Page 6 of My Office Rival (Keep Your Enemy Closer #2)

CYNTHIA

T he email sat in my inbox like a bomb waiting to detonate.

I’d interviewed for the position just a few weeks ago.

If I got it, I’d be moving to Texas to be an immigration attorney.

The work was pro bono (otherwise known as working for free for the public interest), and the pay was low, but it was everything I wanted.

I’d be defending people instead of helping giant corporations.

I’d done a little work at the firm on immigration matters when we partnered with organizations to do free work. And I desperately hoped that experience would be enough to get me in the door at this place.

To: Kade, Cynthia

From: Thomas, Letitia

Re: Attorney Position

Dear Ms. Kade,

We really appreciate your interest in working for us, but unfortunately, we can’t extend an offer to you at this time .

That was as far as I got before my eyes blurred and I clicked out of the message.

I opened a text to Margo instead of finishing the awful email.

Cynthia

I just got a rejection from Human Rights Defense

Margo

WTF really? I’m shocked! They should be begging you to come work for them! Let’s get a drink later and you can tell me about it.

I sighed. I didn’t really want to talk about it. I just wanted to wallow, but Margo would let me do that too.

My phone lit up with another message.

Devon

Look at the view here!

A picture of the ocean followed. My brother, Devon, was away for the weekend, leaving sunny LA for somewhere even more beautiful. Jealousy bit at me, but I shoved it down. He deserved fun. One of us did.

The small kernel of resentment wouldn’t go away, though. It was there when I saw his travel photos on Instagram, the clips from his latest art-house film that would never break even, his messy apartment, and carefree life.

That’s how it had been forever. Devon, my lovely, amazing, laughing brother, did what he wanted, and I was the dutiful daughter.

No one forced me to be that way. Devon never complained about his life, and he was always grateful to me when I helped him out, but something in me kept me giving and giving. Until sometimes I wanted to scream.

And then Jason Elliott had come along. Last night had been a bright spot in a string of dull winter days.

If I were interested in dating, he could have checked the right boxes.

He was brilliant, really fucking hot, and great in bed.

That was as good a start as any. Typically, I didn’t date.

I met guys on apps occasionally, but with the hours I worked, a man had to be pretty damn special to get a text back.

Special enough for me to ignore all the pitfalls of dating.

The upside was sex, and the downsides were too many to count.

Distraction, men who wanted me to stay home and make them dinner, men who were scared of how much money I made, the mommy track at the firm, the knowing glances I’d get if I got engaged that said “now she’ll be useless.

” I thought back to the last guy I’d texted back.

On my second date with Nate, he’d searched how much we made at the firm and nearly choked on his beer.

After listening to a few passive aggressive comments about women in the workplace, I’d faked a stomach illness and walked home.

I tried to refocus on my deal and stop worrying about my empty life. The document in front of me was covered in red writing, after I’d torn into the draft from opposing counsel.

The markup stared at me. I was tired from getting home late last night, sore between my legs, and angry that the ache constantly reminded me how I’d fallen for the Closer’s good looks.

I gulped my coffee for fortitude. I needed to finish this document, and then I’d drop it off with the junior later to turn my comments.

But I couldn’t bring myself to pick up the pen again.

Normally I worked like a woman possessed, but today, I’d taken one too many punches.

I couldn’t believe I was still here. Months, years, after I’d said I’d be out the door and following my dreams. Typical.

Just like every other senior associate I had talked to over the years, people who had been young and full of hope once.

Who had said, “I’ll save up and then I’ll be out the door.

” Just like I had. And I was still here in this tiny office, taking shit from Gerald and ignoring Ann.

Just like every other sucker to walk through these doors.

Even if the firm was soul-sucking, I loved being a lawyer. There was no better rush than winning a deal for my clients. Every closing made me feel like I had accomplished something. I was a problem-solver, a winner, a protector. I just didn’t want to be a protector of giant corporations anymore.

An email popped up with five scary words :

To: Kade, Cynthia

From: Reed, Gerald

Subject: Please come to my office

Gerald and I weren’t on any active matters now that our deal had closed.

