Page 9 of Hooked on Mack (Hooked #7)

Larissa

As I stepped into the elevator, I checked my phone for any messages. Just as I reached for the button to close the doors and whisk me away to my office, my phone buzzed with an incoming call.

“Ms. Montgomery,” a voice crackled on the other end. “I've uncovered something important. There are secret assets outside the country that you need to know about.”

“Wait, slow down,” I said, barely containing my surprise. This could change everything for our case. As the elevator doors shut, I somehow managed to keep my cool. “Let's discuss this further. I'll get back to you shortly.”

“Very well.”

My fingers danced across the screen of my phone, composing a quick text to Mack. If anyone could handle a discovery like this, it was him. Not to mention, we were both working to get our clients what they wanted.

“Urgent meeting needed. Coffee shop near the courthouse in thirty minutes?”

“See you there!” His response came quickly, accompanied by a smiley emoticon.

As I exited the elevator and entered the familiar chaos of my firm, my thoughts raced. With secret assets involved, this case could become even more complex. But at least I wouldn't be navigating these murky waters alone; Mack would be right there with me.

“Morning!” my assistant greeted me cheerfully as I passed her desk.

“Morning. I’ve got to run out for a meeting. Hold down the fort, will you?”

“Of course,” she answered with an understanding smile.

As I gathered my things and prepared to leave, my thoughts turned back to Mack. What would his reaction be to this new development?

I took a seat in the corner of the cafe. A few minutes later, Mack strolled in.

“Hey, Larissa, hope you didn't wait long,” he said as he sat down across from me.

“Only a lifetime or two.”

“Alright, let's not waste any more of your precious time, then,” Mack said with a grin, opening his laptop and spreading out the documents we'd need to discuss. This was one of the many things I admired about him—his ability to dive right into work without hesitation.

As we analyzed the information regarding the secret assets, it became clear that this case was far more complicated than either of us had anticipated. We spent hours combing through every piece of evidence.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked Mack, looking up from my notes.

“Positive,” he replied, meeting my gaze with unwavering determination. “We've got to follow every lead, no matter where it takes us.”

His confidence was contagious. Together, we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at Mack's office, bringing our teams together to tackle this unprecedented situation.

Mack’s office was a stark contrast to mine. Warm-toned walls were adorned with framed photographs of his loved ones and a large wooden desk that seemed like a relic.

“Alright, everyone, we've got a lot to do and not much time,” Mack announced as we all settled in, phones in hand and laptops fired up. “Let's get to work.”

We made phone calls, compared notes, and brainstormed possible approaches to the case. Despite the stakes, there was an undeniable camaraderie that permeated the air; it was clear that both our teams were determined to see this through, together.

As the evening wore on, I stole glances at Mack. There was something about the furrow of his brow as he concentrated, or the way he'd run a hand through his hair in frustration. It was a side of him I rarely saw, and I found myself increasingly drawn to him.

“We need to request an emergency hearing as soon as possible.”

He looked up from his notes, his eyes meeting mine. “I agree.”

“Exactly.” I nodded as we both got to our feet. The rest of our teams continued their diligent work.

“Let's get on it, then,” Mack said, and we moved toward the conference room to prepare our arguments for the judge.

As I walked past the break room, I overheard two members of Mack's team engaged in a hushed conversation. Their words caught my attention, my curiosity piquing as they mentioned Mack's ex-girlfriend.

“Seriously, we have to make sure she doesn't show up here again,” one said, a note of annoyance in her tone. “She's nothing but trouble for Mack.”

“Agreed,” the other chimed in. “He's been so much happier since they broke up. We can't let her ruin his progress—or this case.”

I hesitated by the doorway, biting my lip as their whispered words sank in. Did they truly believe that Mack's personal life could jeopardize the case? Was there more to their concern than mere gossip?

My thoughts raced as I entered the conference room, trying to focus on the task. Mack was already there, pacing back and forth as he formulated his argument. He paused when he noticed me, offering a warm smile that momentarily chased away my concerns.

“Hey, we've got this.”

I forced a smile. “We do.”

But as we continued to work side by side, our professional rivalry seemingly forgotten, I couldn't help but wonder about the conversation I overheard.

And as much as I tried to dismiss it, the thought of Mack's ex-girlfriend—and my own growing feelings for him—lingered stubbornly at the back of my mind.

“Have you gone through all the documents?” Mack asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Almost. One more to go,” I replied, focusing on the screen before me. My fingers flew across the keyboard while my heart pounded against my rib cage.

“Great. Let's wrap this up and celebrate with some takeout.”

“Sounds good.”

After placing our orders for food, I decided it was time.

“Mack, can I talk to you about something?”

“Of course, what's on your mind?” he responded, his brows furrowing.

“Earlier today, I overheard a couple of your team members talking about your ex-girlfriend. They seemed worried about her showing up here and causing problems for you—and potentially for this case.”

