stood next to Richard, arms crossed, awaiting his answer.
“Victoria Kelly!” Richard said, slamming his hand against the table and then flashing a look as if he thought this was ridiculous.
Cadence closed her eyes, shook her head and sighed, recognizing the name as one of the employees that had filed a recent sexual harassment claim against him. “Tell me exactly what happened, Richard,” she said calmly, taking a seat next to him.
Adam shook his head and sat, also. Once again, Cadence tried her best to keep her composure and remain stoically professional as Richard gave an absurd account of how he’d simply brushed against the backside of an employee from whom he’d been warned to keep his distance. In addition, as he said, one thing led to another and, before he knew it, she’d wound up her arm and unleashed a blow that connected directly to his right eye. After that, he ran out of the office, jumped in a taxi and headed straight to the law firm.
“When I get back to that office, I’m going to fire her so fast!”
“Okay. Rich. Calm down.” Cadence was speaking softly while her eyes were on Adam, whose brows were still tightly knit as he nodded his head. “How about you get some rest and I’ll take care of everything.” Cadence was sure his claim wouldn’t hold water in light of all of the recent filings against him, but her job was to try to do all she could for her client. Right now she needed to get him calm and sober.
“I’ll call for a taxi. Go home and get some rest, and then after that we can get started filing your claim.”
“Whew!” Richard held his forehead. “Thanks, Cadence. I knew you would handle it.”
“Cadence always does,” Adam added proudly. Cadence smiled for the first time since Richard came barreling into her office.
“Don’t go back to the office today, okay, Richard? If you need anything, I’ll have Amy call and have your secretary send it to your house.
“That won’t work.” Richard threw his hands up in the air.
“Why not?” Cadence looked confused.
“Victoria is my secretary, remember?”
“No worries, Rich. We’ll see that you get what you need.” Cadence assured him.
Just then, Amy walked back in with another cup of coffee. Richard, finally settled, took the cup, nodded halfheartedly before he began drinking.
Adam got up from the table and patted Richard’s back. “You’re in good hands, Rich. Take it easy and we’ll get everything under control.”
Rich simply nodded.
“Cadence, can I speak to you for a moment?” Adam motioned for Cadence to follow him into the hallway. Adam looked back in the room before speaking. “You need to get to the bottom of this right away. Once you’re sure he’s home and settled, get over to that office and see how far this has gone. See what you can find out. We need to handle this as quickly and quietly as possible.”
“Yes, sir.”
Adam cast her a hopeful glance before heading back to his office. Cadence watched his long legs sweep across the floor in quick strides as she avoided going back into the conference room for just a few more minutes. She took a deep breath, dropped her shoulders and straightened her back, bracing herself for the task at hand.
There was no telling how this would all play out. She knew that meeting Alana for drinks after work wasn’t likely to happen. Alana would understand. What Cadence found surprisingly disappointing was the fact that she wouldn’t get to see Blake tonight. Even if she knew she wasn’t his type.
This new fiasco with Richard would eat up a considerable amount of Cadence’s time. The progress she’d made earlier in the day would mean nothing now that she had to shift her focus and try to clean up his latest mess. She made sure he’d made it home safely before she prepared for the trip to his company to get answers.
The display on her cell phone lit up as it shimmied around her desktop. She’d put off calling Alana to cancel their plans for the evening long enough. Cadence sighed and picked up the phone.
“Hey, girl,” Cadence said.
“What’s the problem now?” Her lackluster greeting apparently put Alana on alert.
“I can’t even begin to tell you. My sleazebag client managed to dig himself an even deeper hole. I won’t be able to meet you tonight.”
“Aw, Cadence!”
“I know. I’m so sorry, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
“Okay. Duty calls. Handle your business, chica! We’ll catch up.”
“Thanks! Now I’m off to clean up this sleazebag’s—I mean, my client’s—mess.”
“Wow, is that how we address our most valuable clients these days? I wonder if the partners would take issue with that.”
Cadence’s head popped up at the sound of Kerry’s voice, which sounded more like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Cadence bit back what she really wanted to say. “Eavesdropping, are we?” Cadence replied and forced a smile.
“You need to let me at her one of these days,” Cadence heard Alana say as she held the phone to her ear.
Cadence smiled on the inside, remaining cordial and professional on the outside for Kerry’s benefit.
Despite the fact that Cadence was still obviously on the phone, Kerry sauntered the rest of the way into her office and planted herself on the edge of the desk. Silent moments passed as Cadence stared at Kerry, taken by her rudeness. Kerry tinkered with the picture frames on her desk.
Another beat passed. “Can I give you a call back?” she asked Alana politely.
“Getting the picture,” Alana obliged. “Handle your business, my friend. We can chat later.”
“How can I help you, Kerry?” Cadence asked.
Fingering figure eights along the desktop, Kerry took a moment to respond. “I see that your client has gone rogue.”
“I guess you can say that.” Cadence busied herself gathering the documents that she’d pulled together for her visit to Richard’s office. “But soon it will all be under control.” She stood, hoping Kerry would get the hint and leave her office.
“Perhaps I could help,” Kerry offered.
Cadence smiled, once again biting back the words she preferred to say. “I think I can handle this on my own.”
Kerry pouted. “Oh. That’s too bad. I figured you’d appreciate my assistance.” She slid down from Cadence’s desk. “I thought you were a team player,” she said as she sauntered toward the door. “It would be a shame if the partners got the impression that you weren’t.” Slowly, she turned away, tossing the words “Good luck” over her shoulder.
Standing rigid,
