Body of Law (Body of Law #1) (7 page)

“I’m not laughing.”

“Do you see me smiling?” His eyes were hard. “This is the real world, Violet, the world we work in, the world we lawyer in. If you can’t deal with it, then I suggest you find yourself a different profession.”

“It doesn’t have to be like this and you know it,” I argued. “Some people are genuinely innocent. They deserve to be defended because they really didn’t commit the crime they’re being accused of, or because they’re being discriminated against.”

“You’re being over dramatic—”

“I’m being honest! You have the talent and the resources to help so many people who truly need it, but you don’t even have the decency to say why you won’t help!”

“I won’t help because they can’t afford me,” he said simply. “Maybe the greatest crime the poor ever committed was being poor, but they won’t get my sympathy for it.”

“My father would be ashamed of you.” Refusing to cry, I choked back my tears and swallowed hard. I’m ashamed of you.”

“I don’t care what dead men think of me.” He rolled his eyes at me again. “Or whores, for that matter.”

The sound of my hand slapping him across the face echoed in the empty courtroom. Judging by the smile that quickly replaced his annoyance, I guessed I’d hurt my hand more than him. I watched his cheek redden as his smile turned into a smirk.

And then I watched him walk away.

Chapter 9

Violet

“So, are you coming out with us tonight?”

I startled from my daydreams and tapped my pen against Nicky’s desk. Since our very public argument, Sebastian had been sentencing me to receptionist duty. Considering my still-mixed feelings for him, I was much more relieved to be Nicky’s right hand than Sebastian’s coffee runner.

“Um—I doubt it.”

“Oh come on, it’ll be fun,” she said. “Besides, everyone will be there.”

I cringed. “Everyone, huh?”

“Well, not the partners or anything. But all of us lower life forms will be.”

Sebastian still seemed to be the lowest form of life there could ever be. I detested everything he and the firm stood for but, worst of all, I hated how I still needed to save face and show up there everyday.

There had been no other confrontations between us and no more displays of his attraction toward me. If he felt any awkwardness, I didn’t see it; I only felt it in my own steps when I walked around the office. Sebastian continued to smile and laugh with Roger and act like he hadn’t almost fucked me Monday morning on his desk. Did he do it so often that it was easy to forget? That
I
was easy to forget?

Maybe I needed to do something to forget him.

I spoke quickly, before I could change my mind. “In that case, it sounds really good.”

***

I didn’t even bother changing before going to the bar. The idea of going back to my empty apartment and spending the rest of the weekend alone, thinking of Sebastian, was already making me depressed. Maybe if I went out and had a few drinks with Nicky and the other lower level life forms, it would at least help pass the time.

“Buy you a drink?” Quinn Morgan asked.

“I already have one.” I forced a smile and went back to staring at the reflection in my glass. “But, thank you.”

“I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Why? I was invited.”

“That’s not what I mean.” He laughed. “I’m surprised Scott let you come out and play with the rest of us. If you were my summer associate, I certainly wouldn’t have.”

I shifted uncomfortably. Quinn Morgan was looking at me not unlike the way Sebastian did—like I was a free sample in a candy shop. The only genuine difference was that I enjoyed when Sebastian looked at me that way.

“I like staying busy.” I smiled and searched for Nicky or another familiar face over my shoulder. Normally, I would have just blown him off, but I couldn’t risk alienating him so early into my internship. This, if nothing else, seemed like solid Sebastian advice. If I could find someone else to talk to, I would have a perfectly good excuse to ignore him. “It makes the day go by faster.”

“I’m sure it does.” He licked his lips before he smiled, the gesture meaning something I was sure I didn’t want to understand. “I’m just disappointed I haven’t had the opportunity to get to know you better.” Smiling, Morgan finished his drink and waved at the bartender.

“Um, it’s still early in the summer. I’m sure we’ll have lots of opportunity to socialize…” I let my voice trail off and rubbed the back of my shoulder. Suddenly his gaze was impossible to take, and not in a good way.

