Nemesis(2)

Cohen Lake is the reason I now hate my job, but he’s also the reason I won’t quit. If I do, he’ll know it’s because of what happened between us, and I can’t let that happen. No, I just need to forget all about him. He’s nothing to me now, just someone I used to know. Someone I once trusted.

Someone who broke my heart.





Chapter One


One Year Ago


Jacinta

I walk into work at least twenty minutes late, frantically looking around, hoping no one will notice. I run my fingers through my long, dark hair, trying to tame it as much as possible, and then check my makeup in a small mirror I keep in my handbag. I managed to line my blue eyes with eyeliner and coat my lashes in mascara, but that was the only product on my face. I put the mirror away, knowing it wasn’t going to get any better today; it was just one of those days. When I think I’m safe, finally letting myself relax in my chair, I look up into the green eyes of Cohen Lake, one of the lawyers here at the firm.

“There you are,” he says, smiling warmly at me. I smile back, or at least I think I do. He’s a very, very good-looking man, and it’s hard to pay attention in his presence.

“Yes, do you need something, sir?” I ask, quickly opening my laptop.

He grins and hands me a piece of paper. “Could you please email Mr. Smith and let him know his court date and time? I have to head out to court now myself.”

I nod and look down at the paper, familiar with the name of the client and his case. “No problem.”

“Excellent,” he replies, glancing at his watch, then looking back at me. “You know it’s not a crime to come in late every once in a while. I think this is only the second time you’ve done it since you started working here.”

My eyes widen. He pays that much attention? “I know it’s not a crime,” I say, looking him in the eye. “I just didn’t think that my honest excuse of my best friend being dumped again, and her crying her little heart out was going to be a valid reason. I also hate being late in general. It’s a pet peeve of mine, and not very professional.”

“This place would fall apart without you,” he states matter-of-factly, gaze roaming over my face. “You know that, right? If you’re late every now and again, we’ll forgive you. I better get going, but I’ll be back around eleven for my meeting.” He walks to the elevator, butpauses. “I’m sorry about your friend, Jacinta.”

“Uh, thanks,” I say, our eyes locking just as the elevator door shuts. The thing with Sadie is she trusts way too easily and then, when she gets hurt, it’s up to me to pick up the pieces. I, on the other hand, don’t trust at all. Then again, that’s probably why Sadie has so many dates, and why I haven’t gotten laid in over six months, although it feels more like ten years. I send Sadie a quick message, telling her she doesn’t need Chris and his cheating ass, and that she’s a wonderful person and deserves someone worthy of her. Then I look over the schedule for the day before sending the email to Cohen’s client.

Cohen.

I only call him by his first name in my head.

I’m glad it’s him who saw me, and not one of the other lawyers who work here. Two of them are much older, and probably wouldn’t have been as cool about it. The third, Jason, is in his late thirties, but is usually grumpy.

I look down at my black shirt and realise that I’ve done the buttons up wrong. I fix it quickly, hoping Cohen didn’t notice it. Knowing my luck, he did.

Yeah, today is going to be a long-ass day.

*****

I’m on my lunchbreak, sitting at a café just across the road from the firm while eating a giant slice of chocolate cake, when he sits down opposite me. I look up at him in confusion, wondering exactly what he’s doing. Sure, we’ve had a few casual conversations before about non-work-related topics, but we’d never sat together for a meal or anything like that.

“There’s no point in me sitting alone at a different table,” he says, flashing that dimple of his my way. “You don’t mind, do you?”

I can’t exactly say no, now can I?

I shake my head and mutter a very insincere, “Not at all.”

He simply grins, apparently finding me amusing, then orders a coffee from a passing waitress.

“How is your friend holding up?” he asks, looking me directly in the eye.

“She’ll be fine,” I reply, putting my fork down. Does he actually care, or is he just making conversation? Cohen Lake is somewhat of an enigma to me. Young, successful and too good-looking for his own good, the man exudes confidence, sex appeal and charm. A dangerous mix, if you ask me. He’s the type of man every woman dreams about, but only a few could ever obtain. Before I took on this job, Debra, the receptionist who was training me before she left for overseas, warned me to stay away from Cohen. I’d looked at her quizzically, wondering why she’d have to caution me in the first place, when it was very unprofessional to even consider getting involved with someone I essentially worked for. When I saw him for the first time though, I understood. He was sin, wrapped in a tall, tempting, muscled package. Still, I wouldn’t go there. I need this job, and he probably had women throwing themselves at him every day. Did I think I was pretty? Yes. Was I the woman who got the guy every other woman wanted? No.