CHAPTER FOUR

The following morning was far from pleasant. I woke feeling like I'd loaned my head to a marching band. I debated simply rolling over and going back to sleep, but there was too much to do at the office. " You can sleep when you're dead, " was a popular catch phrase amongst the Partners, and as much as they grinned when they said it, you knew they were being perfectly serious. Don't get me wrong, Little Bell wasn't any worse than any other big firm — technically it was named Bell & Little, but nobody called it that, no matter how many stern memos went out — it was just the norm in big law to bleed your employees for every drop you could.

A long shower, a coffee, and the world's greasiest ham and cheese croissant later, I was sitting in the back of a cab feeling marginally more human. But apparently I still didn't look it. As I exited the lift on my floor of the building, I ran into my friend Elle. She took one look at me and burst out laughing. " Big night hey Soph? "

I glanced down at myself and grimaced. " That obvious hey? "

Elle nodded. " You look a little haggard, yeah. "

There's a funny camaraderie within law firms. Because we all work such long hours, we naturally become friendly. A lot of lawyers have no social lives outside of work. But it's always felt a little fake to me. Behind the niceties, there's as much backstabbing and petty bullying as in any school playground. With most of my colleagues, I kept my distance, but Elle was the exception. Unlike almost everybody else, she didn't buy into all the office bullshit, which meant we'd quickly become friends.

" What can I say? The girls are a bad influence. "

Elle flashed an indulgent grin. We'd been out enough times together that she knew who incited most of the drinking. " Well, I hope you've saved some energy for tonight. Drunk Partners, a huge group of self-important corporate types; it's practically your perfect evening. "

Shit. I'd completely forgotten about that. A few times a year, our company threw a party for all of its long standing clients. A kind of thank-you-please-keep-giving-us-buckets-of-money type deal. It seemed to work because our profits just kept climbing, but I hated those evenings. There was only so much corporate asskissery I could stomach. Unfortunately, we were all expected to be there if we could make it. We didn't actually do anything; the puppet masters just liked showing us off. A flexing of the company's considerable legal muscle. I usually made it tolerable by taking abundant advantage of the open bar, but with the memory of the morning's hangover still fresh in my mind, I wasn't sure I'd even be doing that.

" I kind of wish you hadn't reminded me. I could have slept through it and not felt guilty. "

Elle chuckled again. " Oh come on, it won't be that bad. Do your bit, brown nose a few CEOs. Who knows, you might impress someone. "

" And you'll be doing the same? "

" Hell no. I'll be drinking in a corner. "

" That sounds like a better plan, " I agreed.

A tiny smile appeared on her face. " So did you hear? "

" About what? "

" The Wrights case is a go. "

My eyes widened. " No way. That's awesome! "

" I know right? It's going to be kind of novel actually doing something worthwhile, instead of just helping companies shit on one another day after day. "

I nodded. It was exactly the kind of case I'd always wanted to work on. A David and Goliath class action suit between a group of Average Joes and a pharmaceutical giant. It felt like our own little Erin Brockovich moment.

The situation was horrible. Wrights had hidden the side effects of one of their antidepressants from the general public. The drugs worked fine on most people, with one notable exception. Pregnant women. It was only after several years that someone began joining the dots between the drug in question and the spate of juvenile health problems that followed. Now there were thousands of affected children out there, suffering everything from physical abnormalities to heart conditions. More than a few had died from their complications. It made me angry just thinking about it.

Beyond the chance to do something good, the case was also great publicity for the company, which meant it had the attention of the suits upstairs. There had never been a better opportunity to prove myself.

" Anyway, I have to run these to Freidburg, " Elle said, gesturing to the pages in her hand, " but I'll catch you later, okay? Don't even think about sneaking home. I'm not sure I can sit through this one alone. "

I raised my hands in defeat. " Okay, okay. "

The day chugged along at an agonising crawl. Law isn't nearly as glamorous as it appears on television. Behind every dramatic hour in court there are hundreds of hours of paperwork.

