Sasha McCandless 03 - Irretrievably Broken by Melissa F. Miller Page B
Authors: Melissa F. Miller
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it’ll be limited to writing the checks.”
“Of course, of course.” Will’s answer was quick and soothing.
“No offense, Will, but I’d like to hear it from someone with the authority to say it,” Sasha said.
Will sighed then said,“If I get you a meeting with the Management Committee, can you come in today?”
Sasha mentally scrolled through her calendar. “I’m free until lunchtime. The rest of the afternoon is blocked off.”
Blocked off so that she could spend some time processing the fact that Connelly was probably leaving.
“I’ll make it happen,” he promised.
CHAPTER 11
Will stood in the middle of Cinco’s office, trying not to look at the painting of a nude woman’s buttocks that hung over the white leather couch where Cinco sat. The painting, like the rest of Cinco’s office decor, raised eyebrows. It also inspired a long-running rumor among the senior partners that Cinco’s secretary had been the model.
Will doubted there was any truth to it; it was just the sort of salacious gossip that lawyers seized on to relieve the tedium of their workdays. He did have to admit, though, he had never looked at Caroline quite the same after he’d heard the rumor.
He cleared his throat and his mind and waited for Cinco to speak. He assumed Cinco hadn’t offered him a seat as a way to drive home his displeasure. He toed the interlocking square pattern beneath his feet.
Cinco finally spoke. “I’m disappointed, Will. I thought John impressed upon you how important it was for Sasha to take on Greg Lang’s defense.”
“He did, indeed.”
Porter had made it abundantly clear to Will that he had to get Sasha to agree. Will didn’t see how he could be charged with such a task in the first place, given the existence of free will. And, to be honest, as talented as Sasha McCandless was and as much as he personally liked her, she had no criminal defense experience. Without taxing his memory, he could name at least a half-dozen young lawyers, formerly employed by Prescott & Talbott, who would be better suited to handling a homicide trial.
He said none of this to Cinco. Instead, he emphasized the positives.
“She hasn’t said no. She just wants to meet with the Committee and get some assurances that we aren’t going to micromanage her case.”
Cinco rubbed his forehead. “I heard you the first time. But she hasn’t said yes, has she? We don’t have time for this, Will.”
Will couldn’t quite understand the urgency. When Marco had barreled into his office earlier and told him to lean on Sasha, Will had tried to explain why an ultimatum was the wrong tack to take. But, Marco had been insistent.
Now, Will said, “I understand that. But, I think she’s reacting mainly to the pressure I applied this morning. I told Marco we shouldn’t have tried to force her hand—”
Cinco cut him off. “Don’t fix the blame. Fix the problem.”
Just in time, Will stopped himself from rolling his eyes. The partners often joked that Cinco used a Successories catalogue of motivational posters as his management manual.
“How do you mean?”
“How do I mean? I mean, get the meeting scheduled and get her in here. Now go.”
Cinco dismissed him with a wave of his hand, then he added, “Tell Caroline to come in on your way out.”
Will started to speak and thought the better of it. He snapped his mouth shut and left.
As he sent Caroline in to see her boss, he couldn’t resist a quick peek at her shapely rear, nicely displayed by her snug skirt.
CHAPTER 12
Sasha looked around the table, not quite believing she was sitting in the Carnegie Conference Room with Prescott & Talbott’s five most powerful partners. And Will.
Marco DeAngeles, Fred Jennings, Kevin Marcus, John Porter, and Cinco. Their combined net worth had to have eight digits. Maybe nine. And each of them was usually more than ready to seize control of any conversation. They were assertive. Confident.
“Of course, of course.” Will’s answer was quick and soothing.
“No offense, Will, but I’d like to hear it from someone with the authority to say it,” Sasha said.
Will sighed then said,“If I get you a meeting with the Management Committee, can you come in today?”
Sasha mentally scrolled through her calendar. “I’m free until lunchtime. The rest of the afternoon is blocked off.”
Blocked off so that she could spend some time processing the fact that Connelly was probably leaving.
“I’ll make it happen,” he promised.
CHAPTER 11
Will stood in the middle of Cinco’s office, trying not to look at the painting of a nude woman’s buttocks that hung over the white leather couch where Cinco sat. The painting, like the rest of Cinco’s office decor, raised eyebrows. It also inspired a long-running rumor among the senior partners that Cinco’s secretary had been the model.
Will doubted there was any truth to it; it was just the sort of salacious gossip that lawyers seized on to relieve the tedium of their workdays. He did have to admit, though, he had never looked at Caroline quite the same after he’d heard the rumor.
He cleared his throat and his mind and waited for Cinco to speak. He assumed Cinco hadn’t offered him a seat as a way to drive home his displeasure. He toed the interlocking square pattern beneath his feet.
Cinco finally spoke. “I’m disappointed, Will. I thought John impressed upon you how important it was for Sasha to take on Greg Lang’s defense.”
“He did, indeed.”
Porter had made it abundantly clear to Will that he had to get Sasha to agree. Will didn’t see how he could be charged with such a task in the first place, given the existence of free will. And, to be honest, as talented as Sasha McCandless was and as much as he personally liked her, she had no criminal defense experience. Without taxing his memory, he could name at least a half-dozen young lawyers, formerly employed by Prescott & Talbott, who would be better suited to handling a homicide trial.
He said none of this to Cinco. Instead, he emphasized the positives.
“She hasn’t said no. She just wants to meet with the Committee and get some assurances that we aren’t going to micromanage her case.”
Cinco rubbed his forehead. “I heard you the first time. But she hasn’t said yes, has she? We don’t have time for this, Will.”
Will couldn’t quite understand the urgency. When Marco had barreled into his office earlier and told him to lean on Sasha, Will had tried to explain why an ultimatum was the wrong tack to take. But, Marco had been insistent.
Now, Will said, “I understand that. But, I think she’s reacting mainly to the pressure I applied this morning. I told Marco we shouldn’t have tried to force her hand—”
Cinco cut him off. “Don’t fix the blame. Fix the problem.”
Just in time, Will stopped himself from rolling his eyes. The partners often joked that Cinco used a Successories catalogue of motivational posters as his management manual.
“How do you mean?”
“How do I mean? I mean, get the meeting scheduled and get her in here. Now go.”
Cinco dismissed him with a wave of his hand, then he added, “Tell Caroline to come in on your way out.”
Will started to speak and thought the better of it. He snapped his mouth shut and left.
As he sent Caroline in to see her boss, he couldn’t resist a quick peek at her shapely rear, nicely displayed by her snug skirt.
CHAPTER 12
Sasha looked around the table, not quite believing she was sitting in the Carnegie Conference Room with Prescott & Talbott’s five most powerful partners. And Will.
Marco DeAngeles, Fred Jennings, Kevin Marcus, John Porter, and Cinco. Their combined net worth had to have eight digits. Maybe nine. And each of them was usually more than ready to seize control of any conversation. They were assertive. Confident.
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