Page 12 of Beautiful Chaos
“Shut up bitch, enough about me. what about your little admirer?” She quickly changed the subject because she knew I was winning this banter session.
“I don’t know really. It was just one of those, wrong place right time things. I guess.” I said, but I had a weird feeling about how quickly he showed up, out of nowhere. As if he had followed me outside or something. The strange thing is I don’t remember seeing him inside the lounge. I put my thoughts to rest with the conclusion I was just being paranoid. I giggled to myself thinking about his note.
[emailprotected], what kind of email address is that for a grown man?
Chapter 11
JASPER
“Max, is everything set for the meeting with those big wigs from Atlanta today?” I called from my office. I spent hours just sitting there, trying to figure out how to reply to Harper’s email.
I typed it at least four times. If I were to get to know her through email it would have to be perfect.
She didn’t trust me in person, hopefully, this would help her open up. I resorted to using an old email account because using my work email would have made my intentions too transparent.
“Yes sir, they should be in at 3:00 pm we are meeting them at that lobster joint you like. Probably the best spot for a Monday afternoon it won’t be so crowded,” he answered as he stepped into my office, sat in the chair he always did, and then propped his feet on my desk. One of these days I’m going to figure out a way to keep his dirty shoes off my desk, but I’m still trying to figure out this email. So, I ignore him, for now.
“Great. Now tell me again why they need representation here in Miami, I’m sure they could find someone closer.” Jasper questioned.
He looked at me with a mischievous grin. The only other time I saw that grin was in college right before we egged the dean’s car one Halloween.
“Damn it, Max, what the fuck did you get us into?”
“Well, these gentlemen participate in some shady shit that they would like to keep hidden, here in Miami, if we can keep their legitimate businesses out of trouble. While they are distracted with their shit, we get paid, and we never have to dip our fingers in anything Illegal.” he said with certainty behind a smirk, “Plus they are paying us well over our retainer costs. It’s a win-win.”
“My retainer costs you asshole.” I snapped, jerking my chin towards the door telling him to get lost. I needed to send the email once and for all so I could focus on my job.
“Yeah, yeah you say that, but you need me, you know you do,” he retorted before blowing me an air kiss and walking to his desk, just outside my office door.
I typed a message and re-read it twice before I nervously pressed send.
Damn, when did I become a pussy? Why in the fuck am I so needy for this woman’s approval?
“Ms. Williams,
No need to thank me, it’s what any decent human being would do, I’d like to think so anyway. Your response earlier has me a little wary though, from my experience when someone says, “Scouts honor” it’s usually because they are up to no good… :/ I mean, I did see you at a bar, or was it a lounge? Whatever you want to call it, fuck sake, it’s a bar just because it has a fancier name like lounge doesn’t make it any classier it just makes the drinks more expensive if you ask me. Anyway, I’m rambling. How are you holding up after everything that happened that night? Did you get hurt? Do you go out to places like that often?
Well, talk to you later. Try to stay outta trouble.
-J.W.”
I was extremely anxious, but as soon as I mustered the courage to send that first message, my nerves calmed, and I felt more at ease. Either she takes the bait, or she doesn’t. Whichever, at least I gave it a shot. Taking the shot did nothing for me Saturday when asking her out but with her past, I wouldn’t dare hold it against her. I’ll just wait and see what happens. Until then I have a fuck ton of work to do.
“Max, where is the file for the three o’clock? I need to brief, get your ass in here.” I insisted trying to clear my head of Harper.
“Well, if you look dumb fuck, the file is sitting right here.” He reached over and handed me the purple file that said. ‘Petrov’ across the tab.
“Thanks, numb nuts, what do we have here?” I questioned no one in particular. When I opened the file, I saw that the clients were brothers, who own several bars and a casino nearby.
These must be their legitimate businesses.
“What exactly have you all discussed?” I needed to know what I was potentially agreeing to. I don’t do any underhanded shit. If it’s not legal I’m not putting my hands in it. Just because the Petrov brothers were more open about their dealings outside their legitimate businesses doesn’t mean I have to turn them down as clients. If these guys like how we do business, it may lead to more clients.
The idea of representing common criminals was my first choice, but from what Max told me it’s no more than illegal fight clubs and gambling. If I had to choose a crime to turn a blind eye to, it would be those two. That kind of shit just brings me back to being a little boy watching my father run his empire
Fuck I hate this shit. I didn’t go to law school to represent the bad guys. I’ve worked too hard trying not to turn out like my crooked piece of shit father to lower my standards and forget my morals and values or why I even started this firm to begin with.
“Just the normal shit, Jas. nothing out of the norm of any other client we’ve worked with.” He answered. Then he anxiously waited for my response. He knew how I felt about this move. I’ve hidden nothing about my feelings toward people taking advantage of the law.