Read Online Secondhand Stiff by Sue Ann Jaffarian - Free Book Online Page B

busy.”
    Steele had taken the position of managing partner of the Orange County office of Templin and Tobin over a year ago. I had joined him at T&T just after Labor Day of this year. With some negotiation, we had agreed that I only had to come into the office three days a week. The rest of the time I would telecommute or, if we weren’t busy, would have the other two days off. If we were busy, I worked a full work week but did much of the job from home. The T&T folks had set up my laptop so I could connect to the firm’s main server. For the past two months that arrangement had worked quite well. I loved being able to work from home part of the time. Even though T&T was a much larger firm than my last one, the Orange County office was small. Steele had brought over a few familiar faces from Woobie, like his assistant Jill Bernelli and Jolene McHugh, a senior associate. We handled mostly business matters in the OC office. In addition to Steele and Jolene, there were two other attorneys. Jill was one of two assistants. I was the only paralegal. It was nice and cozy, and the mothership in LA pretty much left us alone.
    â€œGreg said you told him I could have the rest of the week off if I told you where the Billings file was. I was going to text you about that in a little bit.”
    Steele held up an index finger. “No, what I said is that you did not need to come into the office the rest of this week. That doesn’t mean this work doesn’t need to be done. As for Billings, don’t bother with the text—the file is in the box. I need you to do a preliminary draft of a shareholder’s agreement between Billings and his new partner, as well as the other necessary documents.”
    I glanced at the box again. “The Billings file is not that large. What else is in there?”
    â€œJust the Wright Wood file and notes for the new corporation Ham Goldman wants to start. I think those should keep you busy until next week.”
    I grabbed Steele’s sleeve and maneuvered him into the living room by the box, away from the two sets of mom ears, which I knew was useless because everyone knows mothers have hearing that can beat a dog’s into the ground, even elderly mothers. Still, I made the effort.
    â€œWhat’s up, Steele?” I asked in a hushed but stern tone. “None of this work needs to be done this week. In fact, Jack Billings is out of the country through the end of the year, and Goldman specifically said he did not want to file the Articles of Incorporation for his new company until after the first of January.”
    â€œThis is the day of technology, Grey,” Steele pointed out, arching one brow, “or are you still in the dark ages? Out of the country or not, Jack can still review and sign documents. And it wouldn’t hurt to have Ham’s documents ready ahead of time. And, if you haven’t noticed, the end of the year is just a few weeks away. Not to mention, I’m going skiing over Christmas and want these matters taken care of before I leave.”
    â€œAha, and there is the real motive.” I paused, going through my recent memory. “Wait, you didn’t have anything on your calendar about skiing. In fact, I remember you specifically telling Jill and me that you were sticking around over the holidays this year.”
    â€œThings change.” He shot me another shit-eating grin.
    I settled my hands on my hips in understanding. “So what’s her name?”
    â€œThere is no her , Grey. If you must know, at the last minute some friends rented a chalet in Switzerland for Christmas and New Year’s and asked if I wanted to join them.”
    Even though I was still sure a her was involved, I let the matter drop. “Okay, I’m sure I can draft up the documents you need this week.”
    â€œSee, a win-win for everyone.”
    I squinted at Steele. “And how do you figure that? I see a win for you and one for the