Mack's face flushed with anger and embarrassment, his fists clenching at his sides. “Was it Rachel? Or maybe Jake?” He paused, his voice softer as he added, “I thought they knew better than to gossip.”

“Does it matter who said it?” I snapped, my own frustration bubbling to the surface. “The point is, they clearly think she could be a problem for us. And if that's the case, I deserve to know about it.”

“Fine,” he conceded, his jaw clenched. “Yes, my ex has a habit of showing up unannounced and causing scenes. But she's out of my life now, and I won't let her interfere with our work. Happy?”

“Ecstatic,” I retorted, rolling my eyes. “I just wish you could have been upfront about this.”

“Right, because you're always so open about your personal life.”

“Maybe if you didn't have such a reputation for playing by the rules, I wouldn't have to worry about what your team says behind closed doors!” I exclaimed, my voice rising in anger.

“Is that what this is really about?” Mack asked, his gaze narrowing. “Are you worried about your own reputation being tainted by association?”

“What if I am? We both know how cutthroat this industry can be,” I argued, my heart pounding as I bared my concerns to him. “I've worked too hard to get where I am just to have it all come crashing down because of some ex-girlfriend drama.”

Mack sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Look, I promise you. She won't be a problem. And if she does show up, we'll handle it. Okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed, my anger dissipating as I met his sincere gaze. “Thank you, Mack.”

“Anytime.”

The tension in the air shifted as Mack and I continued to exchange words. Instead of heated arguments, our jabs became playful, almost flirtatious.

“Really, Larissa? You're worried about my reputation?” Mack grinned. “I didn't know you cared so much.”

“Please,” I scoffed, feeling a smirk tug at the corner of my mouth. “I'm just looking out for my own interests here.”

“Ah, there's the Larissa I know and love—always putting herself first,” he teased, but there was warmth in his voice that hadn't been there before.

“Someone has to,” I retorted, unable to suppress a chuckle.

“Is that why you're always so quick to challenge me in the courtroom?” Mack asked, leaning closer. His proximity sent a shiver down my spine, and I found myself momentarily lost in the intensity of his gaze. “Afraid you might actually care about someone other than yourself?”

“Careful, Mr. Harrington,” I warned playfully, though my heart raced at the implications of his words. “You might not like where this conversation is headed.”

“Maybe I will,” he whispered, and before I could process what was happening, his lips were on mine.

The kiss was passionate and intense—more than I ever expected from someone like Mack. My hands gripped his shoulders, my fingers digging into the fabric of his suit jacket, desperate for something to hold on to as waves of emotion crashed over me. In that moment, all my doubts and fears faded away.

Mack's hands moved from my waist to cradle my face, deepening the kiss further. The world around us seemed to blur and fade until all that was left was the two of us, locked in an embrace that threatened to consume us both.

As we finally broke apart, breathless and flushed, I stared into Mack's eyes, my mind reeling from what just transpired between us. My earlier anger and frustration were now distant memories.

“Wow,” I breathed, still feeling the lingering warmth of his touch on my skin.

“Wow indeed,” Mack agreed, a hint of awe in his voice as he traced his thumb gently along my lower lip. “I guess we should probably get back to work, huh?”

“Probably,” I murmured, but neither of us made any move to break the momentary spell that settled over us.

The cold reality of our situation began to seep in as I stared into Mack's vibrant blue eyes, as we still held on to each other.

My heart raced and my cheeks burned; I couldn't believe what just happened between us.

This wasn't like me—losing control and kissing in the middle of his office.

I could practically hear Janai scolding me in my head.

“Listen,” I started, gathering my thoughts and trying to sound professional, “this… this can't happen again.”

Mack nodded, his expression serious but tinged with sadness. “You're right,” he agreed. “Our careers are too important, and we have clients relying on us.”

“Exactly,” I said, forcing myself to step back from him and create some physical distance. “This was a one-time thing, a momentary lapse in judgment. We can't let it interfere with our work.”

“Of course not. We'll just put this behind us and focus on the case.”

“Right. Now, let's get back to work.”

We both attempted to refocus on the task at hand.

I couldn't help but sneak glances at Mack, remembering the feel of his lips against mine and the way his hands cradled my face.

It was hard to shake the memory, and even harder to ignore the lingering desire that stirred within me.

My mind kept replaying the kiss, making it impossible to concentrate.

What if someone found out? How would this affect our reputations, our relationships with our teams?

I forced myself to push those thoughts aside, reminding myself that it was just a kiss, and nothing more.

“Hey,” Mack called from across the room, drawing my attention to him. “Could you take a look at this document? I want to make sure I'm interpreting it correctly.”

“Of course,” I replied, grateful for the distraction as I crossed the room to join him.

As we bent over his desk, our shoulders brushing slightly, I wished things could be different between us.

But as much as I wanted to explore whatever sparked between us, I knew it was too risky.

Our professional rivalry and the potential consequences on our careers simply outweighed any personal desires.

So, with a heavy heart, I focused on the document in front of me, determined to keep our relationship strictly professional.