Chapter Sixteen

Callie let the double doors swish behind her as her heels clicked along the marble floor at Jefferson & Callaghan Law. She gripped her briefcase tighter as she forced a smile at some of the senior partners as she quickly escaped into the lift.

God, this was not right – she didn’t need to face all this. What was she going to say? This was so out of character for her, and she needed to make it believable, or she’d become the laughing stock the firm with her father telling her he’d told her so.

As the lift doors pinged back open she slammed her eyes shut as the shriek of female hit her.

“There she is!”

Sarah. The firm’s biggest gossip and secretary. Just perfect.

She forced the smile further onto her face, “Morning, Sarah.”

The little red haired scurried around the large oak reception desk that took up almost half of the foyer. “We had no idea you were even seeing someone!” she grabbed Callie’s hand and oohhhh’d over the ring before smothering her in a hug.

“I told them it was real – you look so happy! You are happy right?”

Jesus – she was a better actress than she thought.

Callie straightened the bunches in her suit as Sarah walked back to her little black swivel chair. “He’s already rung you – couldn’t stand to be away from you for more than a minute obviously.” She leaned her chin on her hands and sighed.

“What-? Who rang?” she asked

“Jon, your husband silly.” Her large green eyes fluttered. “What’s he like?” she asked.

Oh brother. It was going to be a long day. She looked longingly over the door to her office, desperate to go and lock herself away in there before she had to gush anymore.

He rang her? What the hell?

“He is, one of a kind… that’s for sure.”

There, that wasn’t a lie now was it?

“What about, you know as a lover – I’ve hear-“

“Ah, Callie there you are.” She twirled around breathing a sigh of relief not to have to answer Sarah’s questions. Jonathan Callaghan, a much respected colleague of her father stood there in his dark tweed suit and flamboyant grey hair swished back with the help of some hairspray.

“Hi Mr Callaghan, I was just making my way to clear out my inbox and get to work.” He was the lesser of two evils out of the partners. Bill Jefferson hardly gave her the time of day, and also had the preconception she was in the firm only due to her father’s relationship with Jonathan. Ok, so some of that was true but she was a fine lawyer and had proved that on several occasions already.

“Please, come and let’s have a chat.” He waved over at Sarah, “Please bring us two cups of coffee in.” he strode down the hallway and waited by his office door for Callie to join him.

Oh just great, Callie was ninety nine percent sure he was going to try and talk some sense into her thanks to her father, no less. She followed Mr Callaghan into his office and seated herself in the large leather chair opposite his desk.

“Now first thing is first, congratulations are in order I hear.” He grinned, with a wink as he shifted into his own seat and adjusted his tie.

“Thanks, I just wanted to keep things low key. Not a big fuss you know.” She crossed her legs and tried her hardest to relax under the circumstances. She had to make it real right?

The dream was certainly freaking real.

“So your father tells me, sounds like it was quite the surprise to him as well.”

She nodded and smiled, “yes it was very spontaneous, but it just felt right. And I stand by that decision. I hope I didn’t cause too many issues with the all the media. Jon and I didn’t expect such a fuss to be made.” Her palms were sliding against each other as she fought desperately to hold her composure. This should be easy, she was a lawyer. She lied all the time, right?

He leaned back and ushered Sarah in as she came and delivered two mugs of coffee.
“I’ve got to say I was surprised as it’s certainly not your style… and if you don’t mind me saying, he doesn’t seem like your style.”

That’s because he’s not.

She laughed as she took the mug in front of her. “You know they say you find love in the most unexpected places. He’s not who my family expected me to end up with so you are not alone there.” She took a long sip of her coffee, particularly to catch her train of thought.

“He’s very sweet – funny and he’s got a lot of passion for what he’s doing.” Ok, so half of that sentence was true. Not bad right?

Mr Callaghan nodded, “ah young love huh. Well Callie – this won’t affect your work will it? Won’t he be away a lot with his job?”

Hallelujah, yes.

Her only saving grace at this very moment. The further her husband was away from her, the better. “Not at all, I’m staying put and I am dedicated to my job – you know I am.” She may have still been a rookie but she was running circles around some of her older colleagues.

“I’ve never questioned your work ethic Callie, you’re one of my best lawyers and for your age it’s very promising. I would hate to see you throw all your hard work away for a man. He must be pretty proud of you though?”

