Sudden Chance

Notary

Whoever decided that alarm clocks are a good idea needs to be punished. Severely. I groan and pull the comforter over my head trying to drown out the light streaming in from outside. I really don't want to go to work today. It's the end of the week. I could always just call out sick... I sigh, tossing the blankets to the side.

"Up and at 'em Evie." I stretch and look at the small clock on my nightstand. Shit, I've wasted way too much time. I speed run my way through the morning, rushing so I'm not late. The last thing I need is my managing partner to berate me today. My stomach grumbles in protest but I really don't have time for breakfast, not even coffee.

"Okay bye you two, don't do anything I wouldn't do." I snatch my keys off the coffee table while Kitters, my tabby, yawns before laying her head back down and closing her eyes. Which is more than I can say for Moose, my old rescue dog who continues to snore away from his favorite spot on the couch. Great, really feeling the love.

The traffic on my drive into the office, for once, isn't as horrible as normal. Still not great but its downtown LA. You take what you can get. The thirty minute drive isn't too horrible and I manage to get to my desk two minutes before I'm supposed to start.

"Cutting it close today Evelyn." David, our firm's managing partner and my boss, says while leaning against the door frame to my office.

"Well someone has to keep you on your toes." I boot up my computer as I respond sitting down.

David rubs his hands together and steps further inside my office, taking the chair across my desk. His tone switches from light and teasing to more serious, "I need to ask a favor of you."

I lean back in my chair and gesture for him to continue.

"You know I wouldn't normally ask this of you but we need you to notarize some signatures for a client at his home and fill in for an attorney until we can get another LAA."

I do my best not to sound annoyed. "That's not my job anymore David and you know it. What about Krissy? She is a notary."

"Krissy is on maternity leave, her baby came early." David responds.

I make a mental note to send her some flowers. "Great. And what about Daniel?"

"In Colorado until next week. Come on Evelyn, you were our best notary, an excellent LAA." David's attempt to fan my ego doesn't go unnoticed. "I wouldn't ask if there was another option and we would really appreciate it."

I hesitate before asking, "We... Which attorney?"

David draws in a big breath, "Andrew."

I don't hesitate. "No." Andrew has been nothing but a thorn in my side ever since I transferred from our Philadelphia office.

David gives me a stern look. "Evelyn, I asked out of curtesy. It's just for today. If Andrew gives you any problems, then come to me and I will take care of it."

I'm quiet for a moment. "You owe me for this one, at the very least you are buying me lunch." I shoot him a wry smile.

"Your favorite?" David asks, his grin returning.

"You know it. Now don't you have other people to torment?" The question gets a chuckle out of David.

He raises his hands in the air, "Alright you got me, I'm going." He pauses before walking out the door, "Try to play nice, please? For my sake."

I give David a soft smile, "I will do my best."

He gives me a nod before leaving me to get settled in for the day. It doesn't take long and before I get the chance to try and avoid Andrew, he bursts into my office.

I steel myself for what is about to come, "You know most people, when they enter an office that isn't theirs, they knock."

Andrew guffaws, "The door was open."

I take a deep breath, doing my best to keep my tone unaffected, "And you weren't invited in." I continue not giving him a chance to say anything else on it, "I was told you have some documents that need to be notarized at the client's house?'

He plops a huge stack of papers on my desk, "Here you go, all the information you need is on the top page. Get to it assistant." He draws out the last word in a sneer before leaving my office.

Great. Just Great. I am SO happy I decided to come in to work today. I start to look through the papers, divorce papers for one James Simpson. The address is listed below his name and I grab what I need, scooping up the massive stack of papers and heading out.

Now that I am out of the office and away from Andrew I feel like I can breathe again. I take my time driving through LA, my GPS leading me into quiet residential areas nestled on the hills that surround the city. Eventually it has me pull into a driveway and I put my car in park before gathering my things and walking up to the front door and ringing the doorbell.

I'm left standing for a few moments and I debate trying again when the door swings open. Now I don't know what I was expecting, but it definitely was not a shirtless, sweaty man holding a cup of coffee.

He seems out of breathe as his chest heaves a bit, "Can I help you?"

I snap my eyes back to his face, bad Evie! Do not stare at the client's chest no matter how attractive it is! "Yes, sorry to bother you. My name is Evelyn, I work for Lewis & Wright, I'm here to notarize some documents that your attorney, Andrew, needs. I believe these are the final agreements on the terms of your divorce."

His eyes go wide in realization, "Fuckkkk. I am so sorry, come in, please." He ushers me inside and leads me to his dining room. "I completely forgot someone was supposed to come over today, and I thought it would be Andrew. You caught me mid workout, sorry about that." He runs his hand through his hair. "I'm gonna... go put a shirt on and then maybe I can offer you a cup of coffee as an apology?" He gives me a crooked smile.

I decidedly keep my eyes on his face as he talks, "Of course! Please don't worry about it." He ducks out of the dining room and I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding and shake my head. I'll be lucky if he doesn't complain to Andrew about this, maybe I should have called before coming over?

I'm not left with my thoughts for very long, he comes back in to the dining room, this time with a plain grey t-shirt on. "Sorry again about that, you said your name was Evelyn? I'm Jimmi." He reaches out a hand for me to shake.

I take it, "Nice to meet you Jimmi, I'm sorry to have surprised you like that I was in such a rush to get out of the office I forgot to give you a call to let you know I was coming."

He shoots me another smile as he makes his way behind the kitchen counter, "Don't worry about it, can I still offer you that coffee?"

I give a polite smile, "That would be lovely thank you."

"Do you take anything in it?" He asks pouring another mug.

"Sugar please if you have it." I answer as I take out the mountain of paperwork Andrew had so lovingly dropped on my desk.

Jimmi eyes the stack of papers as he passes me the mug, "I take it that's what I have to sign."

I nod, "Thank you. Did Andrew go over everything with you or do you have any more questions about what you are signing?"

We both sit down across from one another at the table, "He did, but it was a lot. Do you mind going over it as we go through it?"

I smile softly, "Of course, let's get started."