Page 61 of Pride & Precedents

Aweek without Camila, and I'm beginning to think I made the wrong choice. I miss her. Not just her professional contributions, although Rick continues to invent new ways to disappoint me. Not just her body, although I feel her phantom touch every night in bed. I missher. The woman who busts my balls daily, but also pushes me to be better. To see what life is like without the high walls and sharp borders I put around anything I can't control.

These weeks without her sassy smile in the morning or her swaying hips as she brings me a file have led to the worst insomnia of my entire life.Twohours on the treadmill, furiously fisting my hand, and a double of bourbon still only get me a few fitful hours of sleep. I've doubled my caffeine intake to cover it, but I can feel myself slipping. Mr. Bannister's sent more than a few worried glances my way, but since I haven't actually screwed up a case (yet), he's keeping his distance.

She still hasn't answered my calls or texts, and I'm not dense enough to believe only her study schedule is to blame. I can keepquiet, and lose the one woman who eases the constant pressure that's been plaguing me since high school, or I can come clean and risk a career that's taken years to build.

A sharp rap on my doorjamb snaps me out of my daze. Jonathan waltzes in, not bothering to wait for an invitation.

"Hey there, bestie," he says with an obnoxious grin. He's come to gloat, and I couldn't care less.

"I'm not your 'bestie', Jonathan," I reply, letting the bored irritation seep into my voice. His smile widens into a sneer and he takes a seat in one of the leather chairs of my sitting area.

"I beg to differ. Wemustbe besties for you to drop that Watanabe-Moore case in my lap with a big red bow." The bastard puts his feet up on the coffee table, scuffing it with his Hugo Boss knock-offs.

"Judge Allen deliberated for less than two hours before awarding Naomi fifty percent of all marital assets, including the properties Tanner tried to hide. He also has to pay $10,000 a month in alimony, since their daughter is attending private school here, and living with Ms. Watanabe." His pleased expression nearly turns my stomach. "When this story hits the news, it's finally gonna bemyname they say."

It stings that Jonathan gets the W after I handed everything to him on a silver platter. Still, I'm actually happy for Naomi. Things might not have worked out between us, but I realize now that she wasn't a terrible person. Just young and maybe a little naïve, like I was. She and her daughter deserve a fresh start.

"Congratulations, Jonathan. I'm glad to heareven youcouldn't fuck up this slam dunk of a case." His smile fades into a menacing baring of teeth and he stands.

"Hey, screw you, Henry! You may bill the most, your record may be impressive," he leans into my personal space, "but no one around here can fucking stand you." He motions to theempty desk outside my office door. "I noticed Camila wasn't out there when I came in. Did you run her off too?!"

That gets me out of my chair. I inch closer to him, blood like ice in my veins, and practically growl.

"Ms. Sanchez took a leave of absence to prepare for the bar exam." He can't hide his surprise, and I relish the opportunity to make him look like an idiot.

"She's been working and going to law school at night for years. When she passes, and I've got no doubt she'll pass, the firm would be stupid not to hire her on the spot." I lean closer to him and the pipsqueak takes a small step back. "Even without her card, she's got a better legal mind thansomearound here."

I maintain eye contact, so he knows I'm insulting him. He's not the brightest bulb in the box. To brag to me about winning withmywork doesn't even make sense.

He puffs up his chest, trying to muster up some bravado.

"Whatever, man. Maybe I'll call her and take her someplace nice to celebrate the win. Show her not all guys at the firm are so stiff and full of themselves."

He's baiting me. I know it. Knowing it doesn't keep my hands from balling into fists, though. This moron won't get anywhere near Camila.

Just as my control starts to slip and I move further into Jonathan's space, I hear shouting down the hall.

"Get your hands off of me!" a male voice shouts. Shuffling feet and sounds of a struggle get louder as they approach my office.

"Sir, please," Avery pleads. "If you don't calm down and vacate the premises, I'll have security escort you out."

Suddenly, Tanner's body is in my doorway. His eyes are wild, and rage flows from him like water from a ruptured fire hydrant.

"You son of a bitch!" As Tanner stalks further into my office, Jonathan, the sniveling shit, sneaks out behind him.

"The board is furious. They're killing the IPO!" He kicks the coffee table, and the water glasses on top shatter to the floor. "I going to lose everything!"

I silently motion for Avery to call security while trying to guide Tanner out of my office. She scurries off in a blur of blonde waves.

"Look, Mr. Moore—" Tanner shrugs away my hand on his shoulder.

"Don't give me that 'Mr. Moore' shit. You know who I am, and I know this waspersonal."

I've nearly got him out of my office, crowding him until he has no choice but to retreat. He's not a small man—he's obviously been working out since his days on Yale crew—but I tower over him by at least four inches. That's why I made a perfect stroke, while Tanner was just a bow rower.Maybe Camila would enjoy a few naughty crew puns…

"I know there's bad blood between us, Tanner, but I had nothing to do with the judge's decision today. It wasyouwho tried to cheat Naomi out of her fair share." Tanner just roles his eyes.

"Fair share? I built my company from nothing! Now that whore thinks she can take half ofeverything? If I'd known she was going to be this much trouble, I never would have stolen her from you all those years ago."

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