At six o'clock, an office wide email went out calling everyone to the upstairs boardroom. We always hosted our gatherings in-house. For a company the size of Little Bell, appearances were everything, and we'd spent a lot of money making sure we could entertain with the best of them. With the tables cleared away, the band in place, and the bar and canapé s laid out, the whole place had the classy but vaguely sterile feel of an expensive wedding reception.

Most of my colleagues were already there when I arrived. Seeing everyone standing together in one place really emphasised the gender imbalance in the company. There were jackets and ties as far as the eye could see. We had a few women on every floor, and a couple had even made it to the lofty ranks of Partner, but the firm was still very much entrenched in the old way of doing things.

Despite my earlier reservations, I decided I couldn't get through the evening without a least one drink, so I snagged a glass of champagne on its way past and then set out in search of a friendly face.

" You made it! " Elle said, as I found her at the other end of the bar. She was chatting to one of the new junior associates, a friendly young guy named Miles.

" You sound surprised, " I replied.

" Well, this morning you did look a little like you might keel over at your desk. "

" What, and miss all this? " I asked, gesturing dramatically to the room.

" It does have a certain... unique charm, " Miles said, wearing a bemused smile.

" First time? " I asked.

He nodded.

" You're working under Alan right? "

He nodded again.

Elle and I shared an eye roll. " Has he taken you to run the executive gauntlet yet? " she asked

" I don't think so, " he replied.

" Well, don't worry, he will, " I said. " He likes to start grooming his flock early. "

He gave a nervous little laugh. " I'm not sure I like the idea of being groomed. "

" Me either, " I replied. " Certainly helps if you want an actual career though. "

His brow furrowed. " What do you mean by that? "

I gazed at him for several seconds, my tongue poised on my lips, before shaking my head. I didn't have the energy for a rant right now. Besides, he'd see soon enough. " Never mind. Forget I said anything. "

" No, hang on, " he persisted, " you can't make a comment like that and then just let it go. "

Elle had been watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and resignation. She understood. She was in the same boat as me. " What she means is, this place is very cliquey. You get in with the right people early, you're set. "

He filled in the obvious blank. " And if you don't? "

Elle shot me a glance and raised her eyebrows.

I sighed. " Then expect to be shovelling shit for quite a few years. "

He chewed the inside of his cheek thoughtfully. " How long have you two been here? "

" Six years for me, five for Elle, " I replied.

" And you're both still juniors? " he asked.

I nodded.

" Fuck. I take it that's not normal? "

I shrugged. " Depends on your definition of normal. If you don't kiss the right asses then yeah, that's pretty much the way it goes. "

" Speaking of ass kissing, have you met the office's resident brown nosing queen yet, Miles? " Elle asked, nodding to the woman who was approaching us from across the room.

" Can't say that I've had the pleasure, " he replied.

I grimaced. " Well it looks like you're about to get your chance. "

There was nobody in the office I disliked more than Jennifer Smart. The two of us had started at Little Bell around the same time, and from day one, we'd seemed destined to be rivals. Everything about her rubbed me the wrong way, and although she was as sweet as honey to my face, I knew the feeling was mutual. I'd assumed my eighty hour weeks and pristine work would trump her grovelling, but apparently I'd been mistaken. Two years ago she'd made Senior Associate, while I was still stuck shuffling paper. It was a victory she savoured to this day.

" Sophia! " she said, flashing me a perfect beauty pageant smile. She had her fake nice act down to a fine art, but truth be told, I still didn't understand why so many people were fooled. There was something inherently unpleasant behind those angular features, a callousness that no amount of phony warmth could hide.

" I was wondering if you'd be here, " she continued. " I know you don't much care for these little gatherings. "

" Wouldn't miss it for the world, Jennifer, " I replied, forcing myself to sound vaguely polite.

