Page 2 of Hooked on Mack (Hooked #7)
Larissa
“Another one?” I muttered under my breath as I scanned the case file on my desk.
Three years of law school, five years working my way up the ladder in this firm, and here I was stuck with yet another cheating husband in a high-stakes divorce case.
And to make matters worse, my hair appointment had been canceled because my stylist decided to take a last-minute trip to Bali.
“Seriously, what is it about me that screams 'unfaithful men magnet'?” I grumbled to no one in particular. The office was buzzing, papers flying faster than the gossip. As if I didn't already have enough pressure weighing down on me, now I had to deal with this monstrosity of a case.
“Ugh.” I sighed, running a hand through my platinum-blond locks.
“Rough day, huh?” my coworker, Jenna, commented casually as she plopped down into an empty chair.
“Understatement of the year,” I shot back. “I'm starting to think I should just change my name to 'Larissa, Defender of Unfaithful Men.' It's got a nice ring to it, don't you think?”
Jenna chuckled. “Well, at least you can say you've found your niche.”
“Please, don't remind me.”
Another day, another adulterer .
“I’ve got to head over to meet with Mack. Talk to you later?”
“Of course. Good luck.”
I gathered up the materials and walked over to the conference room, ready for our fight to begin.
I'd heard about him, of course—his movie-star good looks, disarming charm, and winning streak that made it seem like he had Lady Justice herself wrapped around his finger. This case would be anything but easy.
“Ms. Montgomery, allow me to introduce myself,” said a voice that could only belong to the man himself. I turned to find Mack standing before me, extending his hand. His brown hair was perfectly styled. “Mack Harrington. I’ve been looking forward to facing off against you.”
“Likewise,” I replied, shaking his hand with a grip that left no doubt who was in control. “But don't think your charm will work on me. I'm here to win.”
“Wouldn't dream of it,” he said, still smiling. “May the best lawyer win.”
“Indeed.” As we sat down at opposite ends of the table, my mind began racing. He might have the charisma of Cary Grant and the looks of George Clooney, but I wasn't going to let that distract me from my mission.
“Alright, let's get down to business.” I opened my laptop and pulling up my meticulously prepared notes. “Since I represent the husband, I'll begin.”
As I launched into my case, I was hyper-aware of Mack’s gaze on me. It was unnerving, but also strangely exhilarating.
“Ms. Montgomery, I must admit, you've done an impressive job gathering evidence,” Mack conceded when I finished. “But we both know that it takes more than a well-researched case to win. It's about telling a story that resonates.”
“Are you suggesting I can't do that?”
“Of course not,” he replied. “I'm merely pointing out the importance of understanding human nature—something I happen to excel at.”
“Is that so?” I smirked. “Well, Mr. Harrington, I may not have your effortless charm, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve too.”
“Really? Do tell.” His interest seemed genuine, and I felt a little flattered.
“First and foremost, I never underestimate my opponent,” I began, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms. “I study their every move—their strengths, their weaknesses, their habits. And then, when the time is right, I exploit them.”
“Interesting strategy,” Mack mused, raising an eyebrow. “And what, pray tell, have you discovered about me?”
“Wouldn't you like to know?” I teased, a sly grin playing on my lips. He chuckled, clearly enjoying our verbal sparring match.
“Very well, keep your secrets,” he said, his blue eyes dancing. “But just remember: two can play at that game.”
“Good,” I retorted, relishing the challenge. “I wouldn't have it any other way.”
As we continued to discuss—and occasionally argue—the finer points of our case, it became clear, this was going to be one hell of a battle.
Once he left, there were many things that needed to be done.
“Janai, I need you,” I called out, my voice echoing through the empty hallway of our law firm. If anyone could help me dig up the dirt on Mark and Ava Kennsington, it was Janai Carlan—my loyal paralegal and best friend.
“Here I am, your legal fairy godmother!” she announced cheerfully as she appeared in my office doorway, her auburn hair pulled back in a messy bun. “What's the plan, boss lady?”
“Operation: Take Down Mack,” I declared, motioning for her to take a seat across from me. “We need to uncover every last bit of information on Mark and Ava. I know there's more to their story than meets the eye.”
“Ah, so we're going full Nancy Drew on this one, huh?” Janai grinned, pulling out her notepad and pen. “Where do you want to start?”
