Client Confidentiality

(8) Carlie

It's been a difficult few weeks of back-to-back hearings and trials, meaning I've been too busy running around different courtrooms in my black louboutins court heels to pay much attention to the Ashford Brothers. 

Hannah has fielded a few calls from them but advised of my time in court. They had assured that none of their issues were urgent, meaning I could fully concentrate on the clients I was representing in front of hard-faced judges. 

I straighten out my black pencil skirt and white silk blouse in the elevator, making sure I look smart for when the doors open to the office. 

My heels sound out against the marble floors, announcing my arrival from being at court this morning. 

As I walk past Hannah's desk, which is situated only a few metres from my office, she winks at me with a devious smile on her face. I frown at her before sighing and pushing my door open. 

Fuck, it's already been a long day. 

I almost jump out of my skin when I see three large men taking up most of the breathing room in my office. 

Although it's a large room with floor to ceiling windows, the three Ashford brothers manage to make it look small. 

Zach smiles at me cheekily, his dimples fully on show, as he sits on my sofa. Meanwhile, Callum sits with a tense face in one of the chairs in front of my desk and Elijah smiles warmly from the seat next to him. 

I circle my desk and sit down in my chair, trying not to sigh from the relief of being off my feet. 

If only they weren't here and I could kick off these heels.

"What can I do for you all?" I ask as I clasp my hands together on my desk, smiling professionally at them all. Callum's face remains cold, making me slightly nervous from his intimidating demeanour. 

"Can't it just be that we missed you?" Zach winks, earning a groan from Calluma and eyeroll from Elijah.  I fight the urge to laugh at his inappropriate flirtation. 

Instead of addressing Zach's comments, I look to Elijah for the real answer. 

"We were wondering if we could take you to lunch?" Elijah asks, his face serious. His grey eyes pierce into me, a nervous feeling bubbling in my stomach from his attention. 

"Oh?" I tilt my head, surprise in my voice.

"We have a few things we need to discuss," Elijah nods, his face professional as always.

"Let me just check my calendar," I say as I log into my laptop. I open up my calendar to see that Hannah has already blocked out my next two hours for a meeting called 

'Have lunch with the Ashford Brothers'

Of course she has. 

"Looks like I'm all free," I say, my voice hinting at my amusement of Hannah's eagerness. 

"Great," Elijah smiles. Zach stands up, pulling out his phone to request their driver. 

Whilst he speaks to them, I look to Callum to see him avoiding my gaze. His face has turned even colder than before, like it's the worst possible outcome that I would be free for lunch with them. 

Did he want me to reject them?

I shake the thoughts away, standing up to grab my bag. As I stand to my feet, I wince as the pulsing pain returns from being in these shoes for too long. I straighten out my skirt, trying to ignore the pain as I ready myself to go. 

Callum stands up in the corner of my eye and storms out of the room, making me frown down at my bag as I pack the things I need from my desk. 

"Shall we go?" Zach interrupts me before I can catastrophize in my head how much he must not like me. 

I walk through my office door that he holds open for me, joining Elijah's side as we walk to the elevator. 

It opens and we fill it, silence ensuing us. 

"Just so you know, I am charging you for this time," I half-joke, earning snickers from the both of them.

"We wouldn't have it any other way," Elijah winks at me, my heart fluttering in result. 

Was that a heart palpitation?

Do I need to go to a Cardiologist?

They lead me outside to a black Rolls Royce. Elijah opens the door for me and I climb in, a strange disappointment spreading through me when I see it empty. 

Where did Callum go?

I'm forced into the middle seat whilst Zach and Elijah sit either side of me, swallowing most of the room but still leaving me enough to be comfortable. 

The driver sets off without a prompt, making me think they knew I was going to say yes before I did. 

"Where are we going?" I ask as I watch the roads through the window. 

"A little Italian place that we love," Elijah answers, his voice soft and velvety. 

Zach's hand brushes against my skirt covered leg, making me flinch at the contact. I keep my gaze straight as he brushes me again, showing it obviously wasn't an accident. 

My heartbeat picks up, the feeling of his fingers indirectly on my skin overwhelming my thoughts. I feel my breath hitch, causing Zach to smirk slightly in the corner of my eye. 

Suddenly, my brain finally clicks into gear and I snap out of my bubble, my head instantly turning to the window on Elijah's side. I stare through it, watching his face from the corner of my eye to see a similar smirk to Zach's.

What is going on?

We sit in silence as we drive, my thoughts entertaining me in the quiet until the car finally stops.

"We're here," Elijah announces and opens the door.

They both climb out and offer their hands for me to take. 

What a choice. 

A tiny bit shorter coz I'm so tired, I feel dizzy. 

I'm getting such amazing feedback for this story and I'm just so grateful for you all. Thank you for believing in me <33