Page 21 of Trials of a One Night Stand
Zelda throws her hands in the air. “Why not?”
“Like I said, we agreed it would be one night. Now, can we drop it?”
Zelda shakes her head. “You’re a damn fool.”
I am. A damn fool who’d slept too heavily after weeks of sleepless nights and missed her leaving the hotel room. If I’d been awake, I would’ve asked her for another date.
“Maybe I am, but I’ll get over it.” I pocket my cell. “Now go grab lunch. We have a final meeting with Cliff before the preliminary hearing. We can’t make any mistakes because this Everton woman will jump on them if we do.”
She sighs loudly. “Okay, but for the record, I still think you’re a fool.”
“I’m not a fool.”
Zelda sashays out of my office without looking back at me. That’s so typical of her.
I don’t know if she can still hear me, but I don’t care. “I’m not, and I’ll prove it to you.”
I just have to figure out how I’ll do that.
CHAPTER SIX
JAYNE
“We’re going to win this lawsuit, right?”
Sitting in the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in downtown Portland, I stare at my client, Lucas Matthews, and flash him my most professional smile. I make it my business to win every case I’m involved in. My successes speak for themselves. And while I feel confident in my abilities, Cliff Ranger is my most fearsome opponent. Well, of the lawyers I’ve faced so far in my career. He’s so cutthroat the theme from Jaws plays in my mind when I think of him. I have no doubt he’ll be prepared to the hilt with every tiny piece of evidence checked ten times over. I’m good, too, but…
“That’s what I’m here for.” My vague response brings a twitch to Lucas’s mouth, but what else can I say? To be honest, after poring over all the information for the past five weeks, I’m not convinced Sugar Valley Drugs has a strong enough case to pursue, and Cliff Ranger never backs a losing horse. That worries me, and a part of me wonders again if my firm is offering me up as a sacrifice. That would explain the other two members of my team.
Lucas raises an eyebrow and taps the folder sitting in front of us on the table. “If you can’t win with that information in there, then you’re not the lawyer I was told you were.”
God, he’s awful—the client from hell. I focus on my case notes sitting in front of me. I wish I could ignore him like this all the time. Lucas Matthews isn’t a working executive at Sugar Valley like I was originally led to believe, but a man who sits at home drinking good whiskey and reading financial journals while the money rolls in. Sugar Valley Drugs is a small company, whose products seem to be copies of other successful ones on the market. Even the packaging looks similar, and the names are close to the original, except for an odd letter. An example is their ibuprofen pain reliever called Adwil. I mean, come on… how obvious can you get?
My client doesn’t even have a product like Orchid being sold, claiming the formula was stolen from them before they could go into the clinical trial phase. Of course, I want to know why they waited this long to sue Zentello. Anyone who knows anything about the pharmaceutical industry knows the length of time development and approval takes. The more questions I ask, but less the answers match up, which makes putting together a winning strategy difficult. Still, I’m doing what I can with what I’ve been given. I get the gnawing feeling not only is my promotion at stake but also my job. God, this has Colton written all over it. Yes, Gavin was the one who suggested I take the lead, but could this all be a bigger scheme to get me fired? If I find out Colton had a role in getting me assigned to this case…
“I must say, though. You look the part.” The innuendo in Lucas’s voice makes me glance his way to find his eyes raking up and down my body as if I’m wearing only lingerie. The way his mouth opens, I’m surprised there’s no drool coming out.
Talk about disgusting. A shiver runs along my spine. Of course, he’s the client, so I must be polite.
Doug is still in Seattle, trying to do as little work as possible, making me wonder why he wasn’t fired years ago, but Oliver came with me to Portland. He’s sitting in the gallery because this is a preliminary hearing, and we don’t need to come in with all our legal guns blazing. It turns out Oliver is Jason DeVaughn’s stepson. I was right about him being a nepo-baby who would rather party than work. Jason got him a job at the firm, but Oliver, despite having graduated from law school, told me on the train ride to Portland he would rather be a social media influencer. So far, he’s pulling his weight, but I have my doubts that’ll continue.
I focus on my paperwork again, hoping to hide my disgust. A year ago, my life was so different, and everything appeared to be working out how I planned. Now, I’m in the middle of a shit show, trying to keep my shoes from being covered with crap.
“What?” Lucas chides. “You’re attractive, Jayne.”
My blood boils. Of course, he would be so bold to say something like this. Time to nip it before he can take it any farther. “I’m here to defend your case, not be your arm candy, Mr. Matthews. Your approval of my appearance won’t affect the way I do my job.”
I want to look professional and serious for today’s preliminary motions hearing. I want Zentello and Cliff Ranger to see that I mean business and tremble in their expensive Italian loafers. I want them to fear me as if I’m hungry and they’re on the menu.
That’s why I’m wearing a slim-fitting black dress with a matching jacket. My pumps are plain black leather but top of the line. My glasses, which I wear as much for effect as sharper vision, have black rims. My hair is pulled into a low bun at the back of my neck, and diamond studs are in my earlobes. Understated yet classy. Still, my appearance is not something I’m willing to discuss with my client or any man.
“Do you understand?” I ask him.
Lucas holds up his hands. “You’ve made your point.”
It feels like he left off a silent “for now.”
Lucas isn’t required to be here, but he offered to attend since the judge might want input on the change of venue motion that our opponent is submitting. He said something about having done this before, which raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Still, having him here could help if he keeps his mouth shut, given I have no idea what Ranger might pull. If Zentello were my client, I’d not only request a change of venue but also submit a motion to dismiss. Not that I’ll say a word of that to Lucas.
