The next day at work, Charlotte’s supervisor<b>, </b>Yvonne<b>, </b><b>handed </b>her two new case <b>files</b>.
Yvonne <b>spoke </b>quickly and <b>to </b>the point<b>. </b>“This one’s <b>a </b>civil appeal. The original attorney left <b>the </b>firm, so it’s been reassigned to you. The appeal deadline <b>is </bing up fast. <b>You’ll </b><b>need </b><b>to </b>draft <b>the </b>appeal brief and get everything submitted to <b>the </b>court today.<b>” </b>
She handed over the <b>second </b>file. <b>“</b>This one’s a workce injury <b>case</b>. You’ll need <b>to </b>take the client for an official injury assessment and a disability evaluation. Try to get it done today or tomorrow. Tomorrow’s Friday<b>, </b>so don’t push it to next week.<b>” </b>
Charlotte took the folders and nodded. “Got it. No problem<b>.</b><b>” </b>
It was her second <b>day </b>on the job<b>, </b>and she already had cases to handle. This really was the topw firm in Jersey City.
She didn’t mind the workload. Having active cases meantmissions, and more importantly, hands–on experience.
She reviewed <b>the </b><b>case </b>files and spoke with the clients<b>. </b>Both cases were fairlyplex. She scheduled the injury evaluation for the next day and focused on finishing the appeal today.
By the time she wrapped up, the sky outside waspletely dark.
The office was quiet. Everyone else had gone home. Charlotte hadn’t even had time for dinner.
She tidied her desk, turned off the lights, locked up, and stepped out into the night.
Her apartment was only a ten–minute walk from the office, so she walked to and from work every day.
Her phone rang. It was Sean.
“Lottie, are you home <b>yet</b>?”
“I just left the office. Heading back now.<b>” </b>
“Have you eaten?”
“Not yet. I was nning to order something once I got
home.”
Sean chuckled. “Miss Riley your food delivery is en route.”
“What? <b>You </b>ordered for me?”
His voice was low and yful. “Your delivery guy is Sean <b>Jasper</b>, on his way to your building now<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Charlotte let out augh. “You’re delivering it yourself?”
“Yep.” Sean’s voice was soft and warm<b>. </b><b>“</b>I’m almost there. Should reach your building in about fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes perfect timing. It would take her ten minutes <b>to </b>walk back.
Sean was nothing if not <b>precise</b>.
In Charlotte’s memory<b>, </b>he had never <b>been </b>the type <b>to </b>joke around. <b>Hearing </b>him <b>call </b>himself her delivery guy? That was miles away from the cold, aloof Sean Jasper she <b>used </b><b>to </b>know.
But these past few days, something had shifted.
He was<b>… </b>different.
The mood had lightened thanks <b>to </b>his teasing tone. Charlotte couldn’t <b>help </b>but <b>smile </b>as <b>she </b>yfully quipped, “You sure you didn’t nt a tracker on me, Mr. Jasper? Because that would be a privacy vition.”
Sean’s voice dropped, low and smooth. “Then what’s Attorney Riley going <b>to </b>do? Arrest me? I’ll dly surrender<b>… </b>at your mercy.”
Especially thatst part-“at your mercy.” Sean deliberately slowed his voice, <b>the </b>deep, velvety tone <bced </b>with quiet seduction. The way he said it made Charlotte’s cheeks burn<b>. </b>
Charlotte cleared her throat quickly<b>, </b>trying to cover her fluster. <b>“</b><b>You </b>probably shouldn’t talk and drive. Distracted driving is dangerous.<b>” </b>
Sean chuckled. “I’m not driving. My driver is<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Charlotte was rendered speechless.
They <b>chatted </b><b>the </b>whole way as she walked, her voice light and full ofughter. She was so focused on <b>the </b><b>call</b>, <b>she </b>didn’t notice the figure
standing under the tree just outside her building.
“Charlotte.<b>” </b>
The deep voice cut through <b>the </b>darkness<b>, </b>cold and sharp.
She stopped in her tracks.
It was <b>Zac</b><b>. </b>
+25 Bonus