Authors: Adrianne Byrd
Chapter 6
D
estiny’s first day on the job was a whirl of activity. After the usual introductions to the members of Phillips, Anderson and Brown, she was shown to a small office with a dismal view of another looming high-rise. The office came equipped with a beautiful mahogany desk and an exquisite leather chair that was as comfortable as it was stunning.
She could tell upon her first meeting with her personal secretary, Jeanne, a perky-faced blonde, they were going to be a great team. When all the niceties were over, Destiny promptly dove into her work and the day flew by.
Her goal was to make partner at the prestigious firm within seven years. In the next decade she’d pursue politics. A smile fluttered to her lips. It had been Adam’s exact plan. She’d loved his ideas on tax and education reform and had now adopted them as her own.
A quick rap on the door jolted her from her pleasant memories. “Come in.”
The door pushed open and Jeanne poked her head in and, despite the late hour, gave her a radiant smile that reached her sparkling blue eyes. “A Ms. Stella Fernandez is here to see you.”
Destiny looked at her watch and frowned. “It’s five o’clock. She’s over an hour late.”
“She says she got stuck in traffic.”
This would make Destiny late for dinner with her friends, but she supposed there was no time like the present to get used to long hours. She sighed. “Send her in,” she said, retrieving the folder labeled F
ERNANDEZ
from her in-box. She made a quick scan of its contents before her office door reopened and a beautiful, statuesque, Spanish woman entered.
Destiny stood and welcomed the woman with a firm handshake and a warm smile. “Good afternoon, Ms. Fernandez. I’m Destiny Brockman. You did receive our letter informing you that James Holden has left the firm and that I will be the new attorney handling your case?”
“Sí.”
“Well, please excuse the mess. I’m still in the middle of moving in. Won’t you have a seat?”
“Gracias,”
Stella said, with a timid smile, and then took a seat in one of the vacant chairs across from Destiny.
Destiny got straight to the point as she settled back in her chair. “I see here you want to sue your employer for sexual harassment. Is that correct?”
Stella nodded.
Destiny gave her an encouraging smile. “And...” She frowned as she shuffled through the papers. “Who was your employer?”
“I was employed at Nexicon,” Stella answered in a thick accent. “I was the president’s, Mr. Fredrick Boylan’s, personal secretary.”
Destiny’s eyes brightened with recognition. “Your case is against Mr. Boylan?”
Her client nodded and withdrew a tissue from her purse to blot her eyes. “I had been to three different firms before Mr. Holden agreed to take my case.”
“Three?” Destiny’s brows furrowed. “What were the reasons the other firms gave for not taking your case?”
Stella’s laugh was tainted with odium. “Come on, Señorita Brockman. Fredrick Boylan is a very powerful man and can afford the best attorneys. From what I understand, a Señor Stafford from Mortensen and Foster is representing him.”
“Mr. Stafford?” Destiny frowned. “That wouldn’t happen to be Miles Stafford, would it?”
Stella tossed up her hands. “See? You’ve heard of him, too.”
Destiny’s stomach fell somewhere below her knees. That man was everywhere. “Ms. Fernandez, you came to the right place. I would be delighted to take this case. I’m afraid of neither Mr. Boylan nor Mr. Stafford.’
Stella’s face glowed with appreciation.
“Gracias,
Señorita Brockman.
Gracias.”
“No. Thank you.” Destiny’s smile widened. “I’m actually looking forward to kicking Mr. Stafford’s butt in court.”
* * *
Miles stared at his cousin from across his desk. “So you admit you propositioned Ms. Fernandez?”
Fredrick shrugged as if annoyed for having to answer Miles’s questions. “She’s a good-looking woman.”
“You are aware there are laws prohibiting this type of behavior?” Miles grappled to make some sense of his cousin’s logic or maybe he was just having a hard time with the man’s indifference. He never understood this kind of preying on women and it unnerved him to be related to this man.
For a moment, his thoughts carried him back to the incident with his new next-door neighbor. Was this the kind of man she thought him to be?
“Freddie, I don’t know. I’m not real comfortable about this, especially since you’re admitting guilt. Maybe you should just consider settling out of court.”
Fredrick laughed. “Come on. This is a simple case of her word against mine. Besides, we both know the difference between sexual harassment and a pick-up line is whether the woman finds you attractive.”
“And in this case Ms. Fernandez did not.”
“She was playing hard to get, trust me on that. The only reason she’s suing is because I moved on.”
“And you fired her.”
“So? She was a lousy secretary.”