“What about right now?” The moment the bartender refilled his glass, Morgan leaned forward, resting his hand on the back of my bar stool. I caught a whiff of his heavy cologne and resisted the urge to gag. “I took a cab here, but we could meet in the ladies room…”

I slid off my bar stool, effectively leaving my drink behind. He was just trying to be funny, right? Exploring some kind of weird, inappropriate humor after one too many? I shook my head and tried to keep myself level. From a practical side, his joke was improper because I was his insubordinate. On the same level, however, if those exact words had come out of Sebastian’s mouth, not only would I have been excited, but I would have raced him to a “take off your pants” contest.

“
What
?”

Morgan stood up and smiled. “You heard me. Everyone knows what you’re doing in Scott’s office all day—” He reached his hand over, running it up and down my arm as he took another sip from his drink. Instinctively, I flinched, but his reflexes were surprisingly good for someone who had downed so many. Maybe if I had anticipated it better I would have had time to react before he ensnared my wrist in his grasp, holding much tighter than I expected.

I gasped, knocking over a pile of napkins in surprise.

“
Handwriting
briefs?” He laughed. “Come on.”

At this juncture it was important not to panic, to not make a scene. Like Sebastian said, all it would take was one or two rumors to ruin my nonexistent reputation. Still, fear creeped up my spine like ivy and I could barely hear myself when I demanded to be let go.

“Let go of me.”

“Why don’t you show me how neat your handwriting is? I bet you have very nice penmanship.” His laugh was husky in my ear, his breath rancid. Once again I tried to pull away, but I wasn’t entirely sure I wouldn’t vomit.

“Stop this! You’re drunk; you don’t know what you’re doing—”

Seeming to sense something was amiss, I saw a burley bartender head toward us. Almost at the same moment, however, my relief vanished when Morgan grabbed my hand, directing it toward to his crotch.

From the angle we were at, I was almost certain no one could see how he was assaulting me, and my terror increased tenfold. If I screamed would security come flying over, or would they think I was just another karaoke reject?

Without realizing it, I had already weighted the pros and cons of calling out in my head. Easily, the pain in my wrist outweighed the potential embarrassment of the situation. I tried to push him away again, but a different hand interceded instead, grabbing Scott’s fingers much in the same manner that he was grabbing mine.

“The last time I checked, this place still had a dress code. And I believe ass-hats are not acceptable.”

Sebastian pried Quinn’s fingers from me as easily as if he were swatting away a fly.  He slid effortlessly slid between us and I swelled with gratitude at the sight of him.

“You really should leave before an authority notices.” Though he faced Quinn, I sensed the anger that lurked beneath Sebastian’s mask of indifference. The tiniest pulses of rage bounced off of him, cautioning me to take a step back. If there was a problem Sebastian Scott couldn’t solve with words, then it was bound to be messy. “I’m sure the last thing you want is for someone to throw you on your face.”

Clearly amused, Quinn’s voice caused a few people to glance in our general direction. “Oh? And who’s going to throw me on my face? You? I bet you can’t lift half of what I can.”

If he was at all uncomfortable, Sebastian didn’t show it; instead, he just stared straight ahead. Stepping to the side, I saw him give Quinn the same look he gave to opposing witnesses during integration. I swallowed hard. Maybe it would have just been better to make a scene instead.

I gently pulled on Sebastian’s elbow in an attempt to get his attention. Unfortunately, Quinn seemed to notice more than he did.

“Why do you always get the pretty ones, anyway? Everything from the best cases to the interns with asses like valentine hearts—what makes you so damn special?”

Stepping in front of me again, Sebastian glanced toward the front door. “I can hold my liquor for starters, but then I’m also charming, good-looking…” Sebastian sighed, as if listing all of his qualities bored him. “Of course, being smarter than everyone else tends to help, as well.” Finally, he looked at me sternly and took my hand. “Let’s go.”

Without hesitation, I turned to walk with him, surprised and disgusted when Quinn made a move to grab at my arm again—admittedly a move I didn’t think he was bold enough to do. “Hey, valentine heart and I were still in negotiations,” he said. “Weren’t we?”

His hand slapped my ass and I shrieked as if I was a kid who had just seen a mouse—or more accurately, a giant rat. And if that didn’t draw enough attention to us, Sebastian whirling around to punch Morgan in the face finished it off.

