I’ll take it! Open apathy is better than blatant loathing.

  Also, I’ve managed to evade landing on Hudson Rhodes’ team. Of all of Barrett’s advice, at least I lucked out in that regard.

  She finishes assigning everyone else. The blonde girl up front—Kendra Crane, I learn—doesn’t get her name called until the very end, and I smile (internally) with glee over her assignment for two reasons. One, she’s been placed with Hudson. Two, rather than being placed with two other new associates, she only gets one other team member: the boy near me.

  Makes sense. There’re only eleven new hires in this room; one team had to be one short. Oh well. Poor Kendra will have her work cut out for her, that’s for sure. I do hope Barrett wasn’t exaggerating about Hudson. It’d be such lovely karmic retribution if he was an absolute monster.

  When Kendra realizes her lackluster placement, she immediately raises her hand in protest. Bold. I expected her to sit quietly and take it on the chin.

  “Excuse me?”

  “What is it?” Bethany asks, not even bothering to look up. She’s reviewing her memo, likely confirming she’s done everything she’s supposed to do so she can release us into the wild. We’ve already taken up too much of her time.

  “I was hoping to be placed with Ms. Chandra rather than Mr. Rhodes,” Kendra says kindly. “I was on her team while I worked as a summer associate, and when interviewing for this position, I was told I would likely be working alongside her again.”

  Bethany finally deigns to look up, and now she does so with a shrewd sneer. I get the impression she’s not all that impressed with Ms. Seat’s Taken. “I think the operative word in that sentence was ‘likely’. Was it stated in your contract that you would be in her service?”

  Kendra rears back. “N-no—”

  “And did you speak with Amaya personally beforehand about this special assignment? Surely, if you had, she would have confirmed your placement with HR.”

  Kendra stays silent, only offering up a slow shake of her head.

  “Right. Then there will be no switching, under any circumstances.” She looks out over us all now, likely wanting us to learn this lesson once so she won’t have to repeat herself again when the next person starts grumbling with complaints. “The team I placed you on will be your team for your entire first year here at Elwood Hoyt, if not longer. We don’t play favorites—”

  For a split second her eyes cut to me, and I all but cringe down into my seat. Hey! I wasn’t the one asking for a swap. I took my assignment in stride, thank you very much.

  “Assignments are at random. End of discussion,” Bethany states quickly. “Now, in a moment a member of your team will arrive to escort you and your peers to your new desks. Beyond that, HR wants each of you to go down to the fiftieth floor sometime today so they can confirm your ID badges are in working order. There were a few issues this morning, as I understand it. Also, while you’re down there, it would be an opportune time to pick up your parking badge for those of you who are—”

  Powerful knuckles suddenly pound on the door, breaking through her words. She huffs under her breath at the interruption.

  When she pulls the door open and looks at the person on the other side, she stands just that much taller, shifting her weight and lifting her chin, affecting an entirely new countenance on behalf of our guest. Intriguing. I can’t help my curiosity. I lean over in my chair to try to get a better look at the person.

  The man’s handsomeness takes absolutely no time to register. The moment I lay eyes on him, I realize he’s a male in rare form. A gift to us all. And I’m allowed to say that even if I’m in a relationship with Jasper. It can’t be wrong to appreciate beauty like this!

  And so what if this beauty happens to be 6’3” and suited to perfection? Rich brown hair, of course. Alluring brown eyes, check-check. A side profile that’s chiseled and cut…well it’s no wonder I haven’t shifted back into my seat even though my side is starting to ache. I can’t move or blink to save my life.

  “Mr. Rhodes. Hi.”

  His name registers impossibly slowly, as if it had to travel around the entire world before it landed in my ears.

  Mr. Rhodes.

  What?

  That’s him?! Talk about delivering the devil in a pretty package. Not fair. He’s handsome in the same way a venomous snake is beautiful, alluring…deadly.

