Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“My stature?” She laughed, throwing her head back, her feet kicking a little. “Counselor, my stature indicates that I was exactly where I should have been. I was in an apartment that I could afford.”
“There are New York City rats that were living better than you were,” I deadpanned. “And stature has nothing to do with money, sweet girl. Your stature has to do with your importance. It has more to do with a reputation that is gained by ability and/or achievement. You aren’t born into stature. You earn every single inch of it. The fact that your living arrangement didn’t reflect that was appalling.”
“I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but the housing market for a lot of New Yorkers is appalling,” she said, sitting up to look at me.
I stayed lying down, stretched out in case she wanted to lay down in my arms again.
“Fine, we can address the housing situation after the O’Murphy case if that is what you want to do. But for right now, I’m going to address the housing situation of one particular New Yorker. Move in with me?”
I hadn’t planned on asking something like that so soon. I had intended on persuading her to move into the apartment I had put her in before, letting her think she was still using empty corporate housing, but I didn’t want her even that far away. The idea of having her live with me just seemed right.
“Harrison, what would people say? You’d be ruining my reputation. People would assume that I had slept my way to the top.”
I tried not to roll my eyes.
“Eddie, you are a gorgeous woman who has chosen to take a male-dominated field by the balls. It doesn’t matter if you were a cloistered nun before law school or a prostitute. People will always say that you slept your way to the top, not because it’s true but because that’s the only way they could justify a woman being better than they are. And if they’re going to say it anyway, why not let me help you? Let me pay for law school. Let me—”
“No,” she interrupted. “You’re not paying for my law school.” She sat up straighter. “I want to do this on my own. I need to.”
“You are incredibly stubborn,” I said.
“Yeah, that’s what’s going to make me a great lawyer,” she said, giving me a little half smile. “But I need to know that I worked my way up, and I paid my own way.”
“Counter proposal, counselor?” I asked.
“Go ahead.” She nodded.
“Pay for law school yourself. I think it’s dumb not to accept the help, but pay for it yourself. But live with me. It’s no different from all the other law students who live with their parents or a partner. They don’t pay rent, and neither will you. But you can still work in the office. I insist that you still work at my desk, and in the office, we will keep it professional. No one needs to know you are living here if you don’t want them to. But I also insist on writing a letter of recommendation as your employer.”
“I still don’t think it’s a good idea,” she said, looking down at the bed. She stayed sitting up, chewing her bottom lip a little, and playing with her fingers.
“Well, I think it’s a fantastic idea,” I said. “But either way, you’re staying here this weekend. Give me a chance to show you what life could be like here with me.”
CHAPTER 35
HARRISON
“What do you mean they have a tendency to kidnap loved ones?” I slammed my fist on the wooden table, staring at Luc.
Eddie and I had spent most of the day together, in bed working, while I mentally prepared my arguments to convince her to move in. I was sure she was preparing hers on why she shouldn’t.
I had been looking forward to our little debate, where I would stop at absolutely nothing to win. I was going to consider it her first foray into battling a real lawyer.
Then Luc called and insisted I get out of bed and meet him at the club. So here I was, dressed in a suit, sitting across from Luc as he explained that my sister, mother, and quite possibly my girlfriend were in danger.
“I’m sure that nothing will—”
“No, I’m going to need you to walk me through this again,” I demanded, interrupting Luc.
He nodded and then picked up the crystal tumbler in front of him and downed the contents in a single swig.
“Apparently, the O’Murphys have been more direct with the handling of disagreements than I had originally anticipated.”
“Luc, I am one of the top lawyers in the city. I am the fucking district attorney, and I couldn’t follow that line of bullshit you just spouted. Tell me everything, now.” I grabbed my own short, crystal glass of whiskey and shot it back, letting the burn refocus some of my energy.