What She Doesn't Know

Chapter 1.

My office is never cluttered. Everything has it's file or it's own compartment. Nothing is ever out of place. Except for this week. Things in the office have been a mess and with construction in the building next door we've been housing it's business while renovations undergo. The disorganization of my office is actually driving me quite crazy. There's stacks of paper from the week's case files engulfing my desk and the surrounding the floor around my chair. As I studied the acquittal from last weeks case the words became dismembered and the letters began dancing in circles around me. This headache, god this fucking pounding on my skull is going to drive me mad. Despite the army of drummers that seem to be marching around in my head I attempt focus on the last task at hand for the day.

"Alessio", Leslie's raspy tone spills through the speaker of my desk phone. "Simon is ready for you down in the garage. Would you like me to notify him that you will be down shortly?" Leslie is the firms receptionist. Before I answer her I down two Ibuprofen's needing nothing to chase them down with. 

I guess some of this mess will have to come home with me. I cleared my voice. "Yes Leslie please let him know I'll be down in ten."

I was half expected her to hang up but I still heard faint breathing on the other end of the line. "Yes Leslie...?"

"I'm sorry to be a bother," she cleared her throat and sounded like she was nervously adjusting things in the background. I waited for her to continue. "Are you ready for tomorrow evening?" She rushes the sentence out like she was dreading asking it in the first place. Tomorrow evening had totally slipped my mind until just now. If I wasn't required to go I 100% would not be attending. I'm not the biggest fan of crowds. Plus every year shit gets broken and I always end up leaving early anyways. 

Every year my firm hosts a Christmas party; it was my idea about 4 years ago but I was mostly joking when I suggested it to Leslie in passing one morning. She ran with than one comment of mine and never looked back. It's pointless really but Leslie insist its good for publicity. This year the team of decorators and event planners are going with an arctic theme amidst the grand foyer. Not that there will be fake snow and ice everywhere but tasteful ice sculptures will be presented in a show of sorts by their artists. In addition there's always a musician hired to play for the entire night while the owners of hospitals, CPA's, doctors, actors, investors and the like attend and talk complete and utter bullshit to each other. Its all one big annoying dick measuring contest while strippers and escorts hang onto their arms as their poor sad wives wait for them at home. 

I took a moment before responding. "As always Leslie but no promises I won't leave before 9:30."

"Many will be expecting to see the owner there, you know. You can't always slip away. It's bad for business." She had a small very minuscule point. But it isn't like my firm needed this outrageous party to get attention. We have been and will remain the most successful Defense Attorney firm in all of North America. You may ask, why defense? I believe in second chances. No, everyone doesn't deserve such privileges but some do. I didn't used to be this way. I was the person that wouldn't have given you a second to explain. I didn't care what you said or did all I knew was I was right. I put those days behind me though. I had to in order to move on.

"We will see what happens Leslie. Like I said, no promises." With that I end the phone call and begin to gather my things. A few of the files will stay here and a few come with me.

As I make my way down the elevator to the garage I run into a few subordinate lawyers. They bombard me with questions related to their current cases and I answer them with a preciseness that always seems to catch them off guard. 

The crisp New York air met me as I got off the elevator and entered the parking garage where Simon greets me almost daily. He holds the back passenger side door open for me as I step into the black Mercedes sedan. Simon is my driver. I met Mr. Novak back in the military. We never worked together but he was the best sniper the military had seen. When I opened up my law firm he was the first person I called. Simon was doing special ops work for the President at the time but I made him an offer he couldn't refuse.