She blew her breath out and nodded. “Yes, he is – a lawyer and a rock star huh? Who would have thought right?” Leaving out the fact that Jon thought she was short changing herself to her desired career. She was happy doing this, she was. She just didn’t have the passion that she saw in his eyes every time he talked about music.

He snapped shut his leather binder satisfied. “Ok, well I am pleased to hear it. And before you go…” he dipped down into his lower draw and produced a skinny white envelope and handed it out to her.

“What’s this?” she asked taking it.

“A little something from us here and Callaghan and Jefferson, maybe you and Jon can go on a honeymoon when his schedule permits”

Her belly flip flopped, and she was sure she wanted to vomit into her mug. A sham marriage and she was getting money for it? God, what next.

She was so going to hell for this.

“Oh Mr Jefferson, you really didn’t have to do this…”

“I am sure that it will go nicely with whatever your father gave you both.”

Her belly tightened again, yeah nothing. She held onto the envelope tightly, she couldn’t refuse it – too many questions would be raised. Dammit. Swallowing the bile in her throat she smiled. “Thank you so much, this is too much.” She stood, gathering her things desperate to get out of there and into the safety cocoon of her office.

“You’re very welcome Callie – now I believe we’re meeting again at eleven for a briefing on the Donovan case?”

“That’s right, we will be. I’m nearly up to date with the notes to give you a run down.”

Frank Donovan, on trial for arson causing injury. Guilty as hell, but they were pleading insanity due to the large fee his rich Father was paying the firm to. It was a tough one, as insanity was actually harder to win than not guilty when you were guilty. And it had huge ramifications for the client if you were unsuccessful.

“Great, looking forward to it.”

Five minutes later she closed the door behind her and leaned against it. Alone, at last. The shrill of her phone caused her to jump as she plonked her case down on her desk. Her office wasn’t huge, infact it rivalled a box. But it was privacy away from the world.

She sunk down into her chair and picked up the receiver.

“Hello?”

“Hey babe.” A familiar rich jersey accent crackled across the line.

She spun around in her chair away from the door and cradled it close to her mouth.

“Jon! What the hell are you doing? I thought we agreed to leave me alone here.” She hissed.

“We did, but I thought if I rang to check on my wifey, it would look like I can’t keep my hands off you right?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes Jon, how did you get this number anyway?” She hadn’t told him where she worked.

“You’ve got business cards all over the place babe, and in your underwear draw.”

“JON!” she blasted a bit too loud. “You so ---“she bit her lip as the laughter roared down the line.

“Aren’t you supposed to be heading out?” she asked grinding her molars together.

“Nice bras by the way –“

She tucked the phone closer to her mouth. “I swear to god, when I get home I’m going to –“

“What? throw ice down my pants?” She grinned at the victory still fresh in her mind from last night, but shook her hands to shake off the feel of his damned skin.

“Don’t tempt me, I’ve got work to do Jon. I’ll see you at home.” She slammed down the receiver.
Her hands were still shaking but she told herself it was because she was angry with him. What was she afraid of? People already knew who and what he was. Was she ashamed of him? God, was that it?

She shook her head and straightened up the files on her desk. She hated that she was becoming so like her parents. Jon was a good man... despite the all the cocky guy stuff, he was good. She shouldn’t be worried about what her firm thought, right?

In a career that she didn’t really want to have.

She flipped open the case file, she needed to concentrate and clinch this for her meeting with Mr Callaghan mid morning. Her nails drummed against the desk edge as she lost herself in a world of social contempt and circumstance.

At five to eleven she scooped up all she needed and swung her chair back into her desk, catching sight of the small white envelope Mr Callaghan had handed her earlier. She bit the end of her thumb as she picked it up and peeked inside.

Jesus. There had to be at least a thousand dollars in there. What the hell? She tucked it away quickly in the draw, to keep it safe. And to hide the guilt.
What would she do with it? As she strolled down the hall of brown versus gold she smiled, well she did have an extra house guest that had no money to pay his own way. So this wasn’t a bad thing, right?

As she was about to turn into Mr Callaghan’s office the slap of hand against desk and a roaring laugh made her spin around. She felt the warmth drain from her cheeks as she watched the swirl of colors and ripped jeans smile broadly at Sarah.

What in god’s name was he doing here?