" Well good. It's good to keep in touch with our clients, don't you think? Speaking of which, " she nodded at the older gentleman standing next to her, " this is Mr Chardy. He's the head of development at Marvin Lemac. We've been handling their fraud case. "

I gritted my teeth. She had the most frustrating habit of making out that nobody else knew what was going on around the office except her. " I know who you are, " I said to him, holding out my hand. " I'm Sophia Pearce. It's a pleasure to meet you. "

" Likewise. "

The others introduced themselves.

" Sophia, Elle, and Miles here are all part of our junior associate team, " Jennifer continued. " I know when you meet with us it might seem like it's just me or Alan handling your case, but we really couldn't do what we do without these guys. They're the ones doing all the grunt work. "

" Well you've done an excellent job so far, " Chardy said.

I nodded in thanks, not trusting myself to speak. Backhanded compliments were Jennifer's speciality.

She glanced around the room. " Well anyway, it's been lovely chatting to you, but I want to introduce Joseph here to a few more people. You know how it is; so many Partners, so little time. Have a good night. "

Taking his arm she led him off into the crowd.

" Well, she didn't seem that bad, " Miles said, when she was out of earshot.

" Are you kidding? " Elle replied. " That smile was so sweet I think I threw up a little in my mouth. "

" Have either of you actually done any work on the Marvin Lemac case? " I asked. They both shook their heads. " Exactly. She didn't need to introduce him at all. It was just another excuse to gloat. " I threw back the rest of my champagne in a single long sip. " Fucking 'grunt work' indeed. I could strangle that bitch. "

" It sounded like a compliment to me, " Miles said quietly.

Elle and I looked at one another before bursting out laughing. " You have a lot to learn about this place, " I told him. " Anyway, after that, I think I could use another drink. Back in a sec. "

I could see my plans for a dry night evaporating before my eyes, but if that meeting was a sign of things to come, I'd need all the help I could get. Little did I know things were about to get even worse.

" What can I get you? " said the guy behind the bar.

And for the second time in as many days, someone answered for me. " She'll have a Cosmo. And get me another beer. "

I rolled my eyes. " Actually, I'll have a glass of Shiraz, " I said, turning to frown at my new companion. Taylor had started on my floor a year earlier, and since day one, he'd been trying to lure me into bed. I might have taken it as a compliment, if he hadn't done the same thing to every woman in the office. Sadly, many of them fell for it.

Objectively, I guess he was good looking, in that blonde, bulky, frat boy kind of way, but he was such a gigantic ass that I found it impossible to see anything else. His daddy was some big hedge fund type who was friends with everybody, so Taylor spent his entire life coasting around on his enormous sense of entitlement. I think it annoyed him that I was so resistant to his 'charms', although he'd never say it.

" If you're going to order for a girl, at least pay attention to what she's drinking, genius. "

He gave a little laugh. " Hey, I was just trying to be friendly. Do you always bite guys' heads off when they try to buy you drinks? "

" This is the company bar, so you're not buying me anything. "

He flashed a smile that he probably thought was seductive. " Not here I'm not. "

I exhaled sharply. " Not anywhere. "

" Come on Sophia, at least hear me out. It's no secret you hate these things, so what say you and I get out of here? My dad owns this sweet little wine bar just a block from my apartment. We could drink whatever we want, on the house. No Cosmos there, I promise. "

I had to give him points for persistence, but at that moment I really just wished he'd disappear.

I looked him straight in the eyes and grazed my teeth slowly across my bottom lip in that way that guys seem to love. " Close to your apartment, hey? "

His face lit up. " That's right. "

" What about your dad? Does he live nearby too? "

He blinked several times in confusion. " My dad? "

" Yeah. I mean if we're drinking on the house, that would mean it's really him buying me drinks. It'd feel kind of rude going home with someone else after that. "

His expression crumbled, and I gave myself a little internal high five.

" Well, we could go somewhere else if you like... " he said lamely.

And then someone else spoke from behind me. " I don't think she's going anywhere with you. " My heart turned a cartwheel in my chest.

Even before I looked, I recognised the voice; low and strong and smooth as caramel. For a moment I was overcome by a powerful sense of deja vu, but it passed as the reality of the situation came crashing into me.

