The car stopped in front of the office. I took off my seatbelt and was about to alight from the car when John shouted, “Don’t move!”
He then exited the car and came around to my side. Opening the door in a valet-like fashion, he completed his act by offering his hand to assist me out of the car. He teased, “Ms. Stovall, we’ve arrived at the office. Please.”
I burst into laughter as I laid my hand in his. “Why are you joking around? I’m just a legal apprentice, not a full-fledged lawyer.”
Passing the lawyer qualification exam was only the start. I also needed to undertake a year-long apprenticeship to obtain a license to practice. Within this year, I would need to complete ten cases independently as well. Only then I could officially practice law.
“You’ll be one soon enough. I need to start practicing now,” John teased playfully.
“If you’re that bored, you should spend more time with Emma. I don’t know why you’re playing games with her when you’re obviously crazy about her,” I deadpanned.
John arched a brow at me before stuttering, “Y-You… Hey, you’re going to be late! You should go in now, go on then!”
John didn’t give me a chance to retort as he pushed me into the revolving doors of the building. He smiled mischievously at me after forcing me into the lobby. I couldn’t tell if he had taken any of my advice to heart.
After I registered at the reception, I was brought to Zander’s office. “Mr. Hoffman is in a meeting now. Please wait here, Ms. Stovall.”
I smiled in acknowledgment. I looked around the office casually after the receptionist had left.
I heard that Tinsel Group was the best law firm in all of K City. Yet the office that had been assigned to Zander was barely a hundred square feet. There were two desks in his office. While the decor was decent, it was a far cry from what I had imagined.
About fifteen minutes later, the door opened from the outside. Zander entered the office with an older man in tow.
“Good morning,” I greeted with a smile.
“Mr. Baker, this is Scarlett, whom I’ve mentioned on several occasions. We went to school together. Scarlett, this is Mr. Eugene Baker. He’s one of the most prominent property lawyers in the field.” Zander quickly introduced the two of us.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Baker.”
“The pleasure’s all mine.” Eugene continued, “Zander has very high praise for you; I hope you don’t let him down.”
I smiled, not knowing how to go about replying to such civilities.
As if he understood my thoughts, Eugene left to give us some space. “I won’t bother the two of you then. Zander, you should bring her around the office. The two of you will report to me from now on.”
“Yes, Mr. Baker. Thank you.”
With that, Eugene left the room with a cigar in hand.
Now, only Zander and I were alone in the office.
“This table is yours.” Zander pointed at an empty desk.
I looked at the desk before turning my perplexed gaze back on him.
We’ll be facing each other?
“Isn’t this kind of inappropriate, Mr. Hoffman?” I tried to assume a civil manner. “I just came here, and I already have a private office? I’m sure some colleagues will be displeased.”
Zander stared at me for a moment as he pondered something. “So you think you’re like the other people sitting there? If that’s the case, why would I try so hard to bring you to our firm?”
I blushed in embarrassment, my words caught in my throat.
Instead of addressing my discomfort, Zander picked up some documents from his desk and passed them to me. “These are the case files for a divorce trial involving the renowned billionaire, Aaron Gomez. Please familiarize yourself with the details of the case. We need to accompany Mr. Baker to court in two days.”
“Aaron Gomez? Aren’t the news always reporting on his bachelorhood? When did he get married?” I opened the documents, and my jaw dropped as I read the contents. “He has three kids? And it’s a cheating scandal?”
This obviously wasn’t a great time for gossiping, and I could sense Zander’s confused gaze on me at my outburst. I felt like crawling into a hole out of embarrassment, but alas, I could only close the documents meekly and return to my seat to review the information.