Miles felt the beginnings of a headache.
Fredrick smiled, clueless of the stress he caused his cousin. “So, how is Aunt Violet doing? I haven’t seen her in a while.”
Miles managed a half smile. “She’s doing good.”
That is until I get my hands on her for getting me into this.
Fredrick stood and adjusted his suit. It was amazing how a three-thousand-dollar Armani suit did nothing to hide his true nature.
“Anyway, I have it on good authority that Ms. Fernandez has had a bit of trouble finding someone to take her case. Last I heard she had an appointment with the latest rookie over at Phillips, Anderson and Brown.”
Miles’s stomach turned.
“Come on, cousin. This is easy money for you. Besides, you do know the family decree don’t you?”
“Family takes care of family,” Miles mumbled under his breath. His headache was now sailing toward becoming a massive migraine. He looked at his cousin and then slowly exhaled. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Fredrick’s smile resembled a smirk. “Great. I trust you’ll keep me posted?”
Miles stood from his desk and walked Fredrick to his door. “I want you to know that I’m not one hundred percent sold on this case so I’m not going to make any promises.”
“Honesty.” Fredrick sounded amused. “I like that.”
* * *
Since Destiny’s prayers of avoiding Miles for the rest of her life would go unheeded, she supposed the opportunity to whip the pompous attorney in court was a great consolation.
Now, back at her apartment, Destiny relayed her day and her version of what happened in the elevator to Lu Jin. “I don’t know,” Destiny said. “Maybe I should move out of this place.”
Lu Jin plopped on the sofa beside Destiny still laughing after listening to her tale. “Now don’t be ridiculous. Don’t let the creep chase you out.”
Destiny lifted her wineglass and looked over at her. “Yeah. I know you’re right.”
“Actually, it sounds like you handled yourself real well in the elevator. I have no doubts that you can handle him in court, too.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I’d just as well not see the man again. I don’t like him.”
“So I gathered,” Lu Jin said, draping her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “But I really do think you’re making way too much out of this.”
Destiny didn’t think so, but she refrained from saying as much and took another sip of wine. “I’m starving. Where are the guys? They should have been here by now.”
Elliott and Zack had promised to treat them to Chinese since they’d bailed on Destiny the night of the party and had never returned on the agreed upon hour.
Lu Jin glanced at her watch. “I don’t know, but I’ll give Zack a ring on his cell phone.”
Destiny nearly choked. “He bought a cell phone?”
“Yeah, can you believe it? Poor schmuck is finally getting with the nineties.”
There was a knock at the door.
“Finally.” Destiny jumped up from her seat and went to answer the door. “It’s about time you...”
“Good evening,” Miles greeted.
Destiny froze as she took in her neighbor’s immaculate presence. If she thought him handsome before, it was nothing compared to what he looked like in a suit.
“Destiny, who is it?” Lu Jin asked, jerking Destiny out of her stupor.
“I-it’s, uh.” She blinked, and then noticed the lopsided grin sloped across Miles’s face. “It’s nobody.”
His smile disappeared.
She pushed him back and stepped out into the hall. “What are you doing here?” she asked in an angry whisper.
He held up a manila folder. “Imagine my surprise when I received this today.” He lowered the folder, and then crossed his arms. “I didn’t know you were an attorney. Though after experiencing your sense of justice firsthand, I shouldn’t be surprised.”
Destiny frowned. “Did you just insult me?”
Miles smiled again. “Ms. Brockman, I didn’t come here to fight. I merely thought we could discuss this case over dinner. And maybe I can get you to accept my apology for my behavior yesterday in the elevator. Who knows, perhaps we could even resolve the Boylan case quickly and, hopefully this time, painlessly.”
Destiny crossed her arms and evaluated her opposition. “Mr. Stafford, I accept your apology, but I’m going to be frank with you. I don’t like you and I don’t appreciate you dropping by my home after hours to discuss work.”
Destiny noticed a twitch along Miles’s jawline.
“Do you ever get tired of playing Ms. Hardass?” he asked. His eyes darkened as they narrowed on her.
“Who’s playing?”
Miles stepped back as if he didn’t trust himself around her. “All right. We’ll play this your way. I’ll just call my client and tell him that you refused to hear our offer.”
“What offer?”
“Oh? You’re interested now?”
Destiny clenched her jaw and reined in her irritation. “I’m not in the position to accept or turn down anything, Mr. Stafford. You know that. If you want to talk business then come by my office tomorrow. I’d appreciate it if you called first. You think you and your cousin can do that?”