“Let's start with Ava. She's the one who's been playing the victim card, but something about her just doesn't sit right with me.” I tapped my fingers on the desk, trying to recall the details of our previous encounters.
“She's bold, brash, and rude—not exactly the damsel in distress she's trying to portray.”
“Got it,” Janai nodded, scribbling notes. “And what about Mark? Anything specific you want me to look into?”
“His infidelities, obviously,” I replied, rolling my eyes at the thought of yet another cheating husband. “But also his business dealings. If he's hiding anything, that's where we'll find it.”
“Consider it done,” Janai said, snapping her notepad shut. “I'll get started right away.”
“I don't know what I'd do without you.”
“Let's not find out,” she joked, giving me a small salute before disappearing down the hallway.
As Janai set to work investigating Mark and Ava, I began to prepare my arguments.
Every so often, my thoughts would drift back to Mack—his charisma, his confidence, that infuriatingly handsome smile.
I shook my head, trying to focus on the task at hand.
No distractions . Alright, Larissa, you've got this .
I cracked my knuckles, ready to dive into case law. “Let the battle begin.”
The next morning, I walked into the office, coffee in hand, and immediately noticed the hushed whispers that seemed to follow me as I made my way to the conference room.
In an attempt to ignore them, I took a deep breath and plunged headfirst into our firm's daily attorney meeting.
As I sat down, there was some gossip about Mack Harrington.
“Did you hear about his last case? He exposed that CEO's secret love child and won the entire settlement for his client.”
“Rumor has it he's never lost a case,” another chimed in, her eyes wide.
“Please. That's just a rumor perpetuated by his own ego. Besides, we all know how much he loves to dig up dirt on anyone who goes against him. I'm not worried.”
“Really?” Jeremy asked, raising an eyebrow. “You should be. Mack is known for embarrassing rival counsel by exposing their darkest secrets.”
“Let him try!” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “I've got nothing to hide. And I'll be damned if I let some pretty boy with a winning smile distract me.”
“Bold words, Larissa,” Jeremy replied. “So, what's your plan?”
“Simple: two can play at that game.” I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing. “You think he's good at digging up dirt? Well, I have Janai on my side, and she's even better. Whatever he throws at me, I'll throw right back at him, tenfold.”
“Ooh, I like this side of you, Larissa,” Jeremy teased, smirking. “Just make sure you don't get too caught up in the battle and forget about winning the case.”
“Trust me,” I replied, taking a sip of my coffee and meeting his gaze. “Winning the case is all I care about. Mack Harrington won't know what hit him.”
I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead—even if it meant going toe to toe with the infamous Mack Harrington.
“Alright, everyone,” I said, clapping my hands together and standing up from the table. “Let's get to work. We've got a case to win.”
The door to the conference room swung open with a flourish, and in strode Calvin Stockton, my boss and owner of Stockton everyone knew when Calvin was around, it was time to put on your game face.
“Montgomery,” he said, nodding in my direction as he made his way to the head of the table. “I trust you're ready for today's proceedings?”
“Of course,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the sudden knot in my stomach. “I've been preparing nonstop.”
“Good,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “This case is our opportunity to show the world what Stockton & Associates is capable of. We need to win, and we need to win big.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words settle on my shoulders like a lead blanket. It was one thing to face off against Mack Harrington for my own pride, but now I had the law firm barking at me. Talk about pressure.
“Understood,” I managed to say, offering him a weak smile. “I won't let you down.”
“See that you don't,” he replied, his gaze piercing straight through me. “You've got the talent, Montgomery—now it's time to prove it.”
With that, he turned on his heel and swept out of the room, leaving me to stare at the empty space where he'd been standing moments before.
“Hey,” Janai whispered, leaning over to give my arm a reassuring squeeze. “You've got this, okay? You're the best lawyer I know, and you've never let me down.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, forcing a smile even as my mind raced with doubts. What if I wasn't good enough to win this case? What if I couldn't outsmart Mack? What if I crumbled under the pressure and let everyone down?
As I strode out of the conference room, I tried to push those thoughts to the back of my mind, focusing instead on the task at hand. But no matter how hard I tried to shake them off, the weight of Calvin's words—and the pressure to succeed—hung heavy on my heart, threatening to consume me.
Ready or not, Mack Harrington . Here I come .