" Hello Sophia, " Sebastian said, sliding in next to me. " It's lovely to see you again. "

I stared at him with wide eyes, my tongue frozen in shock. He was the last person in the world I'd ever expected to see again. But there he was in front of me, smiling like he hadn't caught me huddled in his office cupboard just a day earlier.

Taylor wasn't so easily rattled. He rocked back on his heels, an incredulous smile blooming on his face. " Hey buddy, we're having a conversation here. "

Sebastian's eyes flicked to him. There was no anger there. If anything, he looked vaguely amused. " No, you're harassing a girl who quite clearly wants to be left alone. "

Taylor bristled. " And I suppose she'd rather be talking to you? "

" She'd rather be doing a lot of things. "

It was my turn to bristle, but nobody was paying any attention to me anymore. It was like I'd disappeared. They loomed up from either side of me, staring at one another as though they could make their adversary's head explode through sheer force of will. It was almost comical really, but laughter was about as far out of reach for me as humanely possible at that moment.

" Is that right? " Taylor asked, his jaw tightening. " And just who might you be, friend? " He gave that last word a sharp accent.

" Just a man who would like a word with Sophia, if you don't mind. " In spite of the phrasing, there was no question in his voice.

Taylor continued to stare. Pissing contests like this weren't exactly uncommon around the office. Give a bunch of overachieving jocks huge salaries and inflated senses of self-worth, and you're just asking for testosterone to fly. When push came to shove, Taylor usually came out on top, but this time I could tell he was losing. There was something so utterly indomitable about Sebastian. From the easy confidence of his smile to the raw intensity of his gaze and the dangerous grace of his movements, he was the epitome of a man who knew he'd get what he wanted. Taylor may have been his physical equal, but whatever primal hormonal reaction decided the outcome of those sorts of engagements was telling him to head for the hills.

After a few seconds, he looked away. " Fine, " he spat, snatching up his beer. " I'll see you around, Sophia. " Turning, he stalked off into the crowd.

I shook my head slowly. " What the fuck was that? " I spluttered, finally finding my voice.

" That was me saving you from an unpleasant conversation. " Sebastian didn't look even slightly embarrassed.

" Saving me? I was talking to a colleague! What if I was enjoying myself? "

He gave a little laugh. " What, with that guy? "

I shook my head slowly, trying to gather my thoughts. His approach was nothing short of infuriating, but there were more important things to focus on.

" Whatever. That's beside the point. What the hell are you doing here, Sebastian? "

" I wanted to see you again, " he said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I had no idea how to respond. As confusing as it all was, part of me was happy to see him too. Just being near him again set something thrumming inside me. He looked every bit as gorgeous as he had the previous night. He'd traded his charcoal three-piece for a simple navy business suit, but it still did little to disguise the exquisite musculature beneath. His hair tumbled in long curls around his perfectly hewn face, framing a smile that hit me like a punch to the chest.

" Surely there are easier ways to go about that. Like, maybe, a phone call? " I said.

He laughed. " And would you have agreed to see me if I'd just rung? "

" I guess not, " I said slowly. " But I don't appreciate being taken by surprise, either. How did you even manage to find me? And how did you get in here? This is my office! "

" It wasn't as difficult as you may think. There are only so many striking young lawyers named Sophia in Sydney. " He glanced around. " As for how I got in, well Laurence Bell is actually an old acquaintance of my company. Once I knew where you worked, it was easy enough to organise an invitation. "

He knew Mr Bell? That was odd. Our boss was a notorious recluse. Yeah, his name was on the sign outside, but he rarely even came into the office anymore. He was like the good china that only got brought out for special occasions.

Sebastian continued to stare, those magnificent eyes once again boring deep inside me. It made me uncomfortable. Sure, he was hot, and we'd gotten along well, but the whole situation had my hairs standing on end. Judging by last night, there was no shortage of women in his life. He had no reason to track me down. No reason, unless he was angry about having his privacy invaded.

