𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝙻𝚒𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 ✓ (𝟷𝟾+)

The Badass

Roger

Lawyers huddle in my office, scribbling on papers and files. The phones rang every second. The media must have whiffed the news. Our team of lawyers filed for an extension, seeking more time with the merger. Somehow Brandon managed to run circles around them and got his case expedited. I can't understand who could be teaming up with that Satan. But whoever it was, for sure they sold their soul to him.

Georgia walked in and out of the place, retrieving the necessary documents. Although my team was working hard, it yielded no results.

"Where are we on the injunction? On adjournment?" My infuriated tone rose.

"We are following up." A man in a suit spoke.

I walk around my office, looking outside at the lights shimmering over the sleeping city. Teams were called in the wee hours of the night. Brandon knew when to strike. He knew I was weak, handing the merger on my own. It boiled my blood, knowing he still knew how to manipulate me. I was sure, he was coming at me with whatever he had and however he could.

"You said someone knew a judge. Get me on a call with one," I said to the man in a suit.

He stuttered when I ordered him, looked over others before dialing his boss, Matthew. After a few rings, Matthew picked up the call, his groggy voice escaped through the speakers. The man murmured instructions to him, placing a hand over the speaker, refraining me from listening.

Every passing second riled me more. My calmer form diminished. My arm swung across the table, hitting a pile of files that tossed on the floor. Suddenly, the gathering in my office streamed through the doors in silence. Their steps paced up to escape my wrath.

"Get me results or don't bother coming in tomorrow morning," I yelled at the row of people, whose backs faced me.

My office room fell silent. There was no chatter, no paper crinkle. It was dead within seconds. I stared out into the night, cogs churned thoughts and ways to avoid getting Brandon any share of the business.

Soft footsteps made me talk. "You can leave, Georgia. Come back early tomorrow." With her silence, I turned around.

It was Arin. She hung her coat at the rack and walked over with cups of coffee. More than two. I looked at them and back to her. Her face was lit with a soft smile, one which she always donned when we used to talk.

"Have it" she instructed.

"I don't want it bab.. Arin." I was quick to call her by her name. She didn't notice, scanning the sheets laying across my table and on the carpeted floor.

"Walk me through it," she said, her eyes remained glued on them.

I had a different reaction to her request. "Why are you here?"

Looking up from the paper in her hand, she spoke with determination. "My fiancé's father sues the company that I work in and I shouldn't be here?" I don't know what it was about her answer but it calmed me. It made me feel as if half the battle had already been won. The confidence she carried had a ripple effect on me.

I sat in my chair and gave her a background on the deals and Brandon's cause of action. Arin listened to it all attentively. She even nodded at times or hummed before her hands fell back to scribble in the notepad. Once I finished my narration, she stood up and walked out of the office. Without a word, I stood confused.

Following her was the only option.

I walked out to her cubicle. The other parts of the office were still in darkness, only the legal and finance department and my office remained lit. With Georgia fetching everyone rounds of coffee at two in the morning, I walked to see where Arin disappeared.