Miles paused. “How did you know that we’re related?”
A wicked sense of pleasure filled Destiny at seeing his surprise. “One thing to remember about me, Mr. Stafford—I always do my homework. See you in court.” She turned and reentered her apartment with a wide smile of satisfaction.
* * *
Miles entered his condo wanting to throw something. That damn woman had a way of getting under his skin. Until he’d met Destiny, he was convinced he had a certain way with women. Once, he would have considered her behavior a challenge. Now, he considered it annoying as hell.
His phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and mumbled under his breath before he snatched it up. “Hey, Freddie.”
“So did you talk to her?”
“Yes and no. I’ll have my secretary get us on her calendar tomorrow, but I don’t have a good feeling about this. I don’t think Ms. Brockman is easily intimidated.”
Fred sighed wearily into the phone. “You’re not going to suggest that I settle again are you?”
The fact that this case was weak at best worried Miles, and his suspicion of Destiny being a tough opponent worried him more. The only thing his cousin had in his favor was his money, and with Destiny Brockman that wouldn’t be enough.
“Miles, are you still there?”
“Yeah, I’m still here.” He glanced back at his door and hoped there would come a day when he would get another opportunity to go against Ms. Brockman. And if he did, he wouldn’t turn and run. “Freddie, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but either you settle out of court or get yourself a new attorney.”
Then a funny thing happened...
Chapter 7
Five years later...
D
estiny sat bundled in the middle of her bed with a near-empty quart of ice cream and stared dully at the television, which was all she’d been able to do for the past week. Soon after her thirtieth birthday, she’d come to the conclusion she hated everything about her life.
The job she’d once thought to be a dream had turned out to be a nightmare. The job hadn’t changed, she had; and that fact opened a floodgate of emotions with guilt riding the high tide.
The phone rang.
Destiny closed her eyes and wished that everyone would leave her alone. In her heart, she knew they were just concerned, but she wanted time to sort things out.
The answering machine picked up and her mom’s worried voice filled the room.
“Destiny, this is your mother calling. I don’t know what’s going on or why you haven’t been at work all this week, but I’ve made arrangements to take the first flight back home tomorrow morning—”
Destiny snatched up the phone. “That won’t be necessary.”
“There you are. Where have you been?” Adele snapped. “I’ve been worried sick.”
“I’m sorry.” Destiny drew in a deep breath and pressed the mute button on the remote control. “I didn’t mean to worry you. I just...” She shrugged and a thick silence hung over the line.
“I’m coming home,” her mother declared.
“No, Mom, no.” Destiny exhaled. “There’s nothing wrong. I’m just taking some time to reevaluate my priorities.”
“Does this have anything to do with the Nissel case?”
It had everything to do with Keith Nissel; a pro bono case where her young client was accused of murder, when all he was guilty of was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She’d slaved over the case, trying to win a stay of execution from the Supreme Court.
But she had lost.
“No, Mom. This has nothing to do with Keith Nissel.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Destiny responded with a note of desperation. “Mom, please. I need some time to sort things out. That’s all. I promise I’ll call you if I need you to come home.”
Once again silence stretched between them before her mother finally acquiesced. “You promise to call?”
Destiny nodded and fought the next tidal wave of tears. “I promise.” She ended the call and fell back across the bed exhausted. Maybe she was coming down with something. If so, then perhaps there was a pill she could pop to soothe her woes.
The Nissel case wasn’t the first one she’d lost, but it was the first with such deadly results.
She rolled back to the center of the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Something was definitely wrong. In her career, she’d accomplished everything she’d set out to do. Her boss had recently told her she was on the fast track to making partner. Once upon a time, such praise would’ve had her floating on cloud nine—but not now. In fact, it had the opposite effect.
Maybe the simple truth was she no longer wanted to be a lawyer. Destiny groaned as she slammed her eyes shut. To even consider such a thing deepened her despair. She’d come from a long line of lawyers. And because of the scandal her brother had caused, it was up to her to redeem the family name.
She allowed the last declaration to ring in her ears and waited for the words to revive conviction in her heart. But nothing happened. Nothing had happened for a while.
The doorbell rang.
Destiny held her breath as if doing so would convince her visitor she wasn’t home. She prayed she wouldn’t hear a key rattle in the door. If she did, it could only mean that her dear friend, Lu Jin, had taken it upon herself to come check on her.
A key rattled.
Destiny grabbed a pillow and covered her face to muffle a scream of frustration.
“Destiny?” Lu Jin’s concerned voice floated throughout the apartment.
