The Risk Takers

Part 12 | Time Jump

                                                                              10 YEARS LATER

I quickly secure the lid on the shoe box and stuff it back inside my closet. I throw a scarf over the box to fully cover it but I know hiding the box won't change what's inside of it. I grab my Louis Vuitton Neverfull off of the bathroom floor and sprint back downstairs. I see I have just enough time to make it back to my office before my final meeting of the day.

I glance to my phone before pulling out of the driveway, but I don't see any new messages or emails...which is a rare but wonderful thing. I quickly call Liam and hook my phone up so I can hear him through my car speakers. I can hardly hear him over the muffled sounds when he answers, "Hey baby." He says it in a low tone that implies he doesn't have much time to talk so I talk faster, "Hey I just wanted to know if you'll be home for dinner tonight? My last meeting should be over by six."

"Should be. Whatcha thinking?"

"I'll grab take out from the Thai place across the street from my office. Sound good?" I ask and he quickly replies, "Mmmhmm, get my usual. See you later. Love you." The call ends abruptly but I'm used to the quick snippet conversations we seem to have everyday. I turn the last corner that leads into my office parking garage and show my ID to the security guard as I enter the lot. A parking space in the firm's attached parking lot is what sold Kavanaugh, Reich, Peabody and Brown to me. I took their job offer over the numerous others I had received after I had finished my internships in Connecticut. I knew how valuable a parking space in downtown Los Angeles can be, so they wrote it into my contract and I moved from New Haven to L.A two days later. 

Liam and I have been back in California for two years and I remember the day I started at this firm like it was yesterday. I grab my bag and briskly walk into the stuffy reception area where thick, black metal letters spell out the partners names above the reception desk. Our offices are so cliche, with smooth cherry wood desks and dark green marble-looking counter tops. Low, square shaped chairs fill up the small entry way and I notice a young blonde flipping through a Life magazine in the corner. A brunette with thick square-rimmed glasses sits at the receptionist desk and she motions for me when she sees me walk out of the elevator. 

"Hi Ellie, your next appointment is here," she tells me and I glance to her name tag to remember her name. Interns pour in and out of this office and I feel like we have a new one at the receptionist's desk every month.

"Thanks...Monica, but I shouldn't have anything on the books for this afternoon. I have a meeting with Kavanaugh at four," I reply to her and she glances back down to her appointment book.

"Oh, well according to this, your new intern starts today," Monica glances to the blonde in the corner, "That's her over there."

I glance over my shoulder and when I look back to Monica I frown, "Was that today? Alright, send her back to my office in five minutes." Monica nods her head at me and I half walk, half jog down the hall to my office. I swing the door shut with my heel and quickly find the heels I changed out of under my desk. I slide on the uncomfortable but smart looking Prada pumps and glance to the small pocket mirror I keep inside my desk drawer. I smooth a few blonde flyaways down and check my teeth for any lingering granola bar that I scarfed down in the car on the way back here. There is a light knock at my door and moments later, the blonde is hesitantly poking her head through my doorway.

"Eleanor Greysor?" She asks and I summon her into my office with my hand. She delicately crosses the threshold and I am already worried about her timid demeanor. A seasoned lawyer would devour her in court.