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“Carter is in jail right now because hetried to screw you out of your inheritance,” I explain. “It wouldhave been years before I'd be given lead on a case on my own. Buteveryone’s so panicked, they put me on the first flight out. Thiscould be my big break,” I add, feeling a surge of excitement. “If Iprove I can handle this solo, who knows what else they’ll send myway? I could make partner before I’m thirty.”
“I’m sure you will. You deserve it,” Keelysays loyally.
“I just hope I’m prepared.” I pause, feelinga flash of insecurity. “The opposition’s lawyers moved up theschedule. We were expecting them to keep delaying, but suddenly,they want to meet to discuss settlement.”
“What do you think they want?” Keelyasks.
“Probably just scare tactics. I bet theyheard about Carter, and think they can intimidate me.”
“Then they haven’t met you yet!”
“Amen to that,” I grin, toasting her. “To LAgirls taking over the city!”
The morning speeds by, and soon Keely has toget to the office. I insist on picking up the check.
“It’s the least I can do,” I insist, passingthe server my credit card before Keely can object.
“Then let me take you for drinks tonight,”Keely offers. “Vaughn is out of town, and it will give us some timeto really catch up. We can have a girls’ night out.”
“Perfect,” I grin. “Call me later?”
“Will do.”
Keely heads out, but I have a few minutes tospare, so I order a coffee and linger at the table. I should begoing over my case notes one last time, but I can’t resist openingmy purse to take out the gift I found at the apartment lastnight.
The box is about the size of a hardcoverbook. It’s wrapped in deep purple silk, tied with a gold silkribbon.
I feel a shiver of excitement.
There’s an envelope tucked inside theribbon. I slide the card out. Heavy cream paper with swirlingcalligraphy.
At first, I thought it was a little welcomegift from Keely. Then I opened it, and realized there was no way mybest friend sent me this.
I open the card and read the words again.
Welcome to your wildest fantasy.
Are you ready to play?
My heart beats a little faster. I glancearound, checking that nobody’s watching me. The people in therestaurant couldn’t care less about my secret invitation, but Istill feel an illicit thrill.
I check both sides of the card, but thereare no clues about the mysterious sender, so I turn my attention tothe gift, nestling inside the paper-thin tissue.
It’s a key. But not like any key I’ve seenbefore. Old-fashioned, gold, with a delicate chain threaded throughthe intricate swirls. Inlaid in the gold are hundreds of tinystones that sparkle in the sunlight.
It can’t be….
I surreptitiously drag the edge against thebase of my glass. It leaves a scratch.
No way. These are real diamonds!
My heart races as I carefully place the keyback in the box and slide it back into my purse. I can’t believeit. I don’t even want to think how much it’s worth, but it’s got tobe more than any jewelry I’ve ever owned.
Who would send me an extravagant gift likethat? And what does the invitation mean?
My phone sounds with a beep: the alarm I setearlier to make sure I stay on time. I quickly lay down some billsto cover the coffee and tip, then head back out onto the street.The noise and bustle hits me in a rush, and my excitement over thegift turns into a new surge of anticipation.
New York City, baby!
I can’t help but grin as I join the mass ofpeople walking fast down the crowded sidewalk. Skyscrapers loomover me, and yellow cabs race past. There’s a buzz of energy in theSeptember air that fills me with excitement.
You’re a long way from Chino…
My designer heels tap on the sidewalk as Istride ahead. If only those stuck-up girls from high school couldsee me now. I spent years busting my ass to get here: juggling twojobs to pay my way through college and law school, and pullingall-nighters to keep up my grades. I worked like a dog, but it’sall worthwhile now. Lead counsel on my first big case, and whoknows what might happen if I prove myself and get that win.
I hail a passing cab. Justine Jenkins hasarrived, and I’m ready for battle.
CHAPTER TWO
I arrive with time to spare and take amoment to get my bearings. My opponents on the case have theiroffice in a classy brownstone on a quiet tree-lined street thatjust screams ‘money.’ I climb the steps and reach for the buzzer,but there is none: just a discreet brass plaque on the door.Venture LLP.
The whole building belongs to them? OKthen.
I push the door open and step into thelobby. It’s a bright, sun-drenched area with bare wooden floors andbold abstract art on the walls. Striking, modern. There’s a hush ofconcentration, and everywhere I look, I see designer furniture andimportant-looking people in designer suits. Part of my job isreading the opposition, and everything about this place says theyhave deep pockets, and aren’t afraid to show off.
My nerves bubble up, but I push them down.Nobody here knows this is my first time flying solo, I remindmyself. For all they know, I’m a hot-shot attorney who eats theother side for breakfast.
I walk boldly up to the receptionist, who’slounging behind a solid marble desk, looking like an art exhibitwith impeccable cheekbones.
“Hi,” I say with a smile. “Justine Jenkins,here for the VideoMine meeting.”
Without a word, she rises to her feet andwalks down the hallway away from me. I pause, thrown, then realizeshe’s waiting by the elevators for me to follow.
I quickly catch up. “I love your shoes,” Isay, as she stabs the elevator button. The door closes.Silence.
Is it me, or is it cold in here?
She leads me down another hallway, to aplush seating area. My client, Adam Granger, is waiting, bouncinghis knee with nerves.
A look of pure relief flashes across hisface. He leaps up. “You’re here!”
“Hey,” I greet him with a warm smile. “Youlook good. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen you out of thosehoodies and jeans,” I tease, trying to put him at ease. He’s stillwearing his trademark geeky T-shirt, but he’s scrubbed up for themeeting since I saw him last in LA. Now he’s clean-shaven with hisblonde hair buzzed close to his head, and a hip pair ofsquare-rimmed glasses. Much closer to how he probably looked as anundergrad at Stanford.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’llbe handling the case, not Carter the Jackass,” he says.
My former boss didn’t exactly make manyfriends.
“I know you must be nervous, but I know thiscase inside out,” I reassure him.
“There’s something else. This showed up atmy hotel this morning,” he says, pulling out an envelope from hissatchel. “What does it mean?”
I scan the papers. A cease and desist letterand summons for a lawsuit, demanding Adam drop his case.
“They're just trying to intimidate you.Don't worry. These are normal scare tactics,” I explain.
“But they say I could be liable for anuisance lawsuit,” Adam looks terrified. “I can’t afford to paythat kind of money.”
“They know it, that’s why they filed. Look,this is a big case with a lot riding on it, so we shouldn’t besurprised if they play dirty.”
‘A lot’ is an understatement. Adam inventeda computer application called VideoMine. I’m not really intotechnology, but basically it’s a new YouTube that couldrevolutionize the internet – and make its inventors overnightbillionaires. Adam developed it with his college roommate, Kellan.Which is where it gets messy. Six months ago, they had a huge fightabout the future of the company. Kellan walked out with his laptopand the backup drives with the half-finished code, and wentstraight to the nearest venture capital firm to get funding forwhat he claims is his idea.