ONE

AURELIA'S POINT OF VIEW

I was not supposed to be here; if anyone I know sees me here, they would he concerned. Here I sat in a place that was not made for me, in this tight black dress I purchased in a sale from Sephora, nursing this drink in my hand.

I wasn't supposed to be here, but what the heck, right?

I hissed as the burn from the shot hit me in the throat before gesturing to the bartender to refill my cup.

“Are you sure? You have had quite a lot to drink today, miss?" He said and i looked up at him, the look of concern in his eyes pissed me off

“Mind your damn business" i snapped and he simply poured my drink- good choice.

I was supposed to be celebrating today, I just got accepted to the law firm of my dreams, any lawyer or law student would die to work there, and after applying for months, I finally got in!

I should be ecstatic but here i was fighting tears and my thoughts, today made it seven years that my brother -Desmomd Cross was sentenced to life for the crime of raping the Chicago socialite, Micheala Stark.

I knew he was innocent but nobody believed me so it went down the law route, i would become a damn good lawyer and get him out of that he'll hole

I threw my head back as I thought of the recording he left me, the burn of the liquor coupled with the fire in my veins at the thought of winning this legal battle, adding steel to my bones.

“You look like you’re mourning,” a deep, rich, velvety voice said.

I turned my head, probably too fast, because the room tilted. And then I saw him.

He looked like he’d walked out of a magazine, tall, lean, and too good-looking for my alcohol-blurred vision to handle. He was dressed in a three-piece dark blue suit with gold buttons that caught the neon lights every time he moved. His jet-black hair was slicked back to perfection, not a strand out of place.

He looked at me, and I looked at his hand, the way it nursed a glass of brown liquid.

“Maybe I just buried someone,” I said, lifting another shot and knocking it back.

“Well, let’s drink to the dead then,” he replied, raising his glass. I took another shot at that.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, squinting as I watched him sip from his cup. God, the way he licked the rim before each sip, it did something to me. Suddenly, I wasn’t just watching. I was imagining things. Naughty things.

“I closed something today,” he said, smirking subtly.

“What’s that?” I asked, curiosity or maybe the tequila getting the best of me.

“A major deal. Let’s just say I always win.”

Instead of rolling my eyes or calling him arrogant, I found myself leaning in closer. Too close.

“Really?” I breathed, my voice dropping.

“Yes,” he said, cocky as hell.

I reached out, my fingers grabbing the lapel of his suit, pulling him just a little closer. His chest was firm beneath my touch.

“Well then,” I said, tilting my head, “how about you close a deal with me tonight too?”

His brow arched. “Are you challenging me?”

“Maybe.” I grinned lazily. “Too afraid to take the challenge?”

His eyes darkened, just a flicker, but I caught it. That mix of curiosity and heat.

“You’re drunk,” he said, tone low, stubborn.

“And you’re hot,” I replied, swaying slightly.

“Bad combo, huh?” I chuckled as I made sure to reveal my breasts, which popped out sexily in the short dress I wore.

He chuckled. “You sure you can handle what you’re asking for?”

I leaned in further, my lips brushing against his jaw.

“Try me.”

“Really?" I asked breathlessly

“Yes," he said before tilting his head to the side, saying, “You want to get out of here?"

“Yes," I said, and he smiled before asking the bartender.

“How much is everything? Including her drinks"

“No, I can pay for mine," I said, reaching for my wallet.

“Listen…." He trailed off, asking for my name

“No names," I whispered. It was better that way.

“Hmm, dangerous," he said, smirking.

“Isn't life worth a little danger?" I asked, giving him a small smirk

" Well, miss, I plan on wearing you out tonight, so the least I can do for the wobbly legs you'll have tomorrow is pay for your drinks at least, “ he said, making me swallow hard.

He didn't wait for my response as he handed a black card over to the bartender, who took it and returned moments later with a receipt and he card.

“Let's go," he said, leading me out of the club.

…….

We never made it to the bed, it was his car, then the wall, then the desk, then the bathroom, then the balcony before he finally put me out on the bed, and all I can say is indeed, I had wobbly legs as I snuck out of the hotel room.

……

A WEEK LATER

I stared at myself in the mirror as I smoothed my black blazer over my pants. My curly hair had gotten pressed for my first day at the firm.