Either I was getting staffed (bad), or I was getting fired (worse).

Not today. I couldn’t do this today . I took deep breaths to quell the anxiety.

It could be nothing. I stood, smoothing my hair and straightening my suit jacket, before making my way to Gerald’s office.

He waved me in to the perpetually chaotic space.

His desk was covered in papers, but had no computer, which is why he was king of faxing hand-written comments to all of us minions.

I sat demurely in the chair facing him, hoping my face didn’t look as red as it felt, hoping he couldn’t see the pounding of my heart under my suit.

“Cynthia, hi. Nice to see you.” He snuffled, his mustache moving with every word. “We need to talk.”

My heart sank. “Sure, what’s up?” I smiled tentatively and tried to project calm.

“As you know, this firm operates on an up or out model. Most counsel either make partner or leave to find something else. It’s not because we don’t value you or your work, but because this allows our associates to continue growing and moving upward without stagnating.”

This was it. This was the talk . I had known this day was coming.

Every senior associate dreaded this day.

Up or out meant I got promoted, or I got let go.

It was the law firm way. Gerald spewed platitudes and my stomach turned.

Focus. Focus on what he’s saying. Deep breaths.

I could potentially salvage this. I just needed to seem competent instead of nervous.

“We appreciate all the work you’ve put in over the years.

You’ve been one of our strongest associates, and we think you could make partner one day.

” He paused. “That is, if you want to.” He gave me a significant look.

“I want you to know that we are strongly considering Brett as well. He has the support of most of the other partners in this group, but I’ve always been a supporter of yours.

” I was oddly touched by that statement.

He sipped his coffee and continued, looking me directly in the eye so I knew he meant business.

“The Argan deal is back on. I’m staffing you on it and this is your shot.

You’re heading to on-site diligence tonight.

I’m sorry about the short timing.” He frowned, but he didn’t really look sorry.

Due diligence meant dollar signs for him. And lots of work for me.

“We have to win this. Do you understand?”

His words hung in the air. He didn’t need to say that I was fired if we didn’t win this deal.

It was implicitly understood. But winning was subjective as hell.

I needed to grind opposing counsel under my shoe, crush the other side, come out clearly on top.

Especially now that my dream job wasn’t an option.

Today is not my day. I swallowed hard and cleared my throat.

“Thanks, Gerald. I understand. I appreciate your faith in me. I won’t let you down.

” I shook his hand and made small talk for a few minutes before escaping.

Brett was lingering in the hall, and his smug look said he knew the contents of the conversation I’d just had. I’m being paranoid. There’s no way he knows. I eyed him coldly.

“Cynthia,” he said in that awful, nasally voice. “Heard you’re going to be offsite for a while.”

“Yep,” I said tartly. What business was it of his?

“Hopefully, your matters are all here for you when you come back.” His mouth twisted cruelly, and he shouldered past me.

I shook slightly as I pushed open my office door. Brett was out for blood. He clearly wanted my clients, the better to ingratiate himself. Did it even matter at this point? My prime directive was now to crush opposing counsel on the Argan deal.

I closed the blinds on my windows and slumped into my chair.

You knew this day was coming. I’d just hoped it wouldn’t be this soon.

The runway for associates who didn’t want to make partner was short, maybe eight years, ten years if you were lucky.

And with Brett here, my luck had run out.

He was the new golden boy, and they could wait and see if he had what it took to make partner.

I was the old horse they were going to take back into the field to shoot.

If only I’d gotten that immigration job.

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried not to cry.

I really needed that drink, but I’d have to settle for chatting in the office before I raced home to pack.

“Today is not your day,” Margo said and sipped her coffee.

“I know,” I muttered and raised my mug. “I wish this were liquor.”

“But seriously? The talk? And the job rejection? In one day? Fuck that.” She shook her head.

“Honestly, if I’d gotten that position, I would have been skipping out the door. This just feels like a one-two punch of awful.” My voice shook.