Destiny removed the pillow. “Go away.”
The front door closed and she heard the soft clicking of high heels as they headed toward her room.
Lu Jin stopped when she reached the bedroom door. She crossed her arms and glanced around. “I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”
Destiny sat up and propped her pillow against the headboard. “I want my key back.”
“People in hell want iced water.”
They gave each other a sour look.
“When was the last time you cleaned this place up?” Lu Jin moved farther into the room, carefully stepping over piles of clothes.
“I forget.”
Lu Jin sat on the edge of the bed and jumped when she heard something crumple beneath her. She removed a pack of crackers and sat down again. “All right. Enough games. What’s bothering you?”
“Nothing. Since when is it against the law to vegetate in the privacy of one’s home?”
“Why are you snapping at me? Because I’m concerned?”
Lu Jin always had a way of dancing around Destiny’s anger.
“I’m just taking some time out to reevaluate my life. No big deal.” Destiny cringed. She was beginning to sound like a broken record.
“Reevaluate? That sounds like guilt or regret talking. What do you have to feel guilty about?”
“Nothing, Lu Jin. You know my life is
perfect,
” she sneered.
“I don’t know about perfect, but from where I stand it don’t look too shabby.” She shrugged while she thought about it. “In a few years you should make partner. You’re engaged to Jefferson Altman—
gorgeous
Jefferson Altman, I may add.”
“You marry him, since you think so highly of him.”
Lu Jin frowned. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you like this.” She leaned forward and placed a hand over Destiny’s forehead, which was promptly slapped away.
“Stop it. I don’t have a fever.”
“Come on. Talk to me.”
Another smart retort crested Destiny’s tongue, but she managed to prevent it from tumbling out. Through the brief ensuing silence Destiny could feel her friend’s heavy gaze follow her every move. She had no choice but to confess. “I thought I could take his place. I want to fulfill his dreams, but I don’t think I can do it anymore.”
Lu Jin pulled away. “Who are you talking about?”
Destiny read suspicion in Lu Jin’s face and knew her answer wouldn’t come as a total surprise. “Adam. Who else?”
* * *
Miles returned to his condo after completing a four-mile run. It was just what he needed to relieve his stressful week and begin a fun-filled weekend. He closed the door and made a beeline to the refrigerator where he grabbed a nearly empty bottle of Gatorade and drained it.
He glanced at his watch and assessed it shouldn’t take him more than half an hour to shower and change. As he headed toward the bedroom, he pushed the play button on the answering machine.
“Hey, buddy. Wes here. I was just calling to make sure we’re still on for the night. Donna has already called me half a million times to make sure I have a date for her cousin. I’m counting on you so hit me on my cell when you get this message.”
Miles smiled at the note of desperation in his best friend’s voice and knew just where Wes was coming from. They had pulled the same favor for each other more times than either cared to remember. Generally, he had a good time with the women his buddy set him up with, probably because they shared the same taste in women—the no-fuss, no-strings-attached type.
Of course, his mother still plagued him about settling down. Her efforts grew more desperate as the years rolled by, but Miles had no intention of sentencing another child to the Stafford curse.
In the shower, he relished the water’s pulsing rhythm and allowed himself to wonder what his date looked like. Exactly thirty minutes later, Miles was ready to go. He gave the place a quick once-over, pleased that the maid service had once again done a splendid job and placed fresh flowers throughout the apartment—women love flowers.
Snatching up his keys, he headed out the door and was surprised when he came face-to-face with his old nemesis, Jefferson Altman.
A wide, even smile cracked Jefferson’s usually stoic features as his brown eyes turned coal black in an instant.
Jefferson tilted his head in a light greeting. “Stafford.”
“Altman,” Miles mimicked, hating how the man had always insisted on calling him by his last name as though they were in the military.
Since their college days they’d managed to stay out of each other’s way until Altman started dating Miles’s next-door neighbor. Truth be told, he didn’t know which person he pitied more. Then again, maybe Destiny and Jefferson were an ideal couple.
Miles locked his apartment door and headed toward the elevator bay without further comment. When he walked away, his thoughts traveled to his neighbor. For the past five years, they’d managed, and exceptionally well, to avoid each other—except in the mornings. She was usually headed out to work about the same time he was leaving for his morning jog.
The elevator arrived at the same time Jefferson announced himself through Ms. Brockman’s door.
Miles frowned and searched his memory for the last time he’d seen Destiny. He couldn’t remember seeing her all week. How odd.
He stepped into the elevator, and then watched as Altman entered the apartment. For the first time, Miles noticed the flowers Altman carried.
