Page 44 of Resisting the Lawyer (Dirty Hot Resistance 3)

Darren struggles, and bites out, “I was on my way down when Elise stopped me for the computer glitch.”

Lucas glances down at his watch. “Why were you going outside? Have you suddenly been assigned field work?”

“It’s nearing lunch so—”

“Your department’s lunch break has been shifted to an hour later. An email was circulated throughout the company announcing the change in certain hours for some departments. For someone so tech savvy, you don’t even check your email? Or do you think that the company writes out emails and sends out instructions that hold no value to you? Are we wasting your time, Mr. Hall? Are our emails inconveniencing you? Or do you consider yourself above the subject matter?”

Darren is shaking now.

Satisfaction is running rampant in my heart upon seeing this man so utterly humiliated in front of me. I may not be able to hurt him but Lucas isn’t sparing him any self-respect.

Seeing this side of Lucas is oddly arousing.

I can’t ever tell him that or I’ll never hear the end of it.

“No, sir,” Darren is gritting out his words.

It’s blatantly obvious that Lucas is ignoring my supposed role in this. He doesn’t even look in my direction, his frosty gaze fixed on Darren. “I’ll have a word with your supervisor. If your abilities aren’t being utilized to their full capacity, that should be amended.”

Darren is left speechless.

In my heart, the pain of the humiliation that had just been doled on to me lessens, because Lucas rips the man apart with a handful of words.

Although he’s just the company lawyer, everyone knows that Lucas is one of the top senior staff alongside Oliver, Lana, and Caleb. Other people may not realize but I know that Caleb has simply surrounded himself with people that he trusts. They may not have as much authority as he does, but they are all his right hand men. So, one word from Lucas can very effectively get somebody fired.

And Darren knows this.

I chance a look at Lucas, his hair ruffled, his gaze withering, and I feel safe.

I don’t usually like sharing my problems because I’ve never been one to do so and it’s always hard, but right now, I feel that maybe leaning on this man once in a while might not be so bad. Everyone knows him to be the most approachable one out of the senior management and very few have seen him act so ruthlessly.

I watch as he sends Darren packing.

It’s only when the elevator doors close behind him that Lucas turns to face me.

I’m still holding Sophie to me.

He narrows his eyes at me. “What did he say to you?”

I shake my head. “Not here.” I glance around and then ask in a low voice, “Have the lunch break hours really changed?”

Concern is rampant in his eyes but he still manages a smile that probably has no good meaning. “It was implemented today. The concerned departments got an email. It’s a temporary measure.”

“I didn’t get an email. Oh, wait, Rueben said he was going for lunch at two. I thought he was just taking a late lunch.”

Lucas nods in understanding. “Yours hasn’t been changed, his has. Somebody has to be manning the reception at all times. Come on.” He lets me put on my baby carrier and helps me put Sophie into it. He’s oddly fascinated by the baby carrier and I have a feeling that he might insist on trying it on one day. There is nothing I wouldn’t put past this man.

I could even imagine him strutting around, carrying Sophie in the baby carrier.

Lucas gives me a strange look. “What?”

I become aware of the foolish grin that I have on my face. Biting my lower lip to hold in my chuckle. “No, nothing. I just remembered something.”

I let him usher me out, his eyes boring holes in the back of my head.

He takes me to a small pizza joint to my surprise and pleasure. We take a booth in the back and after we place the order, he turns to me, his expression tight. “What did Darren say to you?”

My light mood evaporates and it also causes me to register the fact that while around this man, I’m prone to letting go of my worries, his presence a drug for me. I rub my wrist under the table as I recount the encounter, word by word, not leaving anything out. The only way out of this is if Lucas chooses to help me. He’s already said he will and I force myself to dispel the lingering doubts that I seem to have a fetish for collecting at this point. “I’m not going to do it,” I say, fiercely, when Lucas watches me with an indescribable look. “I’m not letting him scare me into walking away from you and I’m not handing Sophie over to him!” When he doesn’t say anything, I glower at him. “I want you to help me.”

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