My dark skin shone as I applied lip gloss over my lips.

“For Desmond, you got this, Aurelia!" I gave myself a pep talk before heading out

Catching the train proved quite difficult, but I made it, and in thirty minutes, I arrived at Vale & co, the huge skyscraper stretched out like a giant before me as I stared at it in wonder, apprehension, and nervousness.

I heaved out a heavy breath before heading in through the circular doors.

Heading to the receptionist with blonde hair, I smiled politely, asking.

“Good morning, I'm here for the meeting with the founding partner for the new interns and associates.”

She simply looked up at me, bored out of her mind, before saying in a condescending tone.

“You…got in?” Her emphasis on the word you told me something….my body stature affected her. I was always looked at differently because of my wider hips and curves.

Being bullied in high school and currently at law school some sometimes made me hate my body so much until I realized just how jealous they all were about me.

I would choose to let this one go, I could not afford to lose this internship.

“Yes, this is my letter," I said, giving her the crisp white envelope.

“Oh well, congratulations…I guess that's the way. Take the lift up to the last floor and you'll get further instructions from the secretary there,” she said, handing me the letter.

………..

“Good morning, I-”

“You must be here for the meeting with Mr Levi,” she interrupted. " Just go in, everyone else is there, and you only have two minutes left; he has tardiness,” she said, making me run into the room.

Once I got in and sat down, I breathed out in relief, imagining I was here late!

Beside me was a pretty red head

“Sorry, um, has everything happened yet?" I asked her with a polite smile

“No, but from what I've heard from my sister, the boss here is ruthless."

“Really?" I asked wide-eyed

“GIRL, yes! He is said to be very harsh. One time, he fired someone who brought in his coffee with one tablespoon of sugar when he asked for half! The other time, he fired one of his best lawyers because his assistant accidentally had the opposing counsel incriminating evidence against the firm's client; he is the devil."

" Thank God I made it here early enough, then, “I said in relief.

" Yeah, he punishes people immediately for tardiness, so you are lucky, I don't think we are complete yet, though.”

Minutes later, the doors opened and in walked three women and four men, the one man who stood out was right in the centre, his crisp cologne filled the room with its musky scent as he walked into the room with a clear confidence. My heart beat faster as my eyes averted to the ground immediately.

“Good morning, everyone. My name is Levi Vale, and you are all here thanks to the new program I have decided on, where this firm gives law students like yourself a chance to work with the best, but there is a caveat.

In as much as you will get to work with the best of the best here, you also have an array of cases and authorities for your law exam, coaches that can help you with practice questions, networking because you can meet with the very best in this field but as much as twelve of you got accepted for this, only three top students will remain here at the end of three Months.

These three will be chosen by me, and they must be the very best, in class and in here. Once they are chosen, two of them will get the opportunity to be partners at my branch in London, and one of them, the very best, will be placed on an annual salary of one million dollars, and they will get to head important, high-profile cases. May the best win.”

He said, and I could feel the tension in the room as we all looked at each other like the next person was the proverbial devil incarnate.

Let the show begin, I guess

“Now, as you all know, my name is Levi Vale, and I will meet you all one by one for a proper introduction," he said before moving closer.

“Nathan Blawe, sir, and can I just say it is an honor to”

" You're fired, escort him from the premises,” he interrupted

" What?” The guy Nathan said as he looked in shock, from where I stood, I could not see him or Mr Vale, but from the murmurs in the room, it's safe to say we were all shocked

Nathan was escorted out as Levi said

" No ass kissing, if i wanted that, i woukd have gone to one of my clients instead” he said before moving on.

From then on, it was a string of names spoken curtly and quickly, no one wanted to get him angry.

Soon enough, it was my turn.

It was his hand I saw first before I held my head up. My eyes widened comically as did his before he quickly caught himself.

" Aurelia Cross, sir,” I said, trying to keep my voice confident as everything in me screamed out.

“FUCK!" My entire mind screamed as

The same man I slept with a week before stood before me in a black three-piece suit with gold buttons and cufflinks, slicked back hair, and perfect dentition.

“Oh shit!" I whispered as my new boss and the owner of the firm I was about to work in looked back at me, utter shock in his eyes.

My new boss was the man I spent the night with a week ago, someone pinch me!

“You're fired!" His voice boomed in the hall