Page 118 of Dial L for Lawyer
"Hypothesis supported," Audrey murmurs. "Subject is evolving beyond previous environmental constraints."
"To new beginnings," Layla says, raising her mimosa. We clink glasses. "And listen," she adds, leaning in conspiratorially. "Wear your best seduction underwear to that board meeting on Monday. Something that says 'I'm about to be vindicated, and then I'm going to get railed into next week by my hot billionaire lawyer boyfriend.'"
We're still laughing when a perfectly put-together woman in a sleek black dress and heels approaches the table.
"Jenna?" Layla blinks, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Early lunch meeting," she says, glancing around the restaurant with her usual efficient assessment. "My date isn't here yet, and I saw you three from across the room. Mind if I sit for a moment?"
"Of course!" Layla scoots over to make room. "Jenna, meet Serena—Serena, this is Jenna, Bennett's assistant and the person who actually runs Mercer Capital."
"Nice to meet you," I say, shaking her hand across the table.
“Serena is the reason Caleb has been so broody of late,” Layla adds.
Jenna’s brow quirks. “I’m guessing you’re also the reason he’s been in such agoodmood this past week. In fact, he started perking up when he took on a new case—Luminous. That’s you?”
"Guilty as charged," I say, feeling my face heat up.
"Good for you," Jenna says with a small smile that transforms her serious face. "It's about time someone cracked through that man's walls. He's been insufferable for months."
"Speaking of insufferable," Audrey says, "did you hear about Logan going full intimidation mode on Maya's IT accomplice?"
Jenna's eyebrows rise slightly—the equivalent of shock for someone so composed. "Logan? Our Logan? The one who apologizes to the coffee machine when he bumps into it?"
"The very same," I confirm. "Saw it with my own eyes. The man he has a scary-hot side."
"I'll have to reassess my threat assessment rankings," Jenna says, pulling out her phone to make a note. "I had him listed as 'harmless unless discussing cryptocurrency.'"
Layla laughs. "You have threat assessment rankings?"
"For everyone who enters Bennett's office. It's prudent." She glances at her phone as it buzzes. Her expression doesn't change, but something shifts in her posture. "Well, it seems my lunch meeting has been cancelled. Last minute emergency, apparently."
"On a Saturday?" Audrey asks. "That's rude."
"It's fine. I have reports to review anyway." Jenna starts to stand.
"Dominic would lose his mind if he knew some guy cancelled on you,” Layla says. “He's already convinced you're his perfect woman."
Jenna's expression cools by several degrees. "Dominic Cruz thinks anything in a skirt that won't sleep with him is his perfect something or other. The man has the emotional depth of a puddle and the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel."
"Tell us how you really feel," I say, amused.
"I feel that he's exactly the type of man who peaked in college and now mistakes money for personality." She smooths heralready perfect dress. "And on that note, I should go. The office won't organize itself, even on weekends."
"You work too much," Layla says.
"So does your fiancé, and yet here we are." Jenna's smile is sharp but not unkind. "It was nice meeting you, Serena. Good luck with the board on Monday. And remember—they need you more than you need them."
She walks away, her heels clicking.
"I didn’t even tell her about the meeting," I say admiringly. “She's terrifying.”
"She's amazing," Layla corrects. "Bennett would be lost without her. She basically runs his life, knows everything about everyone in that building. She probably knew exactly who you were but was too polite to say so."
“OK. She’s amazing then.”
"And Dominic really has a thing for her?" Audrey asks.