Miles shrugged. Maybe Destiny had caught a bug or something. Anyway, it was none of his business.
* * *
Lu Jin returned to Destiny’s bedroom and declared in an excited whisper. “It’s Jefferson.”
Destiny buried her face within the pillows again and screamed. Jefferson Altman—
boring
Jefferson Altman was the last person she wanted to see. “Tell him I’m sick.”
“What?” Lu Jin removed the pillows. “Destiny, get up. You’re acting ridiculous. If you hate your life so much then get up and do something to change it.”
Destiny stared at her. In one sentence Lu Jin had the solution to her problems; so simple in its concept, and yet difficult in its application.
“Well?” Lu Jin settled her hands on her hips. “Are you going to get up or am I going to send him back here to this pigsty?”
It wouldn’t do any good to call Lu Jin’s bluff. Her friend always said what she meant and meant what she said, so Destiny threw back the covers and pulled herself out of bed.
“That’s my girl. Now, I’ll go tell him you’re coming,” Lu Jin gushed, and then rushed out of the room.
Despite the overpowering urge to dive back into bed, Destiny shuffled her way to the adjoining bathroom to make herself presentable. However, when she stood in front of the mirror, she didn’t feel like prettying herself up and pretending that everything was okay—far from it. She just wanted to be left alone where she could start on another quart of ice cream.
She looked down with a certain detachment at the simple diamond ring glittering on her finger. She had no right to accept a ring from a man she didn’t love. He was, however, a man she cared for—but that wasn’t enough anymore.
Destiny went to her living room still dressed in her frumpy pajamas and with her hair pointing in every direction. There was a horrified gasp from Lu Jin and Destiny watched as Jefferson’s expression fell.
Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. “Hey,” she said with a ghost of a smile.
Jefferson and Lu Jin exchanged looks before Lu Jin bailed out.
“Well, I think I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.”
Destiny thought to stop her, but knew it was because she wanted emotional support for what she was about to do.
“I’ll call you later,” Lu Jin said, waving from the door, and then slipped out.
Destiny felt as if she had been cast in a commercial; if a pin dropped, she was certain it would sound like a car crash.
“I brought these for you.” He awkwardly extended a bundle of carnations.
She smiled and stepped forward to accept them. “They’re lovely.”
Jefferson slid his hands into his pockets and rocked on his heels. “Is everything...okay?” he asked.
Destiny drew in a deep breath and danced around his question. “Things could be better.” He’d never been a good shoulder to cry on. His involvement with her was nothing more than a power move on his part. She was a sort of intellectual trophy to drag to one social function after another in order to help elevate his career. And he was the same for her.
Jefferson cleared his throat. “Well, I was beginning to worry about you when you hadn’t returned any of my calls this week, but it’s good to see—” he swallowed and looked uncomfortable “—that you’re okay.”
Destiny rolled her eyes and turned away. “I’ll go put these in some water.” This definitely wasn’t going to be easy.
* * *
Miles wanted to kill Wes and go home—in that order. Miles’s date, Lakenya, or something to that effect, seemed nice enough—until she got a few drinks in her. Then she was loud—bullhorn loud and way too touchy-feely.
Wes, on the other hand, was having a grand old time with Donna Klein and was ignoring every signal Miles tossed his way.
“So tell me how a woman hasn’t dragged a fine brother like you down the aisle by now?” Lakenya blew a stream of smoke out the side of her mouth.
Miles entertained thoughts of dying from second-hand smoke inhalation. At least it would end the date on a high note. “I don’t know. I’ve just been lucky, I guess.”
“You mean lucky for me.” She eased closer, giving Miles a good whiff of alcohol and cigarettes.
Miles smiled despite himself.
“So how are you two making out?” Wes finally managed to drag his eyes away from his date long enough to ask.
Miles didn’t blame him. Donna was hot and the total opposite of her outlandish cousin. “We’re doing just fine.” He made sure sarcasm dripped from each word.
Wes pretended not to notice.
“Hey.” Lakenya directed Miles’s chin toward her. “How about a dance?”
His brain screamed no, but she was already out of her chair and pulling him along with her. There were a few gazes that swung their way from both sexes when Lakenya passed. It was most likely because Lakenya was a size twelve squeezed into a size eight dress.
Once they were on the dance floor, he tried to lose himself in the music, but was instead irritated by the crowded dance floor and hard-driving bass booming from the speakers. With his fortieth birthday looming on the horizon, he was beginning to feel he was getting too old for the club scene.