" Well, I don't think this is appropriate, " I said, shaking my gaze free.

" You mean after the way we left things last night? "

My cheeks heated. " Look, about that, I can explain... "

" About what? Breaking into my office? Or sneaking into our gathering? " He smiled at my expression. " That's right, I know. In fact I knew the whole time. You're not the only one who can act, Sophia. "

I closed my eyes briefly and drew a slow breath. " So why talk to me? Why not just have me thrown out? "

" Does a man need an excuse to chat to a beautiful girl now? "

I rolled my eyes. " Yeah, because pretty girls were in short supply last night. "

He grinned, and I felt myself melt just a little more. " Well to be honest, security was ready to escort you out the moment you walked in. We always have more than one set of eyes on that door. But I stopped them. "

" Why? "

He shrugged. " I was curious. I wanted to know what kind of girl you were. Plenty of people have tried talking their way through that doorway over the years, but very few actually succeed. " His expression remained mild as he spoke. He certainly didn't seem angry, but it was hard to tell what lay behind that charming exterior.

" Well, thank you for not making a scene. I'm sorry I intruded. I was just messing around and it got out of hand. I never meant to go into your office at all. "

" You could make it up to me by coming home with me tonight. "

I did a double take, certain I must have misheard him. In light of everything that had happened, the request seemed completely absurd.

" Are you joking? "

" Why would I be joking? "

" Oh, I don't know, because the last time you saw me I was huddled in your office cupboard, watching you smack your secretary like a child? "

" You didn't enjoy the show? " he asked, not the least bit ashamed.

I snorted. " It was a little Dita Von Tease for my tastes. "

That only widened his smile. " Is that so? People are always afraid of what they don't understand. Don't write it off so easily. You might be surprised by what you'd enjoy. " The certainty in his voice was unsettling. It sounded less like a suggestion and more like a promise. I shuffled awkwardly on my feet, memories of last night's strange excitement echoing through my mind. I still didn't know why I'd reacted like that. This is what happens when you let your dry spells last too long. Even a spanking starts to seem appealing. You need to get laid, girl.

" Well sorry to disappoint you, but that's not my style, " I said, doing my best to keep my voice level, " so I'm sure my vanilla sensibilities will be incredibly boring for you. "

He reached out and brushed my neck lightly, raking his eyes over my body. " I doubt I could ever find this boring, regardless of what we're doing. "

I swallowed loudly. My mouth suddenly felt like it had been baking in the sun for hours. As much as I hated to admit it, his overt sexuality was a huge turn on. There was nothing sleazy about it. He was just a man who was utterly comfortable with himself and his desires. Once again, I found myself imaging what it might be like to give myself to him. There was no other way to describe it. With other men, I might have said 'sleep with' or 'fuck' or one of the hundred other euphemisms that springs to mind at such times, but with Sebastian, I got the sense none of those were quite right. Even with nothing kinky involved, sex with him would not merely be physical, it would be an act of sheer possession and power.

Focus, Sophia. Think unsexy thoughts. Paperwork. Schindler's List. Ernest in a skirt.

Urgh, too far.

" What makes you even sure I want to sleep with you? " I said, purposefully pulling away from him. I swear it was like he had his own personal gravity.

Annoyingly, this just made him laugh. " Is that really how you want to play this? "

" I'm not playing. "

" Well neither am I. You can pretend if you want, but it doesn't change a thing. " He leaned in close, as though whispering a secret. That intoxicating scent hit my nose once more, sending my hormones into overdrive. " Your body says more than any words ever could. "

A shiver rolled through me, coming to rest firmly in the centre of my chest. I hated how easily he could read me. It made me feel strangely helpless. How do you fend off a man who already seems to know your secrets?