  Don’t you worry, Barrett. I have my wits about me. I shift back into my seat having fully come to my senses. Then, to add another barrier between us, I look down and mind my business. Whatever he’s doing here has nothing to do with me. I might as well be whistling and twiddling my thumbs.

  “Are you here for your associates? I just finished announcing the assignments, actually.”

  “Good then I’ll collect them,” he says with a sexy voice. It’s not too burly, not too high. That perfect cocky in-between. “I need Kendra Crane and Scarlett Elwood.”

  My name on his lips is so shocking I go rigid in my chair. Surely he didn’t just list me. Scarlett. I heard wrong.

  I’m even shaking my head, no. Bethany is too.

  “I hesitate to contradict you…” She looks back down at her memo. “I have it here that you have Kendra Crane and Eli Little. Scarlett Elwood is part of Amaya’s team.”

  Hudson’s gaze shifts past Bethany for the first time and his eyes rove over the room, searching impatiently until he spots me and stills. Laser beams would be less intense than his unwavering gaze. I’m melting into my seat. Soon, my trousers will be fused with the metal.

  “Actually, she’s with me.”

  Ugh, that voice. I’d shiver if I weren’t so damn focused on my impending doom!

  I’m with him? Hudson Rhodes?

  No, no, no. My brother gave me three directives, and this one seemed like the most important. I can’t screw it up.

  “I think you’re wrong,” I say meekly.

  Perfectly done; when talking to the devil, it’s best to seem scared shitless, that way he knows he can easily walk all over you. Follow me for more brilliant advice.

  He looks me over—top to bottom—like he’s determining if I have all my body parts and a working brain, because why else would I have made such an absurd comment? Then his eyes crinkle at the edges as he narrows them, smiles a sadistic little smile, and shakes his head. “I’m not wrong. You’re with me.”

  Chapter Four

  Scarlett

  Kendra shoots up out of her chair with a smile already in place. I’m shocked to realize she’s a pipsqueak. I’m 5’6”—not exactly a giant—but still, I’ll bet Kendra barely comes up to my shoulder.

  “Mr. Rhodes, it’s an absolute honor,” she says, rushing toward him with her hand outstretched.

  Oh really? Tell the truth, Kendra. Not two minutes ago you were begging to be free of him.

  I roll my eyes, and Hudson catches it. Great.

  “Are you coming, Ms. Elwood, or would you like me to write out a formal invitation?”

  Smug jerk. I shove out of my chair and grab my bag, aware of everyone’s eyes on me as I shimmy around the conference table and make my way toward the front of the room. My cheeks burn red hot. My anger and indignation brew right under the surface. My mom has always had a bit of a temper, and unfortunately, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

  “Asshole.”

  I don’t miss the sharp intake of breath from every person in the room. Bethany actually groans.

  My new boss stares at me like he’s never been more bored in his life.

  “Are you done?”

  I stay absolutely silent, immediately regretting my impulsive outburst.

  Without another word, he turns and walks away. We’re clearly meant to follow.

  Kendra shoots me a lethal glare the moment he’s not looking our way. “Are you insane?!” she whisper-hisses. “He’s a partner!”

  Dammit.

  I should have held my tongue. I know that. I’m just…I’ve never been good at thinking first and speaking second. Why do you think I’m here working in mergers and acquisitions rather than in criminal law?! I could never cut it in a courtroom. I’d lose my cool the moment the judge sided with the opposing counsel.

  No, this is where I belong, in a nice, orderly specialty, one where you cross a lot of t’s and dot a lot of i’s—all from the confines of a quiet desk. I just…have to make it to that desk first.

  Hudson storms down the hall up ahead like it’s his goal to lose us. I keep up, no problem—I’m still angry, after all, so there’s a lot of energy to burn—but poor Kendra is basically having to all-out sprint.

  She curses as her bag slips off her shoulder and a few of her things tumble to the carpet. I turn back to help her, grabbing a tube of lipstick before it can continue rolling away, but she wrenches it out of my hand before I can offer it to her.

  “I don’t need your help,” she bites out snidely.