There was a whirlwind of activity then. But between the encouraged rooting on of onlookers and the sound of glass breaking, I didn’t have the opportunity to take it in before I was shoved into the crowd. Like magic, a circle cleared, creating less space in the already small bar. A drink spilled onto my shoes as people struggled to get a better look while others pushed and shoved their way forward. Had I not gotten the memo about being in high school again?

“Stop it! Both of you! Stop!”

My cries were lost over the yelling as Sebastian took another swing. I would have been lying if I said the sound of his fist connecting with Quinn’s face didn’t make me shiver. Others, however, visibly flinched. One woman even screamed and covered her eyes.

“Violet? What—” Nicky eyes widened and her mouth fell open. Somehow, even with her incredible rack, she had difficulty getting a front view. I glanced at the high heels she clutched in her hand. She held them facing outward; they must have made a great cattle prod.

Two large bodies in tight black t-shirts filed out of a room behind the bar. One of them waved his flashlight at us and shouted something about backing up, but it didn’t do much good. Already in progress, the other security guard tried to pry Sebastian off of Quinn. And though the security guard was clearly larger than him, I had the vague suspicion that he was only successful because Sebastian was finally getting ahold of himself. He blinked hard, his neck craning wildly until he saw me.

Another fight broke out on the other side of the bar and the security guard holding Quinn back must have gotten distracted enough to loosen his grip on him. And, unlike Sebastian, Quinn clearly hadn’t gotten his temper in check. I watched the scene in slow-motion while he slipped from the oversized arms of the security guard; he looked from me to Sebastian before pouncing on him again. Without his arms to defend himself though, it was as cheap as cheap could get.

“Son of a bitch!” I hardly recognized my own voice, but I did recognize Nicky’s laugh as she ushered me to the side.

“We should go,” she encouraged. “I’m sure someone has called the cops by now.”

The crowd seemed to disband as quickly as it had come together. I shook my head and searched for Sebastian but couldn’t see him anywhere.

“Over there.” She pointed him out to me in the corner of the room. He had a few cuts and a torn shirt but was no worse for wear. He handed several bill from his clip to a man in a suit and said something that appeared to be an apology. Half-expecting him to try another cheap shot again, I kept my eyes open for Quinn but couldn’t see him anywhere. At the rate he was going, he had probably slinked out the back and down the alley like the rat he was.

Sebastian’s handsome face remained indifferent as he walked over to me. How he could do this with blood threatening to spill onto his forehead, was beyond me.

“Are you alright?” As indifferent as he may have wanted to appear, his voice revealed something else altogether. Though I couldn’t identify it, it still made my insides swell.

“
We’re
fine.” Nicky’s laugh permeated the moment between us and he blinked hard, taking his eyes off of me and smiling.

“Hello, Nicky.”

No quip or smart comment? Maybe he had gotten hit harder than I thought.

“Why are you asking about me? You’re the one who was in a fight.” I reached up to get a better glance at the cut on his head but he flinched away. Could he really not even stand me to the point where I wasn’t allowed to see if he was okay?

Nicky sighed dramatically. I thought maybe she was trying to clear the sudden awkwardness that had settled in, but I couldn’t be sure. “If all the excitement is over and done with, I’m going home.” She rolled her eyes at Sebastian before turning back to me. “Vi, if you’re going downtown we could share a cab—”

“I’ll take her.” Perhaps realizing that we were both glaring at him, Sebastian cleared his throat and tried again. “I drove here. I’ll give her a ride.”

I thought of a dozen clever quips and demeaning comments that would have made a feminist spontaneously combust if I’d said them out loud. Luckily for them, however, my concern for him held out over my need to be the funniest person in the room. “You won’t be taking anyone anywhere. I’ll drive you to the ER.”

“No, that isn’t necessary,” he said sternly. “I feel fine.”

“Really?” Nicky added. “Because you look like hell.”

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, she did have a point. With the collar of his shirt torn, his hair mussed and bruises already beginning to form, Sebastian practically looked like a refugee—his injuries worse than I originally thought. What had possessed him to do something as stupid as start a fight with Quinn, anyway? I swore silently to myself and looked at the ice wrapped in a cocktail napkin that he held to his knuckles. It had better have been over some case I didn’t know about, I thought, or some old dispute, or Roger’s favoritism, or anything more petty than me…