“Are there other jobs you can apply for? Sorry, I know you probably just want to wallow.”

I sighed. “There are a few. I really want to do pro bono work, though, and those are harder to get if you come from a big firm. You know the lawyers who started doing public interest on day one out of law school look down on those of us who took fancy jobs.” It was stupid, but it meant I had an uphill battle to prove myself in any interview.

“Yeah, I know,” she said derisively. “Most of the people I know who work for near free have a big, fat trust fund to fall back on. Screw them for judging you.”

“Yeah. Screw them. I bet Brett has a big trust fund.” I gulped my coffee too quickly and started coughing. “I just really wanted to help people. My parents could have used a lawyer like me when they came to the United States. Hell, they could have used any lawyer.”

“They really struggled initially, didn’t they?” Margo asked, her dark eyes serious and sad.

I nodded. “When my mom was pregnant with me, she was working three jobs, each under the table. They finally got health insurance right before I was born. I remember my mom telling me she was so scared of being fired from those shitty jobs. She hid her pregnancy until the very end.” Irrational guilt made my insides twist. I couldn’t protect my family, but I could protect others.

Margo was nodding. She understood. Her parents had struggled too.

“So, now what?” she asked. “You’re going to some small town in flyover country?”

I shuddered. “Yeah. Gerald’s deal. Remember that grocery store acquisition we pitched for a few months back? It’s moving forward. But the target has been cagey about providing materials to our client, so we’re going on site. Gerald thinks we need to pressure them in person. Lucky me.”

Margo frowned. “That’s annoying. I can’t remember the last time I went on site. Who’s opposing counsel?”

Opposing counsel would represent the seller. They were my number one opponent, and sometimes we faced complete idiots. But not this time. H Brands had real counsel.

“Covingly,” I responded.

“Wait, is it the Closer?” Margo’s eyes were wide as she used the nickname we’d come up with for Jason years ago. Partly because he was ruthless, but partly because we’d joked that he could close the deal with either of us any time.

“I hope not. I mean, that would be pretty awkward. I’m still tired from all the, um, rather athletic sex we had.” My face heated.

“I still can’t believe you slept with him.” She sighed wistfully. “What was it like?”

I’d already told Margo about our night together, but Andrew had rudely interrupted before we could get to the dirty details.

“Hot.” I leaned forward. “Really hot. He knows what he’s doing in bed, and he loves consent.” I shivered. “But he likes it rough.” On your knees like a good girl.

“Damn,” Margo whispered, her eyes wide. “Maybe he’ll be staffed against you on this deal.” She looked excited and I grimaced.

“That would be very, very bad. I have to win this, and I think we both know he represents real competition. I don’t actually know if I can negotiate successfully against him.

Much as I hate to admit it.” I grimaced.

I was a fierce negotiator but Jason was sneaky and dogged.

During the deal over Christmas, he’d been annoyingly persistent about not giving up points of contention.

And he’d definitely come out the winner in the end. I frowned at the memory.

“No way,” Margo protested.

“You know he’s really fucking smart. And diligent. It better not be him. Plus, if I have to be trapped in a conference room with him every day…”

“Things could get heated.” Margo giggled.

“Stop.” I groaned.

“You would so sleep with him again,” she crowed. “That look says it all. Tell me you haven’t been thinking about him naked all day.”

I ignored her question and sipped my coffee. Yeah, I’d been thinking about him. The ridges and valleys of his back muscles, the way his weight had pressed me into the mattress, the sharp jut of his hip bones against my thighs. I shivered.

“Not happening,” I said weakly. Desire made my insides fuzzy and warm.

“Well, he’s your competition so I guess that would be a conflict of interest. Not to mention counterproductive.

Since you’re supposed to be absolutely destroying him,” Margo said and rolled her eyes.

Yeah. That was why. Fucking opposing counsel was a really bad idea.

“In any case, I’m sure it’s not him. That firm has a ton of good senior associates and counsel around our level.

And Jason mostly does financial services, not retail acquisitions. ”

“Yeah, it’s definitely not him. That would be the worst possible outcome.”