Angel

Chapter 4:

Raven

I'd been looking at the file Corey had given me. She was a kid, younger than Marc even. That alone could account for the mistake, but either way, if she was the problem we would still have to let her go. It was simply too much of a risk. Paralegals can make or break a firm.

She stood instantly as I entered the room. She seemed awfully calm. "Hello, Ms. Theriot, I'm Mr. Ravenstahl," I said, holding my hand out to her. Without hesitation, she shook my hand and waited for directions. "Please, sit. Let's get started." I pushed a folder toward her. "Ms. Theriot, can you walk me through the events surrounding the Franklin file?"

Her brow slightly furrowed, then she spoke quietly. "I completed the files on Thursday evening just before five. I gave them to Ms. Quire, per her request, then left for the day. On Friday morning, she came to my desk asking for the files. When I explained that I had already given them to her, she stated I did not. She said I gave her the Newsome file instead. I looked at my desk, located the Newsome file, and handed it to her. I then offered to help her locate the Franklin file, but she did not accept my offer and left."

I noticed her body language shift at certain points in her explanation. She had done her best to hide them, but more than once when recounting Trish's actions, she flinched. I also noticed she had her left hand pulled back slightly. It seemed to have a small bandage on it. I tapped the table twice and Corey's voice came into the earpiece, "I noticed it as well. I'll get Brandon. Trish seems flustered, but hasn't said anything. Ask about the absence," he said, then went silent again.

I studied her for a moment as she flipped through the pages of the file. "Do you have a pen and some post-its?" she asked hesitantly.

"Um, sure," I said, then walked to the small supply closet to get what she asked for. "Here you go." I handed them to her.

"Thank you, sir," she replied. Fuck. Hearing that word from those pink lips did something to me. I quickly sat down before she noticed the growing bulge in my pants. She went back to the file, scribbling notes and placing them in the file until she finally pushed it back to me. "That should satisfy Mr. Franklin, sir. The verbiage of the merger was vague at best. Had the addendum I'd been given outlined a deadline, I would have delivered them to the court myself. I apologize if my lack of knowledge caused any complications."

"Well, it seems you were not the only paralegal involved with the matter," I replied as I looked at her notations. Shit, she had caught several mistakes. Corey really needed to see this. I tapped three times and heard Lydia's soft knock at the door. "Take this to Mr. Henshaw, please Lydia."

"Right away, Mr. Ravenstahl," she said, taking the file and shooting the young girl a sympathetic look.

Turning my attention back to the young lady before me, I paused. Damn, Brandon was right. Her eyes were really beautiful. I cleared my throat, "Um, Ms. Theriot, it says here you've made some personal leave requests and had one sick day this month. Are there circumstances that might be interfering with your work?"

She bristled at the question. "I followed procedures for leave requests, Mr. Ravenstahl, yet they were denied. As for the sick day, I had to take my MawMaw to the hospital which falls into the definition of an emergency sick day for employees." Her once relaxed body was now tense and guarded. There is way more to this story.

Brandon

"Hey Cor, what's up?" I asked as I came into his office. He was frowning at the computers on his desk and motioned me over. The first screen showed Trish Quire muttering to the screen in front of her.