Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

I t’s Tuesday morning and these reports are boring.

Did I think being a corporate lawyer would be all fun and games? No.

Did I think it’d be so very boring? Also, no.

The phone on my desk rings, and I can’t help but thank god for the distraction. I need something to do other than highlight errors on a report.

“Hello, this is Bentley Johnson,” I answer.

“Bentley, it’s Shar. The partners would like you to attend the meeting in conference room two,” Xavier’s assistant says.

“Sure, what time.”

“Now,” she says.

“Okay. Thanks.” Hanging up the phone, I grab my laptop and a notepad and pen, and make my way to the conference room.

All three partners look up at me when I enter. All three sets of eyes are unreadable. Am I getting fired? Have they found out what Nathan and I have been doing and decided I’m too much of a liability to keep on? Did I really throw my career away for a few rides on his magical cock?

“Bentley, welcome. Come have a seat,” Xavier says. I look to Nathan, hoping to get some sort of a sign, anything that tells me what to expect. He gives me a small smile, but that’s it.

“This isn’t going to be pleasant for any of us, Miss Johnson. But we thought you would want in on the case, given your family’s history,” Alistair says.

I glance between them. Nathan seems pissed. Does he not want me here? But Alistair mentioned a case. He didn’t say: “We’re letting you go because you’re a little hussy who spreads her legs too easily for her boss.”

Okay, maybe I’ve put too much thought into getting fired and how it’s going to go down.

“Case? What case?” I ask.

“Luke Gallah vs. Mark Kemp,” Xavier says.

The breath leaves my lungs, and I swear I choke on stale air. Mark Kemp. My father’s old business partner. The man responsible for hurting all of those people, the one who got off scot-free while my father was sentenced to prison time. Luke Gallah is the owner of a huge fragrance company. I didn’t even know the two were in business together.

“You can say no, Bentley. You don’t have to work on this case. It won’t reflect on your reputation here in any way.” This comes from Nathan.

When I look up at him, I see worry on his face. It’s comforting that he’s concerned about me. But this is something I’ve wanted for a long time.

“No, it’s okay. What are the details? What’s the claim?” I ask.

“Falsifying research documents. Gallah and Kemp were developing a new fragrance line together. Gallah is claiming that Kemp falsified reports and used company funds for personal expenses. Pretty much, he stole the research budget and handed in heaps of dodgy data,” Alistair says.

I blink. I’m trying really hard not to get excited. Maybe this is it. The chance I’ve been looking for to clear my father’s name. I mean, a man like Kemp can’t escape criminal charges twice, right? “Is there solid evidence?”

“It’s solid enough to build a case,” Nathan says.

“Okay.”

There’s a knock at the door. Nathan’s assistant pokes her head in. “Luke Gallah is here to see you, sir.”

“Thanks, Tracey. Send him in,” Nathan responds.

The man walks in and sits down, without looking twice at me. “Gentleman.” He nods at the three partners. I’m not sure why they’re all here. They don’t even specialise in the same fields of law. But who am I to question their methods?

“And lady,” Nathan corrects him, nodding his head in my direction.

Oh my god, if the world could open up and swallow me whole, I’d really appreciate that right now .

“I apologise, Miss Johnson. It’s good to see you again. I don’t think I’ve seen you since you were… what? Thirteen?” he asks.

“Sixteen,” I clarify.

“Huh, well, I heard you were working here. It’s why I came. Your father was a good man, Bentley. He’d be hella proud of you.”

“Thank you.” My voice is quiet. I’m confused. He knew I was working here and still sought out the firm’s representation? I thought we , my family name at least, were all classified as pariahs in the Melbourne corporate world.

“Just to ensure everyone is up to speed, I’ll summarize. Mr Gallah, you’re here because you want to initiate a suit against Mr Mark Kemp. I’ve looked over the files you’ve provided, and your case is good, but it’s not foolproof,” Nathan says.

“Right, but you can win, can’t you?”

“I can.” Nathan nods his head. “Why not just end your partnership with him and write the whole thing off as a loss?”

