"Why are you still sitting there?" Lisa barks, staring down at me.
"Sorry." I hop up from my chair. "Let's go."
But instead of leaving, she stands in front of me. "What's going on with you?"
"Nothing. Why?"
"You've been acting out of it all day. Are you sick?" She steps back, pointing her finger at me. "I don't have time to be sick. If you're sick and didn't tell me—"
"I'm not sick."
"Then what is it? Why are you so out of it today?"
"I'm not. I'm fine." I go around her and head to the conference room.
Lisa's right. I haven't been myself today. I can't stayed focused and it's taking forever to get my work done. It's because of Raine. I keep thinking of her and our date last night. It wasn't really a date, but it felt like it was, especially at the end, when we kissed.
That wasn't just any kiss. There was something between us. Something that confirmed it wasn't just her physical appearance drawing me to her that night in the coffee shop. It was more than that. I felt something for her I can't explain. It's why I can't get her out of my head. Why I've been distracted at work. Why I keep waking up at night, unable to sleep.
She ran off last night and I don't know why. I know she felt something from that kiss. It wasn't just me. So why did she leave?
I have to talk to her. Find out what happened last night. I've been counting the minutes until I can get out of here and go see her. I just have to get through this meeting and then I can leave.
Everyone's already in the conference room when I get there, including one of the partners. The meeting is about our client who owns the hotels. I was hoping I wouldn't have to work on this case but I did such a good job on the research Lisa assigned me that she convinced her boss to keep me on the case.
"Miles, tell them what you found," Lisa says halfway through the meeting.
I have no idea what she's talking about. My mind has been on Raine the whole time and I haven't been listening.
I straighten up in my chair. "What specifically are you referring to?"
Lisa glares at me, but forces out a smile. "Tell everyone what you discovered about the man's history."
She's referring to the guy who fell down the stairs. The one who's suing our client.
"My research found that he spent time in jail for minor offenses," I say, "including loitering and petty theft."
"And he was homeless at one point, correct?" Lisa asks.
"Yes, but that's not a criminal offense."
"But it will prove to the judge he's just out to get money," Gerald says. He's old, and one of the original partners of the firm. He's too important to show up at meetings like this but he's good friends with our client so he's overseeing the case.
"The medical records show his injuries were substantial," I point out. "It's not unreasonable for him to ask for compensation."
"Whose side are you on?" Gerald asks, narrowing his eyes at me.
Lisa kicks my foot under the table. "I'm sure Miles is just pointing out issues we'll need to address with the jury, assuming we're unable to settle out of court."
"Settling is the only option," Gerald says. "If this goes to trial, every one of you is fired." He looks at each of us at the table. "And settling is our last resort. Our client shouldn't have to pay a dime to some opportunistic homeless man seeking damages for his own carelessness."
Carelessness? The guy wasn't being careless. He was just trying to walk down the stairs. He fell because our client didn't fix his staircase.
"He's no longer homeless," I say. Lisa kicks me again under the table but I continue. "He works as a mechanic now and bought a house last year."
"With money he swindled out of people like our client," Gerald says with disgust. "I'm so sick of these people stealing and swindling to get money, then expecting us to feel sorry for them. We're not letting this man get one cent from our client. If any of you here don't believe that's possible, I suggest you pack up your things and go." He stands up. "Any questions?"
We all sit in silence, our eyes on the table.
"Good." He walks to the door. "Lisa, meet me in my office after the meeting."
"Yes, of course." She nods at him as he leaves.
The meeting ends just before six and Lisa walks with me back to our desks. She's quiet the whole time, which worries me more than if she yelled at me. She's never quiet. So why now? Is she getting ready to fire me?
"Lisa," I say when we reach our desks. "I didn't mean to upset Gerald. I was just stating the facts from the research."
She pivots on her heels to face me, her eyes landing on mine. "Next time we'll prepare what will be said, and when, before each and every meeting."
"That's not necessary. I—"
"It's necessary if I say it is. I want you to go home tonight and find out all you can about that man. If we're going to win this case, we have to destroy that man's reputation. Show that he’s only doing this for money. I want you to dig up everything he's ever done, even parking violations. I want all of it and I want it by tomorrow morning."
"But there's nothing else to find. I've already done a complete search of the records."
"Then make something up," she snaps before storming off.
She wants me make up evidence against the guy? I can't do that. And I won't. I'll quit before I do that.
"Hey." Mark appears beside me. "A few of us are going out for beers at the place down the street. You in?"
"No." I check to make sure no one's around. "Hey, do you have a minute?"
"Yeah. Why? What's going on?"
I lower my voice. "Lisa just basically asked me to make up stuff about a plaintiff to make sure our client wins his case."
"Yeah? So?"
"You don't think that's wrong?
He shrugs. "I'm sure she didn't mean to make stuff up, but more like embellish it."
"And that's somehow better?" I shake my head. "Sorry, but the law school I went to didn't teach us to cheat and lie to win cases."
"Mine didn't either but everyone knows you have to play dirty sometimes to win a case. Both sides do it. You don't think the other guy's lawyer's trying to make our client look bad?"
"Yeah, but this guy, the plaintiff, he's not trying to get rich here. He's not even asking for much. He just wants his medical bills paid and to be compensated for the time he couldn't work."
"Just do what they want. If the bosses want to take this guy down, then do it. It's easier that way. And you're less likely to lose your job. So you going with us for drinks or not?"
"I can't. Lisa's making me work tonight."
"Sorry, man. That sucks. Maybe some other night. See ya." He walks off.
I grab my laptop and keys and hurry to the elevator. It's after six and most everyone's already left by now.
Back at my apartment, I quickly change clothes, then go back down to the street, heading to the coffee shop. I should be working but I can't right now. I need to see Raine. I need to find out why she ran off last night.