  It’s on the tip of my tongue to respond with something equally rude, but then where would we be?

  Instead, I push to stand and leave her there to collect her belongings on her own. Hudson hasn’t slowed his pace up ahead. I watch as a young associate walks out of a door to the right just in time to cut directly into Hudson’s path. The associate’s eyes go wide as he halts, pivots, then darts right back into the room he came from. It’d be funny if not for the fact that I’m in no position to laugh at the moment.

  Finally, Hudson reaches a glass door through which I can see a formal reception area. This is Hudson’s corner of the 70th floor, where he and his team all work together. There’s a neat row of gold plaques bolted into the wall beside the door.

  Hudson Rhodes, Partner

  Sophie Smith, Senior Associate

  Bethany Quinn, Senior Associate

  There are more names, but I don’t have time to read them before Hudson yanks the door open for us. I’m right behind him, but Kendra hasn’t fully caught up since her mishap with her bag.

  It gives him and me an awkward few seconds to stand there, beside one another, absolutely painfully quiet while we wait for her.

  How would I normally act when meeting a partner for the first time? That’s easy; I’d be deferential and polite, so…I dig deep for those emotions as I peer over at Hudson out of the corners of my eyes.

  He’s not looking my way. To him, I don’t exist. He’s skewering Kendra as she scurries the last few feet toward us.

  That’s fine. I take the opportunity to size him up while his annoyance is focused elsewhere. He’s wearing a black suit and a pale blue tie. Everything looks to be designer. Ho-hum. Can’t fault him there. I look down at his watch tucked partway beneath his crisp white cuff. The pronounced veins in his hands. Rather large hands…though of course they would be. He’s tall, much taller than me, which makes him hilariously huge compared to Kendra. I’m smiling at the mental image when his eyes slowly slice to me as if he’s been aware of my attention this whole time.

  I almost stumble back from the intensity of his gaze.

  “I’m Scarlett El—”

  His brusque voice cuts me off. “I know who you are.”

  My brows furrow. “We’ve never met,” I clarify. I’m sure of it.

  “You look just like your brother,” he explains.

  He takes me in for another moment—assessing, no doubt—and then Kendra finally reaches us.

  “I’m sorry! My bag spilled.”

  Ignoring her apology, Hudson waves us through, and we enter his domain. I’ll be honest, it’s less hostile than I was expecting. No burning hellfire. No extreme blast of heat. Not even a single stray black cat. On the contrary, there’s a light floral scent in the air and beautiful furnishings artfully arranged in the sitting area, but I doubt Hudson had anything to do with the hospitable environment.

  Past a series of offices, he knocks on an open door, drawing the attention of a tall black-haired woman sitting at her desk.

  “Sophie, they’re yours, though I’d like a quick word with Scarlett before you start.”

  The woman—Sophie Smith, I assume, from her plaque on the wall—nods and invites Kendra to come into her office.

  Hudson looks at me and says with all the enthusiasm of a funeral director that we can go to his office down the hall. On the way, we pass more offices before we dead-end at another smaller sitting area, this one circular. His own personal space. There’s a coffee station on one side and a desk on the other. We walk past Hudson’s receptionist, a tiny older woman wearing a pink wool blazer and matching skirt. She looks up as we pass, her pale blue eyes assessing me over the top rim of her glasses. She smiles then goes back to sipping her tea.

  Interesting.

  At the threshold of his office, Hudson allows me to enter first. I catch the subtle scent of his cologne, and then he shuts the door behind us and I get sidetracked. I survey the space quickly because I’m nosey and god knows when I’ll get another chance to be in here. I fully plan on rectifying this wrong the first chance I get. By the end of the day, I’ll be on Amaya’s service and Hudson will be somewhere, I don’t know…weeping, probably.

  His walls are paneled and lacquered in blue-gray paint that I love. His desk is made of deep brown wood—an antique from the looks of it. There’s a wall of built-ins housing what looks to be an entire law library. Across from that there’s a door that likely leads to a personal bathroom. Ah, the perks of being a partner.

