Jensen:: A Military Bad Boy Romance (The Bradford Brothers Book 1) by Juliana Conners
Authors: Juliana Conners
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that.
He’s in his office, which is rare at 4 pm– happy hour at the bar downstairs started an hour ago— and it looks like he’s actually working on a case again for once. His back is to me and he’s staring at a computer screen full of emails with Kristin Taggert, an associate at our rival firm of Coleman and Williams, and one of my opposing counsel in the Marks Capital case.
My mouth drops open. What I want to say is “You really are working on the Marks Capital case now, aren’t you?” but the answer to my question is obvious. It’s puzzling, because Brian is not the caliber of associate that Mr. Holt would normally put on such a big, important case. But maybe with me off the case, he’s giving Brian a shot.
I have a hunch that Brian wouldn’t appreciate being startled with such a brazen, obvious question. So instead, I just say “Hey there,” and lightly rap on the window part of his already-open door, which admittedly I should have done when I first approached, except that he’s my fiancé, and I’m upset at just being placed on a leave of absence. And I’m upset that he’s been ignoring me, apparently opting instead to steal my big case.
He jumps, and then quickly hits “X” on his browser. He swivels around in his computer chair to face me.
“Riley.”
“Brian. I… I just came from a meeting with your dad. I’ve been…”
“Canned. I know.”
He half frowns, but doesn’t seem to think it’s nearly as big of a deal as I do.
“Oh Brian,” I shut his office door and begin to cry. I can’t help myself, and I figure if there’s one place I can feel safe to be vulnerable, it’s with my fiancé, even if it is in his office at the firm his dad owns, from where I’ve just been “canned,” apparently.
“He didn’t say it like that. He said ‘leave of absence.’ Do you really think it’s permanent?”
He shrugs, his facial features softening a bit. He always hates it when I cry, which is rare, but it does happen.
“It’s all because of the Marks case. I know you and I have been… distant… lately, but I was trying to talk to you about it last night, and…” and you weren’t listening , I want to say. You were staring off into space as usual, and barely acknowledging my existence . “…anyway, I don’t know what happened but your dad is somehow caught up in something… bigger than him.”
I choose my words carefully, not wanting to accuse his dad of what I know to be true: ethical misconduct.
“Somehow someone gave him information that we really shouldn’t have had,” I continue, “and I just couldn’t… you should know, if you’re going to be on the case now…”
I decide to warn him, because I don’t want him to be met with the same fate I’ve been dealt, although I doubt that’s possible, as the son of the firm’s founding partner. “Something is really off about that case. I wouldn’t trust Kristin Taggert. Something is not right and it’s going to end up biting everyone in the ass.”
I really should tell the client , I think. He has the right to know . But that would definitely make my leave of absence permanent.
“Riley, I don’t know what’s been up with you lately, or what happened in the Marks Capital case,” Brian begins, and I can’t resist interrupting him.
“What’s been up with me lately? You’ve been completely checked out for a long time now, despite my attempts to find out what’s wrong…”
“It’s clear to see that we’ve just drifted apart,” Brian continues with another nonchalant shrug, the coldness back in his voice. “I think we could use some time apart.”
Some time apart? He’s putting me on a leave of absence from our relationship right after I’ve been put on a leave of absence from the firm? What a cold- hearted asshole!
But I can’t seem to do anything but sob. I start wiping at my eyes, trying to calm down because obviously Brian isn’t here to comfort me but instead only plans to add on to my
He’s in his office, which is rare at 4 pm– happy hour at the bar downstairs started an hour ago— and it looks like he’s actually working on a case again for once. His back is to me and he’s staring at a computer screen full of emails with Kristin Taggert, an associate at our rival firm of Coleman and Williams, and one of my opposing counsel in the Marks Capital case.
My mouth drops open. What I want to say is “You really are working on the Marks Capital case now, aren’t you?” but the answer to my question is obvious. It’s puzzling, because Brian is not the caliber of associate that Mr. Holt would normally put on such a big, important case. But maybe with me off the case, he’s giving Brian a shot.
I have a hunch that Brian wouldn’t appreciate being startled with such a brazen, obvious question. So instead, I just say “Hey there,” and lightly rap on the window part of his already-open door, which admittedly I should have done when I first approached, except that he’s my fiancé, and I’m upset at just being placed on a leave of absence. And I’m upset that he’s been ignoring me, apparently opting instead to steal my big case.
He jumps, and then quickly hits “X” on his browser. He swivels around in his computer chair to face me.
“Riley.”
“Brian. I… I just came from a meeting with your dad. I’ve been…”
“Canned. I know.”
He half frowns, but doesn’t seem to think it’s nearly as big of a deal as I do.
“Oh Brian,” I shut his office door and begin to cry. I can’t help myself, and I figure if there’s one place I can feel safe to be vulnerable, it’s with my fiancé, even if it is in his office at the firm his dad owns, from where I’ve just been “canned,” apparently.
“He didn’t say it like that. He said ‘leave of absence.’ Do you really think it’s permanent?”
He shrugs, his facial features softening a bit. He always hates it when I cry, which is rare, but it does happen.
“It’s all because of the Marks case. I know you and I have been… distant… lately, but I was trying to talk to you about it last night, and…” and you weren’t listening , I want to say. You were staring off into space as usual, and barely acknowledging my existence . “…anyway, I don’t know what happened but your dad is somehow caught up in something… bigger than him.”
I choose my words carefully, not wanting to accuse his dad of what I know to be true: ethical misconduct.
“Somehow someone gave him information that we really shouldn’t have had,” I continue, “and I just couldn’t… you should know, if you’re going to be on the case now…”
I decide to warn him, because I don’t want him to be met with the same fate I’ve been dealt, although I doubt that’s possible, as the son of the firm’s founding partner. “Something is really off about that case. I wouldn’t trust Kristin Taggert. Something is not right and it’s going to end up biting everyone in the ass.”
I really should tell the client , I think. He has the right to know . But that would definitely make my leave of absence permanent.
“Riley, I don’t know what’s been up with you lately, or what happened in the Marks Capital case,” Brian begins, and I can’t resist interrupting him.
“What’s been up with me lately? You’ve been completely checked out for a long time now, despite my attempts to find out what’s wrong…”
“It’s clear to see that we’ve just drifted apart,” Brian continues with another nonchalant shrug, the coldness back in his voice. “I think we could use some time apart.”
Some time apart? He’s putting me on a leave of absence from our relationship right after I’ve been put on a leave of absence from the firm? What a cold- hearted asshole!
But I can’t seem to do anything but sob. I start wiping at my eyes, trying to calm down because obviously Brian isn’t here to comfort me but instead only plans to add on to my
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