Page 15 of Ache
“Anything else?” I double-check before I leave.
“Yes.” Alec picks up his phone. “Thai or Chinese?”
“Excuse me?” I cock my head.
“Thai or Chinese for dinner tonight? We’ll be working late.” He glances back and forth between his screen and me.
“Um,” I swallow thickly. “Chinese. I hate Thai.”
“Done.” He waves me off.
Dismissed.
I walk down the hallway back toward my desk in a bit of a daze. Working closely with Alec Prescott. Working late with Alec Prescott. Workingallalonewith Alec Prescott.
I plop down into my chair and stare at my computer blankly.
“Well, what did he want?” Lara immediately interrogates me.
“He wants my help with a case.” I gaze over at her. “I’m going to be his right hand, apparently.” I’m still processing this.
“Oh, really?” Lara’s eyes light up. “Stealing one of my junior partners, are you?”
Like she cares. Less work for her, more anxiety for me.
“I didn’t do it purposely.” I move my mouse around to wake up the screen.
“Sure about that?” She gives me shit.
“One hundred and five percent.” Alec’s email pops up as my Outlook loads.
I open it to find a thousand links and instructions ten-miles long.Groan. “You can totally have him back if you’d like,” I offer Alec up on a silver platter.
“Nope. He’s your problem now.” Lara waves goodbye.
“Fantastic.” I drop my chin into my hand and pout.
“Don’t look so disappointed. You’ll thank me one day.” She pops her eyebrows.
“I highly doubt it,” I drawl, spiraling into despair. It’s only Monday and already it’s turning out to be one hell of a week.
* * *
I spendall morning combing through Alec’s instructions, reading up on our client, the complaint, and a whole host of other legal mumbo jumbo that swallows up hours. This wage discrimination case was just dumped in Alec’s lap and nowweare left scrambling to prepare. He’s none-too-happy about it either. Other emails that have landed in my inbox from him have been curt, laced with annoyance, and clearly written in haste.
This is going to be so fun. I’m just the luckiest damn girl in the world.
Our client is being sued by several male employees whose wages where reduced to match their female counterparts. I’ve assisted on wage discrimination cases before, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen a situation like this. And apparently, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's website, reducing the wages of either sex to equalize their pay is a big, fat no-no. Our client looks to be screwed.
“Fucking Christ.” Alec shuffles around papers and folders on his desk as I walk into his office for our afternoon meeting. It’s three o’clock, I’ve barely eaten, my eyes hurt, and I have enough caffeine coursing through my veins to power a speed boat. By the looks of it, so does Alec. “Goddamn Tim with his horrific organizational skills and paternity leave. These case files are a disaster.” He’s clearly frustrated, and I’m clearly amused. I know I shouldn't find satisfaction in his frustration, but I do. Karma’s a bitch. I know that all too well.
“I reviewed everything you sent, read up on the laws, researched the company, and set up interview times with complainants starting tomorrow.”
“Good. Thank you,” he responds distracted, piling up the papers and folders. “We need to review all of these.” He picks up the thick pile and gestures to me. “Take a seat and strap in; it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.”
I juggle the loose papers and overstuffed folders in my arms as I reach over his desk. There is a lot to review. “I tried to organize everything by date so we can get spun up as quickly as possible, but Tim’s handwriting is chicken scratch, and I can barely make heads or tails of his damn notes,” Alec seethes.
“Good thing you have me, then.” I amble over to the round desk on the other side of the room and place the stack down. “I’m fluent in chicken scratch.” I push my glasses up my freckled nose.