  Two large landscape paintings are hung beneath gallery lights on opposite walls, similar in style to a few I saw out in the hallway and sitting area. They’re abstract and full of my favorite colors, sage green chief among them. In another life, I’d enjoy asking him about them, maybe even inquiring about the artist, but that’s definitely not happening here and now. I’ve been summoned for unclear reasons, but I am sure they don’t have anything to do with idle chitchat.

  Hudson’s gone behind his desk and taken a seat. Failing to offer me one is yet another thing to add to my growing list of grievances.

  Worse still, he doesn’t immediately get on with it. He leans forward, drops his elbows onto his desk, and looks me over. I manage about three seconds of his undivided attention before I transform—yet again—into a firecracker. I have a short fuse this morning. Blame it on the bird.

  With my bag hiked up on my shoulder, it’s easy enough to cross my arms. “If you’re hoping for an apology concerning what just happened in that conference room, you’ll be sorely disappointed.”

  For even more dramatic effect, I cock my chin in a show of resolute stubbornness and defiance.

  I wish I could say I never behave like this, but truth be told, you don’t survive growing up with three arrogant older brothers without finding some way to defend yourself. On top of that, I also spent my youth at an intensely exclusive private school filled with kids practically salivating at the chance to take advantage of my every weakness. My mouth has always gotten me into trouble, but when dealing with authority figures, I can mostly rein it in. It’s been years since it’s landed me in hot water like this.

  I guess Hudson is just special.

  “Not good at delivering apologies?” he asks mildly. “I’m not surprised.”

  Well there it goes, the last ounce of decorum left between us.

  “Right. Let’s just cut to the chase then, shall we?”

  His lip quirks before it flattens into a harsh line. “I brought you into my office to let you know that on top of doing any and everything requested of you by Sophie Smith and the other senior associates, you will also take ownership of any tasks I give you. Consider it a sort of favoritism in reverse.”

  Favoritism.

  Ah.

  I now understand clearly what this is. No doubt, he thinks this turn of events will cause me to erupt with protest, but at this point in my life, I’m utterly resigned to my fate. Here’s the funny thing about nepotism: everyone always assumes having influential parents opens every door for you, but for every door it opens, it also slams one directly in your face.

  I am fully aware of the privileges I’ve been afforded and, let me be crystal clear, I’m not complaining. I know I’m only here in my position at Elwood Hoyt because of my last name. Even though I got the grades, did the work, hustled hard just like my fellow peers…it doesn’t matter. No amount of dedication will ever wipe away my legacy status. Because of it, I carry a big target on my back, an invitation to take me down just because of who I am.

  But that’s okay. Living like that for so long has forced me to toughen up. Sorry, Hudson, you don’t scare me. You’re no different than everyone else.

  “Fine. These extra duties…what should I expect?”

  This is the first time I’ve surprised him all morning. I like the little spark of curiosity in his eyes, love catching him off guard with my nonchalant response to his curt behavior. I consider it a win even as he starts to lay it all out there, confirming my fate with a smugness that grates on my every nerve.

  “We’ll figure it out as we go along. I’ll email a list of admin tasks for you to take care of—”

  “I thought you had an assistant.” I point toward his closed door. “Wasn’t that her outside?”

  “Lucy, yes. Don’t bother her.”

  My hand drops. “Right. And to be clear, am I reporting to you or Sophie?”

  “Both of us.”

  Great.

  “Do the tasks you give me supersede those given to me by Sophie?”

  I want to be sure I understand the chain of command.

  “They’re exactly equal. Meaning, you don’t leave here each day until all the work is done. Understood?”

  I’m about to shoot him a sarcastic salute, but I grind my molars together and muster up just enough patience to bite out a “Yes, sir.”

  This is utterly ridiculous.

  “And I suppose if you’re unhappy with this arrangement, you could phone your dad and he’d steal you away to some other partner.” He reclines back in his chair, cool as a cucumber. “It’s your choice. I really don’t care.”