just my own career; it was about the legacy my grandfather and father had created. The trust of our clients hinged on a spotless reputation and impeccable record. Even if Alec didn't care about our clients, I did. Letting him aggravate me to point of distraction was only going to hurt them.
An hour later when I lifted my head, it was only because of a quiet knock on my office door. "Come in," I called out. I scribbled down one last note, afraid I'd forget my train of thought if I didn't.
To my surprise, Aro walked in. "Bella!" he called out cheerfully. He had a funny little way of pronouncing my name, and it always came out sound like 'Bellar' with his accent. I smiled at him and stood. He held out his arms and I went around the desk to hug him.
Aro always looked a bit like a cross between a funeral director and a vampire, and today was no exception. He wore a black suit with a black shirt. His hair was jet black and his skin was alabaster white. Still, there was a twinkle in his eyes as he smiled at me.
"You look wonderful, Bella," he said. "I haven't seen you look this well in ages. Come; tell me what's put such a glow in your cheeks."
I smiled at him. I didn't have the heart to tell him my cheeks were pink from frustration with his son. "Just the thrill of a good case, Aro. How are you?"
"Good, good. Just checking to see how things are running around here."
I dropped my voice and summoned my courage. While I knew I could talk to Aro about anything, Alec was his son. "That's something I'd like to speak to you about, actually."
"Of course. You know you can come to me with anything."
I walked over to close the door and we both took seats on the low couch along one wall. "Aro, I'm really concerned about Alec."
He frowned at me. "What is it?"
"Well, the Jeremy Harcourt trial for one," I said.
"Is something going on with the case that concerns you? You're not council for the Harcourt trial," he asked.
"I'm not, but due to the attention it has received and the negative effects it could have on the firm, I've been paying attention. I'm concerned it may be a bit much for Alec and his team. And if I'm honest, I'm not sure it was wise to accept the case to begin with. There is a lot of questionable legality revolving around Harcourt."
Aro's expression grew concerned. "I agree. I wouldn't have taken this one on if I'd been consulted. Perhaps Alec's bitten off more than he can chew. I love my son, but I have to be realistic about his skills. He's brilliant in front of a jury, but if he doesn't have the right tactic and hasn't taken the time to do his research, it won't matter. Perhaps it would be appropriate for me to step in and oversee things. I can sacrifice a few golf games to ensure that things are handled correctly, and that the reputation of this office stays intact."
"Thank you, Aro," I said. "I really do worry over this trial and want the integrity of our firm to remain intact. I really appreciate you offering to step in."
"Of course, Bella. Did you have any other concerns?" he asked.
Immediately, my mind jumped to my altercation with Alec but I knew I had to be careful and sure of something before talking with Aro about it. At least with him looking in on the case now, I could turn my attention to my own cases and into actually investigating Alec. Aro's keen eye would discover the truth on his own. I knew Aro would do what was necessary to keep everything regarding the Harcourt trial legal and ethical. I did, however, feel it necessary to mention things regarding Lauren to him.
"Well, I've seen a few things that concern me lately. My temporary assistant, Lauren, well, she's a bit of a flirt, and I've talked to both her and Alec about their behavior. I caught them in the conference room this morning. Their behavior was quite suggestive for work—really rather inappropriate, to be honest. Lauren seems like she wants to stay here until Gianna comes back, and she's promised she'll try to avoid any situations like that with him in the future, but I'm worried that it'll continue to be an issue. Frankly, it's a lawsuit waiting to happen."
Aro frowned. "That is potentially damaging situation. You know how hard I've tried to avoid any sort of impropriety here."
"I do, and that's why I brought it up."
"Of course; I'll speak to Alec about this," Aro said, appearing deep in thought.
"Thank you," I said gratefully. "I knew you'd understand."
"Of course, Bella. You know I think of you like a daughter. Your father and I worked hard to build the firms integrity and reputation. It's nice to see your concern for keeping things above board. I wish I could say the same for my son. We couldn't be happier about you taking over eventually. You're just about ready to become partner, I think. Certainly by the end of the year."
I felt my heart speed up in my chest, thrilled that at least things in my work life were going well. I thanked Aro and he assured me I would be seeing him around the office often until the Harcourt case was resolved.
Relieved to finally be able to put both issues from my mind, I said goodbye to Aro and got back to work. I stayed late that night, ordering take out and working until my eyes were bleary. With an exhausted groan, I sat back and decided to head home. After cleaning up the mess of paperwork that covered my desk and shutting down my computer, I left the office, saying good night to the night guard on my way out and made my way to my car. The clock on the dashboard said eleven p.m. It had been a while since I'd stayed at work that late.
I sent Edward a quick message once I was home before going to bed. His response left a smile on my face as I fell asleep.
Good night, beautiful.
So what do you think of Alec? Does he make your skin crawl? Ugh, I feel the need to shower now. This chapter was originally twice as long but we felt it best to move what happens next to its own chapter. So we apologize for the shorty, but just think, now there is an additional chapter in the story!
Thank you for all the great reviews on the last few chapters. We've heard from a lot of you and that's a good sign. We love to know what you guys think of things. Some of you have expressed some concern that the happiness our couple is experiencing right now is only temporary. . . . Well, just remember every relationship needs closure. ;)
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