What The Heart Wants

Chapter 5

Breakfast with a car thief yielded unexpected results for Paula as she sat at her desk thinking about Jackson. He could be a motivational speaker if he wanted to. Sh*t, with the life he’s led, he needed to be one. She found it nearly impossible to believe that this man, most notably a stranger, believed in her so much that he inspired her to pursue her dreams. No one ever lit a fire under her like he did. As soon as she got to her desk, she started jotting down notes about what to put in her business plan. She went down her list of clients making notes of ones she could take meetings with for possibly bringing them with her. She had a yearning like never before to get out on her own and make her dream come true.

Rebecca walked into the office surprised but happy to see Paula had made it in to work. “I thought you left me with the Garrett case today.”

Paula glanced to her friend with a smile. “I wouldn’t dream of doing that. I left my notes from the other day on your desk, and I’m working on the questions we need answered for the depositions we have to take later.”

“Look at you, all rejuvenated. This is a far cry from hungover, argumentative Paula. I didn’t like her.” Rebecca giggled.

“I didn’t like her either,” Paula admitted as she got up from the desk to hug her friend. “I know you were just looking out for me and I probably should have listened to you, but I just went with what I felt was right, you know.”

Rebecca backed out of their embrace to see what Paula was wearing. “I see you’re going somewhere alright! Why are you giving us extra sexy today?”

“Oh please,” Paula blushed. “I just threw this on this morning.”

“Now you know better than to lie to me.” Rebecca narrowed her gaze onto her. “It’s raining outside.”

“So what does that mean?” Paula furrowed her brow.

“So, that means it’s raining outside.” She walked over to the window pointing to the storm surge passing over the city. “Whenever it rains, you feel like it’s necessary to dress like a homeless Amish person. You wear that ugly olive green suit, with those disgustingly clunky shoes, and trudge through here like you’re Dr. Frankenstein’s monster. So, when I see you now, here today, all sexy and sh*t… I want to know why.”

Paula blushed as she noticed just how close she and Rebecca were. This woman paid attention to everything. She guessed that’s why they worked so well together. But her silence on her reason for dressing sexy was confession enough.

“I can’t believe you,” Rebecca stammered as she slammed their office door shut.

“What are you talking about?” Paula tried diffusing her friend’s building anger.

“You’re going to see that Davis guy!” she accused her.

“No, I’m not, because I already saw him,” Paula shouted back.

“A-ha!” Rebecca pointed her finger in Paula’s face. “You know that nothing good will come of you getting involved with a client! You’ll make our firm look bad, you’ll make me look bad, but most of all your reputation will be destroyed! Please don’t let him drag you down this crooked path.”

“You’re being over dramatic, Becs! It’s not that serious! He’s just a client and that’s all he’ll ever be,” Paula lied as memories from her morning finger fu*k replayed in her mind. “There’s no reason for you to be so concerned over nothing! I can handle myself! I can handle this case. You are not my mother so just back off and my your own damn business!”

“I don’t want to argue! I don’t want to argue with you, Paula,” Rebecca whined, “but this is crazy and you know it is. Please don’t make me sound like I’m crazy for thinking you two are taking this down a path it doesn’t need to go.”

“You’re not crazy,” Paula sighed. “But I got this under control. You don’t have to worry so much. Please just let this go.”

“Fine.” Rebecca let her inclinations go as she opened the door to their office. Jackson was standing there in front of her. She rolled her eyes as she whipped around to shoot Paula a dirty look. Paula slapped her forehead as Jackson came into the office.

“I’m sorry, did I interrupt something here?” he asked as his eyes darted back and forth between the two women.

“No, you didn’t interrupt anything at all. As a matter of fact, I was just leaving,” Rebecca lied, but she didn’t want to be in the same room as them. She knew they had something going on whether Paula admitted to it or not.

“Oh no, you don’t have to leave. Besides think of all the rumors that would spread if you left us in here alone with the door closed.” Jackson grinned mischievously. Rebecca huffed as she snatched her purse off her desk and fled the office space.

Jackson came into the space and sat down in front of Paula’s desk. Her head shook from side to side as he stared at her adoringly.

“You’re going to drive her crazy! She thinks you and I have something going on. But we don’t and I’ve been telling her that over and over again. She just doesn’t want to believe me.” Paula feigned confusion.

“Just stop it,” Jackson grinned. “You don’t have to put on that façade for me. I know what your insides feel like.”

Paula nearly choked as she laughed at his inappropriate humor regarding this morning’s labial massage. “You have to stop that!”

“Stop what?” He smirked.

“You know what I’m talking about!” Paula playfully slammed her hand on the desk. “No more jokes about feeling my insides! Especially if she’s around. I’m tempted to not let it happen again if you keep it up.”

“So, wait, if I stop telling the jokes around Ms. Cornish, you’ll be tempted to let me feel you again?” Jackson asked.

“No! That’s not what I meant!” she replied nervously.

“But that’s what you said,” he laughed.

“Enough! I only asked you to come in so I could get a quick statement on camera to send to the DA. I’m hoping that he finds it in his heart to work with us on a plea deal. So, please, let’s take this seriously,” Paula begged him. Jackson agreed with a heavy sigh, motioning with his hand for to lead the way.

Paula brought Jackson into a quiet room on another floor where there were cameras already hooked up and running. She input her employee code and pressed the record button. After getting some personal details out of the way, she proceeded to question him about his pending case.