“He will just do this to another company. I knew something wasn’t right when Oliver went away. I just didn’t have any solid proof, of course. But I knew Oliver well, and I knew he wouldn’t have put products out into the market without conducting thorough research. He had integrity.” Mr Gallah looks at me, his eyes filled with pity.

I don’t want his pity. I don’t want anyone’s pity. What I want is to prove that my father was innocent, and that Mark Kemp is a horrid excuse for a human being and someone who should be locked behind bars for the rest of his life.

The meeting carries on for an hour or so. I take as many notes as I can while the partners talk amongst each other. After Mr Gallah says his goodbyes and leaves the conference room, I stand. “Thank you for allowing me to sit in on this case. Let me know what you need me to do,” I tell the partners.

“We’re lucky to have you, Bentley,” Xavier says.

“Thanks.”

The second I sit down at my desk, the door to my office opens and Nathan strolls in, closing and locking it behind him.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“Yes,” I lie. Sitting in on that meeting brought up a lot of memories, ones I really don’t like to think about.

“You’re a beautiful fucking liar, Miss Johnson,” Nathan says, walking around my desk.

“Who says I’m lying?” I ask, craning my neck to look up at him.

“I do.” He drops to his knees. “I wish I could have been on your father’s case. I wish there was a way I could bring him back for you. But I can’t. What I can do is ensure that you are as stress-free as you possibly can be while working on this case.”

“You’ve never asked me if my father was guilty or not,” I comment, as if I’m just now realising that fact. Because I am. I spend so much time hoping no one brings up my father, it hadn’t occurred to me that it was odd for Nathan not to mention him.

“I didn’t need to. It never mattered to me. Even if he were guilty, that wouldn’t change how I think about you.”

“He was innocent,” I say firmly.

“I know.” His fingers slide up the inside of my thighs, pulling my legs apart. “So this stress-relief thing. I’m recommending a minimum of three orgasms a day.”

“Three? That’s a big call. Do you honestly think you’re that good?” I tease him.

“Are you doubting my skills? Really, Bentley, I thought you’d know better than to doubt me by now,” he says as his fingers travel higher. I open my legs wider, giving him full access. When he reaches my unrestricted pussy, his eyes widen. “Where are your panties? You’ve been walking around all morning bare? You sat through that meeting bare ?” he asks.

“I forgot them,” I tell him with a shrug.

“You forgot them? How does one forget underwear?”

“When one is in such a rush because they slept through their alarm. Probably because one’s ‘going steady’ partner kept them up all night,” I tell him.

“Sorry, but I’m really not. Also, if keeping you up all night means you’ll forgo panties—which really is only a benefit for me—I’ll keep you up more often.” He smirks.

The ability to form a coherent response escapes me when his lips meet my inner thigh. His tongue licks its way up, moving across to my clit before circling around the hardened bud. Nathan moves his tongue down my folds, pushing it into my pussy.

“Oh shit.” My hands tangle into his hair. I look down and watch him. His shoulders hunch between my legs, with the fabric of his suit pulled tight across his back.

Nathan’s fingers dig into my thighs harder. He grunts and moans as his tongue delves in and out of me. “Mmm, so fucking good,” he grunts into my mound.

His tongue moves back up to my clit and his mouth closes around it, sucking, nibbling, licking. When his fingers push inside my pussy, I clamp down around them. My hips move upwards and I grind myself into his mouth, onto his fingers. “Oh god!” I cry out.

One of his hands reaches up, muffling my moans as his tongue and fingers pick up their tempo. My body shakes as the orgasm tears through me. Nathan continues to gently lick me until my body completely slumps in the chair. Utterly relaxed.

“I think you might be on to something. That really is stress-relieving.” I smile down at him.

“Glad to be of service, baby girl.” He stands, before leaning back down to peck me on the lips. “Let me know if you need anything else before the day’s out.”

“Okay.” I sigh. “Nathan,” I call out just before he opens the door to my office.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you,” I tell him.

“Anytime. Trust me, the pleasure is all mine.” He winks.

“Not for that. Well, okay, thank you for that. But… just… thank you for everything.”

“You’re welcome,” he says. When the door closes behind him, I lean my head back against the chair. There are so many thoughts running through my mind.

Mostly the thought of making Mark Kemp face the consequences of his actions.