Dealing with the Lawyer

Dealing with the Lawyer Mirela Holt Copyright Copyright © 2023 by Mirela Holt All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. or U.K/E.U. copyright law. For permission requests, contact [email protected]. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. For privacy reasons, some names, locations, and dates may have been changed. Edited by Susan K and proofread by Halima T. ISBN e-book: 978-1-7392559-3-0 ISBN softcover: 978-1-7392559-4-7 Printed in the UK/EU Hey beloveds, several readers have enjoyed this as a standalone, but it includes multiple spoilers from the first two books (including who the ‘secret villain’ was in Handling the CEO—yes, the ‘butler’ did it). Triggers in this book: explicit language and acts, violence, loss of spouse/parent, grief loss/depiction, car/cycling accident, mental health issues, depression, panic/anxiety attack, long term care, kidnapping, threat of forced marriage, blackmail, alcohol usage, mentions of pregnancy (not main character). Here is the least spoiler-y summary (Includes ‘the butler’) for those who, like me, can’t remember what the f happened in the first two books or aren’t interested, as they think this dude on the cover is the hottest (the dark hair did it, huh?): * Handling the CEO – Book 1 DJ and Jon have a bickering-fueled one-lunch stand in Marcus’s (this hot dude), DJ’s brother, shop. When they meet in the real world at his aviation company, they still spar more than reconnect. Encouraged by his Vice President, Michaela, they have to band up to fight his rival, Miranda Lexington (who’s also Jon’s former stepmother) and DJ’s ex-husband, Richard, to save McAv Aviation. They realize someone has been sabotaging them, sending faxes to Miranda, and, after setting up cameras, they catch Jon’s assistant, Anya (this badass girl). In the end, after a ‘whodunnit’ round table, the true mastermind is revealed to be Michaela, who was actually working with Richard’s father, Senator Simmons. Anya provides key evidence. DJ and Jon get their Happily-Ever-After. * Gambling with the Player – Book 2 Nate (Jon’s best friend) and Laura (DJ’s sister) pretend to be engaged so he can get his inheritance and she an award. But, as they’re already attracted to each other and have to live together, they do more than pretend and obviously end up together. Marcus gets hit by a car. Contents Part 1: Then – Law school 1. Marcus 2. Anya 3. Marcus 4. Anya 5. Marcus 6. Anya 7. Marcus 8. Intermezzo – Anya 9. Intermezzo – Marcus Part 2: Now 10. Marcus 11. Anya 12. Marcus 13. Anya 14. Marcus 15. Anya 16. Marcus 17. Anya 18. Marcus 19. Anya 20. Marcus 21. Anya 22. Marcus 23. Anya 24. Anya* 25. Marcus 26. Anita 27. Laura 28. Marcus 29. Anita 30. Anita* 31. Marcus 32. Epilogue – Marcus Acknowledgments Part 1: Then – Law school Marcus Ten years ago: first day in law school F inally, here. YEEEY! YEEY! YEY! Yey… Right… more ‘meh’. OK. No more complaining. I need to try. I school my face to a smile instead of the frown I have on the inside and start on some small talk with my new classmate, Riley. “So, did you hear anything about the professor? I read on a forum he’s a real hardass.” “Who, Michelson?” the tall and broad guy sitting in front of me asks. “Nah, I heard he’s a sweetheart as long as you’re not late with your project. If you are late, then… well... you’re fucked.” “Mmm, sounds fun.” The students are gathering now in the large auditorium, for our first ‘Con Law’ or Constitutional Law class. I run my fingers over the wooden desk with pen markings and scratches from the many years of usage. I imagine the hundreds of pupils before me, sitting in the exact same spot, ready to absorb the intricacies of government structure and individual rights. I can’t think of anything worse! When I chose this, I decided I’d be a grownup about it. Pick a respectable profession, one to not disappoint my family and be as helpful as my sisters are. It was either this or medicine, but the sight of blood made me queasy. I eventually did my LSATs and applied to Central Florida Law. Probably not the best program in the country, but it’s close to home, and it was easier to get into than I expected. But now, as I browse through my coursebook full of precedents and lingo, I have to take a breath and brace myself, as there’s no other option. I’m committed to pushing through this. What I’d love to do is probably a waste of time, and I’m not even going to consider it. Maybe work on it on weekends or something. I’m just an amateur, after all. “Whoever this teacher is, I’m sure she’ll be getting all As,” Riley adds, and it occurs to me he may have been speaking for a while. “Huh?” “Dude, focus! I was talking about what babes are in this class. Look at that redhead over there! She’s hot as fuck!” My head turns and my dick agrees, as the luscious girl in the first row has an emerald silk blouse and… damn… no bra. Maybe law school won’t be so bad after all! She catches us staring and shows us a sexy smirk. “Hmm, I may check if she needs a study partner,” I comment, planning on heading over there to introduce myself. “What? You mean the grades thing I said?” he asks, confused. “No, not Ginger-Spice, I meant HER! The nerdy one in the corner. Man, talk about two sides of a coin!” On autopilot, my eyes dart to the back of the auditorium, and right in the