Page 15 of A Trial of the Heart

Chapter

Fifteen

Shiloh:

I was arms deep in files and researching for the case when a knock sounded at the door, and my office phone rang instantaneously. Isla and I had been back from our quick lunch almost an hour ago, and I had requested to not be bothered. That obviously meant nothing here.

“Come in,” I said, answering my phone right after. “Shiloh Monroe with Crowley and Associates. How may I help you?” The person that had called had my direct line as it wasn’t a transferred call.

Once my office door was pushed open, a massive bouquet of Unicorn roses that a delivery guy held greeted me. They were rare and my favorite. No one ever sent flowers and never had a reason to since I broke up with Daniel.

“You like the flowers, Ms. Monroe?” Rashad’s sultry voice was music to my ears, causing the tiny hairs to stick up and my heart rate to increase.

“Ma’am, where would you like these?” the delivery driver asked, seemingly over his job as beads of sweat rested on his forehead. I was sure he didn’t bother confirming the flowers were for me since he heard me answer the phone stating my name.

I was stunned per usual with Rashad, but I gathered myself quickly.

“Umm, you can put them there,” I instructed the delivery guy, pointing to the round table off to the side in my office. After placing the bouquet down, the delivery guy bid a weak farewell and was out the door.

“You there?” I heard in my ear.

I let out a low sigh. “Why are you contacting me? I made it clear last night that I didn’t want anything to do with you outside of the courtroom.”

Rashad chuckled, which irritated me.

“That right?” It was comical and all a game to him.

Pressing my lips together tightly, I spoke through clenched teeth. “If you can’t respect what I’m asking, I’ll press charges for harassment. We both know that’s not something you want given your current situation.”

His laughter never slowed “That a threat?”

“I don’t make those.”

“Say, you want me to leave you alone?” he asked a question I had already made my answer clear on, so I didn’t respond. “Let me take you to dinner. Once that’s done, you’re free to do whatever you want in regard to this case.”

It was my turn to laugh. There was no way he’d said what he had and expected me to go along with it.

“Absolutely not. That’s prosecutorial misconduct. Not only that, I’m uninterested.” I added the last part for my own pleasure.

“Not interested, huh?” I guess I wasn’t as believable as I wanted to be. “You want the calls to stop? Even the flowers or anything else I may have to offer?”

Rashad was so calm, almost too calm it was scary yet had me intrigued.

“I want things to be how they were prior to us realizing we would be in court on opposite sides of the law until you’re found guilty.”

“Guilty, huh?” This time, he didn’t chuckle, but his voice was laced with a tone I couldn’t explain.

“Dinner with me, and I’ll leave you be. If not, I’ll keep sending shit to ya job and calling when I want.

Hell, I might just drop by the office. I’m sure your colleagues will eventually have questions, and it won’t be a good look for you. ”

I felt like I was stuck between a rock and hard place; I hated the feeling, yet at the same time, a piece of me wanted that dinner with Rashad. I had so many questions that needed answering, and I wanted one more time to look into his eyes to see how I missed every sign of him being a bad boy.

“Are you threatening me?”

Rashad chuckled. “Nothing I say is ever to threaten or intimidate anyone, Shiloh. I am asking for dinner. If you decide not to, I will continue pursuing until you agree.” He sounded like we were in a business negotiation.

“So, stalking me?” I muttered. I liked Rashad despite it all but liking him wasn’t enough for all the things in between us.

Rashad chuckled again, but this time, he didn’t speak right away. Instead, only the sound of his even breathing filled the line.

“What do you say, Ms. Monroe? Dinner tonight?”

Pressing my eyelids together, I slowly opened them as if the gesture would cause everything happening or had happened to change. It was all still a mess.

“Lunch, and I pick the place.”

“Early dinner, and you can pick the place and the day.”

I wasn’t much into negotiations, but I learned enough about Rashad that he’d have it his way no matter what. I wasn’t up for the back and forth.

“I’ll be in touch.”

“Have a great da—”

I roughly placed the phone on its receiver before he could respond. I truly thought it was a game, and I wasn’t one to continue playing them.

Knock. Knock.

What in the hell? I thought. My office door had surely been a revolving one today.

“Come in.”

Arthur’s cheap cologne filled my office, almost sending me into a coughing fit before I saw his actual face.

“Got a minute?” He was already stepping inside.

“Kinda busy.” I gestured to all the files that sat on my desk. “But I’m sure a minute is fine,” I added once he sat in the chair.

“How is the case going?”

He surveyed my office with his nose turned into the air. I never got how him and my father were such good friends. They were truly oil and water, never being able to mix.

“This isn’t one we can afford to lose.”

As opposed to all the high-end ones I bailed William from since he sucks so bad? I thought.

“It won’t be a loss, sir.”

“Good.” He looked over his shoulders at the flowers. “New relationship?”

He stood, and when he did, I headed for the flowers.

“No. Just decided to do something nice for myself.” I lied, removing the card that was stuck between the flowers. I had to get the card before him because Arthur had no boundaries, and I wasn’t sure what Rashad had put on the card if anything.

“Hmm. That’s nice. Let’s just focus on the case and less on doing something nice for you, until after the case, or maybe just do it at home.”

“Yup.” I nodded.

“How about giving me a report on where you’re with the case by the end of the week? Works, right?”

We had a few weeks before opening arguments of the trial so him wanting a report so early on was bogus, but everything about him was.

“Works well for me.”

He snickered. “Good day.”

He pulled open my door without closing it after him per usual.

Casually walking to the door, I closed it and said a prayer that a way could be made for me to leave the law office.

My patience was running thin, and I was tired of being treated like the help.

It was time to leave after this case whether I won or had the money for my own space.