Read Online Unchained Memories by Maria Imbalzano - Free Book Online
Authors: Maria Imbalzano
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cooperating. Saying it out loud to me isn’t going to help either.”
Clay stood and walked to the kitchen for a glass of water. He needed to get away from Matt’s x-ray vision and his insightful words. He didn’t need to be told how he felt about Charley.
Because he didn’t want to know.
Chapter Six
“Hey, golden girl, you look exhausted.” Annie eased into the client chair in front of Charlotte’s desk and sipped from her coffee cup.
“Stop calling me that.” Although Charlotte didn’t find the moniker amusing, she couldn’t help but smile at her friend who loved to tease. “I am tired.” Charlotte tossed the papers she held onto her desk and sat back, closing her eyes for a moment. “Couldn’t sleep last night.”
“Why? Too stressed out about work?”
“That’s part of the reason. I’m meeting with Gina Belton and her parents on Monday. Brad is letting me work on the case with him.”
“There’s the root of all anxiety. Brad. Have you ever met anyone so difficult to work with? He’s a little scary if you ask me. So cold and insensitive. I try to avoid cases with him.”
“How have you managed that? You’ve been here for three years.”
Annie shrugged. “I’m not one of his favorites. I think he has this thing against women attorneys. Not you of course. You’re his shining star.”
There was no hint of envy in Annie’s voice, but Charlotte couldn’t help but wonder if her hiring had in any way upset the delicate balance among the other associates striving for recognition and eventual partnership. Being the newest associate at the firm, Charlotte had no intention of leap-frogging over the others to win the coveted role of partner, for she had no interest in staying in Princeton that long. But no one else knew that.
“I am not his shining star,” Charlotte said, ignoring her inner musings.
“If you haven’t noticed, Brad doesn’t usually work with young associates, either. He prefers those who have at least five years behind them.”
Charlotte had noticed, but didn’t think much of it. She just assumed there hadn’t been a need for him to delegate too far up the food chain. Besides, if Brad didn’t like to work with women or new associates, why had he hired her? Maybe Annie was wrong about that.
“He’s such a brilliant lawyer. I know I can learn an awful lot from breathing the same air.”
Annie ignored her comment. “Okay, so working with him didn’t keep you awake. However, that will come. So what’s wrong?”
“I had dinner with Clay Montgomery last night.”
Annie sat up in her chair, all ears. “I knew something was going on between you two at the gala. Do tell.”
Charlotte laughed at her spiked interest. “We went to Zoey’s. What a beautiful restaurant. And the food—”
“I don’t care about the food. What happened after that? And give me all the juicy details.” Annie’s voice had dropped to a stage whisper.
“There are no juicy details.” Charlotte chuckled at Annie’s insinuation, but couldn’t help the disappointment flowing through her at the thought of their less than romantic evening. “We’re just friends. I guess.”
At least that’s all she allowed herself to think. And maybe not even that, given the way the evening had ended. Although, fantasies about what could have been were what had kept her tossing and turning all night.
“Well, change that, girlfriend. He’s gorgeous, smart, driven. And single. Why aren’t you going after him? You’d be perfect for each other.”
“We’re hardly that. He’s a doctor at Nassau General. We sue doctors. And right now, I’m involved in a case against Nassau General.” Charlotte bit her lower lip, watching closely for Annie’s response. “How’s that for perfect?”
Annie opened her mouth, then closed it, and opened it again. “Nassau General’s a big place. He probably doesn’t even know who your case is against. And just because he’s employed by the hospital doesn’t
Clay stood and walked to the kitchen for a glass of water. He needed to get away from Matt’s x-ray vision and his insightful words. He didn’t need to be told how he felt about Charley.
Because he didn’t want to know.
Chapter Six
“Hey, golden girl, you look exhausted.” Annie eased into the client chair in front of Charlotte’s desk and sipped from her coffee cup.
“Stop calling me that.” Although Charlotte didn’t find the moniker amusing, she couldn’t help but smile at her friend who loved to tease. “I am tired.” Charlotte tossed the papers she held onto her desk and sat back, closing her eyes for a moment. “Couldn’t sleep last night.”
“Why? Too stressed out about work?”
“That’s part of the reason. I’m meeting with Gina Belton and her parents on Monday. Brad is letting me work on the case with him.”
“There’s the root of all anxiety. Brad. Have you ever met anyone so difficult to work with? He’s a little scary if you ask me. So cold and insensitive. I try to avoid cases with him.”
“How have you managed that? You’ve been here for three years.”
Annie shrugged. “I’m not one of his favorites. I think he has this thing against women attorneys. Not you of course. You’re his shining star.”
There was no hint of envy in Annie’s voice, but Charlotte couldn’t help but wonder if her hiring had in any way upset the delicate balance among the other associates striving for recognition and eventual partnership. Being the newest associate at the firm, Charlotte had no intention of leap-frogging over the others to win the coveted role of partner, for she had no interest in staying in Princeton that long. But no one else knew that.
“I am not his shining star,” Charlotte said, ignoring her inner musings.
“If you haven’t noticed, Brad doesn’t usually work with young associates, either. He prefers those who have at least five years behind them.”
Charlotte had noticed, but didn’t think much of it. She just assumed there hadn’t been a need for him to delegate too far up the food chain. Besides, if Brad didn’t like to work with women or new associates, why had he hired her? Maybe Annie was wrong about that.
“He’s such a brilliant lawyer. I know I can learn an awful lot from breathing the same air.”
Annie ignored her comment. “Okay, so working with him didn’t keep you awake. However, that will come. So what’s wrong?”
“I had dinner with Clay Montgomery last night.”
Annie sat up in her chair, all ears. “I knew something was going on between you two at the gala. Do tell.”
Charlotte laughed at her spiked interest. “We went to Zoey’s. What a beautiful restaurant. And the food—”
“I don’t care about the food. What happened after that? And give me all the juicy details.” Annie’s voice had dropped to a stage whisper.
“There are no juicy details.” Charlotte chuckled at Annie’s insinuation, but couldn’t help the disappointment flowing through her at the thought of their less than romantic evening. “We’re just friends. I guess.”
At least that’s all she allowed herself to think. And maybe not even that, given the way the evening had ended. Although, fantasies about what could have been were what had kept her tossing and turning all night.
“Well, change that, girlfriend. He’s gorgeous, smart, driven. And single. Why aren’t you going after him? You’d be perfect for each other.”
“We’re hardly that. He’s a doctor at Nassau General. We sue doctors. And right now, I’m involved in a case against Nassau General.” Charlotte bit her lower lip, watching closely for Annie’s response. “How’s that for perfect?”
Annie opened her mouth, then closed it, and opened it again. “Nassau General’s a big place. He probably doesn’t even know who your case is against. And just because he’s employed by the hospital doesn’t
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