" You're right, my body is saying a lot of things, " I said. " Like leave me the hell alone! I've been with men like you before, Sebastian. Hell, I work with them every day. Even if I was attracted to you, I wouldn't be interested in being another notch on the bed post. "

" What makes you think that's all you'd be? "

I scoffed. " Because we just met yesterday — in rather extenuating circumstances, I might add — and now you're asking me to go to bed with you? "

He shrugged like it was par for the course. " I prefer to be up front in my relationships. That way there's no mixed messages. No one gets hurt. "

" Well, that's very noble of you, but I get the impression we don't want the same things. "

" And what is it you want, Sophia? "

" Well, call me old fashioned, but something more than, 'hey, want to fuck? ' would be a good start. "

" I didn't pick you for a flowers and chocolates kind of girl. "

" I'm not. I'm too busy for that crap. Casual suits me just fine. But there's a difference between casual and meaningless. "

" Good, then we're on the same page. Look, you're right, I'm not the sort of guy that dates. I don't have the time or the inclination to be tied down, and I make no apologies for that. But that doesn't automatically make me some asshole who just uses women and then throws them away. If there's no spark, I'm not interested. And this right here, this has got me very interested. "

I laughed. " Ah, the playa with a heart of gold. How touching. But unfortunately, I'm not good at sharing. I have this weird thing about wanting the men I sleep with to only be sleeping with me. "

He let out a long breath. " Well, I don't usually do exclusivity. "

I recoiled in mock surprise. " I'm shocked! "

He studied me for a few seconds, his expression hovering somewhere between frustration and amusement. " This doesn't have to be complicated, Sophia. There are so many things I want to do to that body of yours, and I promise that you'll enjoy every exquisite minute of it. Why do you need anything more than that? "

Something in my lower belly clenched. Despite how crude his approach was, I believed him. And a rather loud voice in the back of my head was begging me to let him have his wish.

But somehow, I rallied one more time. " It's not complicated for me. It's incredibly simple. I'm. Not. Interested! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to my friends. I'll extend you the same courtesy you extended me and let you walk yourself out, but if I see you here again, I'm calling security. I don't care who your friends are, if you're harassing an employee, you'll be out of here before you can blink. Goodbye, Sebastian. It's been... interesting. " And with much more confidence than I felt inside, I spun and marched away.

I could hardly blame him for the way my body reacted to his, but it was still immensely satisfying to storm off like that. That'll teach him to get into my head. Bastard.

I expected maybe a parting shot, but no words followed me. I resisted the urge to turn and look back. I was proud of myself for not caving to him, although there were very specific parts of me that were emphatically venting their disappointment. I suspected I'd be delving into my underwear drawer later for a little relief.

" Jesus Christ, " Elle said, as I returned. Miles was nowhere to be seen, but she was peering over my shoulder with an awestruck gaze, her lips hanging slightly open. At least it's not just me.

" Who the hell was that? " she asked.

I shrugged. " I'm not sure actually. Just some guy. "

" Seriously? That's like calling Ryan Gosling 'just some guy'! "

I shrugged again, trying to feign disinterest. The sooner we stopped talking about him, the better.

" Well, whoever he was, he looked hella into you, " she continued.

" You think? " I asked.

She stared at me like I'd gone mad. " He was practically eye fucking you from the moment you guys started talking. How could you not notice that? I even bet Miles ten bucks he'd get your number. "

I winced. " Sorry, no dice. "

She shook her head slowly. " Fuck. Well, I guess that means he's still fair game, then. "

I laughed. " If we see him again, he's all yours. "

Our conversation turned to other things. Despite my best efforts, I found myself glancing around every so often, checking that Sebastian wasn't still lurking nearby. It seemed like he'd taken my warning seriously, but I got the sense such threats may not really mean much to him. After all, he'd tracked me down and infiltrated my office as easily as walking through his own front door.

The effortlessness with which he'd done that frightened me a little. When he'd shown up, my mind had been reeling too much to really think it through; but now the reality of the situation was becoming apparent. In a way, it was vaguely flattering that he'd gone to such efforts, but it also made me suspicious. Between that and the bizarre events of the previous night, I got the sense that there was more to Sebastian Lock than he was telling me.