Paisley Jenkins paced her office with a sharp, determined stride, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. The room was a blend of sleek modern grand mahogany desk, a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf crammed with case files, and the warm glow of the lamp casting shadows across her well-tailored suit. She was every bit the confident, cold-hearted attorney the city had come to know, her reputation as formidable as her calm exterior. Yet today, a storm was brewing beneath her cool facade.
The door opened with a quiet creak.
And there he stood Stephan Lautner.
Her breath caught in her throat. Time seemed to halt as she took him in his dark tailored suit hugging his broad shoulders just right, his short-cropped black hair, and those stormy blue eyes that had once haunted her dreams. Stephan had a reputation, too powerful, ruthless, and dangerously charismatic. The kind of man whose presence filled a room, whose mere voice could command the attention of everyone in it.
Paisley, he said, his voice low but steady.
He didn't move. He didn't have to. He knew she'd respond.
You have some nerve showing up here, she bit back, her voice sharp, but it faltered only for a split second.
Stephan's lips twitched into a faint, unreadable smile. I had to come. You're the best, Paisley. And I need you.
You need me? Her words dripped with disbelief. After everything that happened? You still think I'd work for you? Her eyes flashed with a mix of fury and hurt.
He stepped forward, the space between them closing. His gaze never wavered. It's not just a job offer. It's... personal.
His words lingered in the air. Personal. That was the last thing she wanted to hear from him. The last thing she ever wanted to feel again. What do you want, Lautner?
He reached into his briefcase, pulling out a thick folder, sliding it across the table toward her. His fingers grazed hers, and for a brief moment, there was something that's undeniable.
She recoiled slightly, but his gaze held her there.
You'll be representing me, he said, in a case that will change everything. I'm giving you a chance to get back at me, Paisley. Your way. Take it.
Her pulse quickened. The fire in her chest flared up again. Was it a game? Or was this truly a chance for revenge?
She tore open the folder with trembling hands, her eyes scanning the case details everything she'd ever wanted. Fine, she muttered. But don't think for one second that I'm doing this for you.
The hours dragged by as Paisley sat at her desk, the silence in her office broken only by the clicking of her keyboard and the occasional rustle of paper. The late afternoon light slanted in through the windows, casting a soft golden hue over the room. But inside, Paisley was anything but calm. Her mind raced, analyzing every detail of the case Stephan had handed her. The tension between them was still thick in the air, even though he had left an hour ago.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, typing in codes and cross-referencing information as she dove deeper into the Lautner family's financials.
The deeper she dug, the more unsettling it became. Her eyes narrowed as she came across a transaction, buried in a corner of the records, disguised under layers of false paperwork. It was a large sumfar too large to be overlooked, especially with its vague categorization.
Paisley's heart pounded in her chest as the pieces began to form a bigger picture. But it wasn't just about the money. It was about Stephan.
Her mind flashed to the way his hand had brushed against hers earlier, his eyes dark with an emotion she couldn't name. He was playing a game one she hadn't agreed to. But maybe, just maybe, this would give her the chance to turn the tables on him.
The documents she scanned began to tell a story: the Lautners weren't just a wealthy family they were connected to something darker. And that dark connection? It might just be her key to getting everything she ever wanted.
But as her fingers hesitated over the mouse, a nagging question arose: Was she willing to expose them all? Could she really destroy Stephan, even though there was something inside her that didn't want to?
The clock ticked loudly in the silence as she closed her eyes. She could feel it this was more than a case. It was personal.
The phone call came later that night, just as Paisley was ready to shut everything down. She leaned back in her chair, rubbing the back of her neck. The day had been long, filled with endless research and frustration. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Stephan. His arrogance. His charm. His ability to make her feel things she swore she had buried deep inside.
Paisley.
His voice. It was a direct hit to her chest.
What do you want now, Lautner? she snapped into the phone, her patience wearing thin.
I think we should talk, he said. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that caught her attention. Meet me.
She closed her eyes. I'm not meeting you anywhere, not after what you
I'm not asking. I'm telling you. His voice deepened, insistent. I'm at your office. And I won't leave until we finish this.
Paisley's grip on the phone tightened, her heart racing. Why was he being so persistent? What was it about this case that had him so desperate?
A mix of anger and curiosity surged within her. She couldn't avoid it anymore. She had to face him.
Her heels clicked against the marble as she stood, grabbing her coat.
You have ten minutes, she said, her voice icy. And if you think you're pulling me back into your world
I'm not asking you to return to me, Paisley. Just... help me. One last time.
She ended the call, but she was already halfway to the door.
There it was again something about his words made her feel like she wasn't dealing with a man she could easily dismiss. And before she knew it, she was stepping into the night, her pulse quickening, her thoughts a whirlwind of past regrets and unanswered questions.
She had to face him again. The man who had once broken her heart. The man who could now make her life a living hell.