Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

Jordan

I went to Callahan's office after Ellis left to report our next steps. He'd left the room to make it appear I was in charge—not that it mattered after he'd criticized me openly, making me look like an amateur—but regardless of his test, I knew he'd want to supervise the case.

"You undermined my authority in there."

Callahan looked over the top of his laptop as I dropped into a chair across from his desk.

"Please, come in," he said dryly. "I've got nothing better to do, despite the fact we've got the biggest class action suit of our lives under way."

"I knew you'd want an update since you don't actually trust me."

"Don't I?"

"You told me to take the lead, then criticized me in front of the interns. That won't earn me any respect."

"If you don't want criticism, then handle your client right," Callahan said. "This is part of the job, Jordan. It's the reason I'm testing you. You know how to build a case, but you're not good at handling people."

"I don't think people need to be handled. They deserve the truth, even if it's hard. Mrs. Diedritch deserves to know we might not win."

"Wrong," he said firmly. "You should always make your client believe you're going to win, no matter the odds. You don't want them second-guessing you. And even if you settle, that's still a win, Jordan. It's all in how you spin it."

"And if you're going to lose in court?"

"Then don't let your case go to court," he said. "This is about your mindset, Jordan. We handle people so that they trust us."

We lie so that they trust us?

I bit down on the words. Arguing with Callahan wasn't productive. He had the name on the building; I was just an intern about to blow his chance at a future with that firm.

"Okay, point taken," I said glumly.

"All that said, I don't need you to report your every step," he said. "I know you'll build the best case possible. That's why we're here. If winning a case were only about the facts, I'd hire you in a heartbeat. But there's more to it than the truth. You have to put witnesses at ease. You need to charm the jurors. You damn sure can't offend the judge. And sometimes, the only way to do it is to lie your ass off."

I spent the next couple of hours in my cubicle in the open bull pen, where all the interns and junior associates kept desks. I caught up on my homework, helped Peter locate a case file that would be helpful in the class action suit, and partook in the very unhealthy Door Dash order from Burger Castle. It kind of defeated the purpose of working out this morning—but my crappy mood buried the desire to get healthier.

I wasn't much happier when I left Callahan's office. I didn't doubt that he was right about me, but I was starting to wonder if I was right to pursue a career in corporate law.

I'd soon have an MBA. I could go into an executive job of some kind when I graduated. But office politics and networking weren't much in my wheelhouse, either. I'd given Ellis a hard time for going to law school for the wrong reasons, but maybe I was the one who'd made a mistake.

I was months away from two graduate degrees, and suddenly, I wasn't sure what to do with my life.

I drove aimlessly until I found myself at Austin's record store. Loud, banging metal music was my favorite kind to play while studying, so I came by whenever I wanted to add to my collection.

The store was closed, but I spotted a light on, so I stopped and knocked. Austin glanced through the window, then opened the door.

"Jordan, what's up?"

"I know it's late. Is it cool if I come in for a few?"

"Sure." He stepped back, opening the door enough for me to pass, then closed it again. "Everything okay?"

"Bad day at work." I began browsing his newest stock, looking for anything good I might have missed.

"We got a Metallica in. Trapped Under Ice. "

"Really?" I flipped albums until I spotted it, then pulled it out. "That's mine."

Austin took a seat on the stool behind the check-out. "So, what's the deal? I thought you'd be upset about Ellis, not work. Aren't you Mr. Wonder Boy when it comes to that stuff?"

"When it comes to school, yeah." I shrugged. "In practice, it's a different matter."

"Huh. I guess I hadn't thought about that."

"Join the club," I said morosely. "It turns out being a Straight-A student doesn't equate to being an ace attorney."

"You'll figure it out, though," Austin said with more confidence than I felt right then. "You're too smart not to do anything you want to do."

That was the million-dollar question, wasn't it? Did I want to do it? Did I want to learn the art of lying and bullshit to better handle people, even people like the sweet Mary Ann Diedritch?

It was different for Ellis. He was naturally so warm and effervescent. He wouldn't dream of lying to Mary Ann, but he still set her at ease. Callahan might be right about me, but he'd been 100 percent wrong about Ellis.

"Jordan, are you listening?"

I blinked. "Hmm? What?"

"I said, why aren't you with Ellis at that party tonight?"

"It's not really my scene." I suddenly remembered what Austin had said when I first arrived. "Wait. Why did you think I'd be upset about El?"

Austin slid an album into a plastic sleeve while we spoke because, of course, he never stopped working while he was here. I carried my album to the check-out. I was sure he'd be wanting to get home to Chase and their dog Bennie. Austin technically still lived above the shop, but his nights here were few and far between.

"Ellis texted earlier about going to that costume party," Austin said with a shrug. "Sounded like his ex was going to be there, and El got this super hot costume for it."

My eyes narrowed. "How do you know it's super hot?"

Austin flipped his phone around to show me a pic Ellis had sent the group friend chat that I'd somehow missed.

I nearly swallowed my tongue. "Holy…"

Austin smirked. "Maybe you should swing by? Make sure he doesn't need you for anything?"

It was tempting. But I wasn't exactly in the mood for a party tonight. I shook my head. "Nah. Like you said, he's there to impress Clay, not me."

"How are you feeling about that?"

"Fine."

" Right."

"What?"

He scoffed. "You're full of shit is what. When are you going to admit that you're head over heels for Ellis and do something about it?"

Once again, I'd proven I couldn't lie for shit. I decided to give it the old college try and call it homework for Callahan.

"I'm not head over heels. That's an exaggeration. I just… I think Ellis could do better than Clay , of all people. Vic is at the party too, so I doubt they'll reunite or anything, but…" I trailed off.

Would Ellis need me? Vic could be downright nasty to him at times, but there were a lot of other people at the party El could hang out with.

Maybe he'll even meet someone who interests him more than Clayton.

My stomach clenched uncomfortably at the thought.

It was one thing to accept Ellis was in love with his ex and I couldn't change that. It was another to think of him moving on with someone else.

"Oh, I'm getting a call. Give me a sec." Austin picked up the phone. "Hey, babe. Yeah, I'll be going soon. Jordan came by." He snickered. "Oh, I'm looking forward to it."

Rather than listen to his love-soaked chatter with his boyfriend, I pulled out my phone and scrolled the feed. I stopped at a pic from the party, my stomach twisting.

I scanned the photo, then checked the post with it.

"Partying law school style tonight! Watch out, justice system, because we're some bad bitches!"

The pic showed a group of women I recognized from one of my classes. Ellis wasn't in it, but it was definitely the right party. Still, something was wrong with this photo…

I stared at it, trying to put my finger on it, until it suddenly clicked.

"Shit."

Austin lowered his phone. "What is it?"

"I gotta go." I laid the album on the counter. "Save this for me. I'll be back for it."

"Where are you going?"

I raced for the door. "I'm going over to that party."

"Hell yeah," Austin said, "go get your man!"

I didn't bother telling Austin there was no chance of that. But I'd always be there for Ellis, even if it was only as a friend.