Authors: Deirdre Martin
Tags: #Women lawyers, #Contemporary, #Legal, #General, #Romance, #Hockey players, #Fiction
Icebreaker (21 page)
He’d been seeing Sinead for a month now. They were pretty much keeping it quiet, which wasn’t hard to do, since finding time to see each other wasn’t easy. Sinead was still fretting a bit about their seeing each other being unethical, but Adam had discovered the way to silence her was with a kiss.
“What’s on your mind, bro?” asked Anthony, cracking open his brew.
“We seem to be on a losing streak.”
“It’ll pass, though, right?”
“It better.”
“How’s it going with Sinead?”
Adam considered the question. “Pretty well, I think. It’s hard to tell sometimes. We don’t see each other as much as I thought we might.”
“You give her the quiz yet?”
“What quiz?”
“Madonn’
, do you even listen to me when I talk?”
, do you even listen to me when I talk?”
“You talk
a lot
.”
a lot
.”
“Asshole. No, listen. I developed this personality quiz. It’s my belief you can tell a lot about a person by determining which of the Three Stooges they’re most like.”
“You’re making this up, right?”
“Dead serious. For example: You and I are both Moes. We’re dominant personalities. Vivi is mixed: part Moe, part Curly. I would guess, since Sinead is a high-powered attorney, that she’s primarily Moe.”
Adam peered at Anthony in disbelief. “Your wife consented to take this quiz?”
“Well, no, because I was pretty much able to figure out which Stooge she was on my own.”
“Trust me: Sinead would ditch me if I asked her to take this quiz.”
“Couples are supposed to share each other’s interests, you know,” Anthony pointed out.
“Sinead and I have a deal: I don’t force her to endure the
Stooges
, and she doesn’t force me to listen to jazz.”
Stooges
, and she doesn’t force me to listen to jazz.”
“How’s the case going?”
“We try not to talk about it when we’re on ‘our’ time.”
Anthony nodded approvingly. “Makes sense.”
Adam yawned. “I need a break. I really do. I’m thirty-five years old, Anthony. That’s about ninety in hockey years. Some nights I come home from playing and I can’t even move, I’m so crippled.” He took a sip of beer. “I’m going to talk to Sinead about us finding some time to spend a whole weekend together.”
“Sounds like a plan. Now, what do you want to watch: season one or season two?”
Sinead arrived in
the office bright and early Monday morning. She checked Oliver’s office. Empty.
the office bright and early Monday morning. She checked Oliver’s office. Empty.
Despite it being the early days of their relationship, she missed Adam incredibly when the team played out of town. Tonight she planned on staying late at the office, not only to keep her mind off Adam, but because she was desperate to get a leg up on her work. She’d just taken on a major class-action lawsuit against Joyce Toys, one of the largest toy manufacturers in the world. High levels of lead had been found in toddlers’ toys. One of the senior partners, Jeff Kaplan, was originally going to take the case, but he was too busy. That he handpicked Sinead to take it instead meant a lot to her, but then he lowered the boom. “Are you sure
you’ll
have the time? I hear you’re quite close with one of the clients.”
you’ll
have the time? I hear you’re quite close with one of the clients.”
“I treat all my clients equally,” Sinead said smoothly.
“Glad to hear it.”
When he left, Sinead sat at her desk with her head in her hands. How the hell could he know about her and Adam? Shit. She made herself a huge mug of coffee. Oliver would know what to do.
He rolled into the office at around eight in the evening. “Hey.” Oliver loosened his tie, kicked off his shoes, undid his belt, and stretched out on his couch, fingers laced behind his head. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be cuddled up at home with your honey, learning what a five hole is?”
“If you bothered to check your messages,” Sinead said crossly, “you’d know that I was going to be here tonight. Honestly, Oliver. I don’t understand how you function professionally when you only check your phone twice a day.”
“Because I’m magic,” he whispered, flashing his eyes dramatically. He took one hand out from behind his head, fluttering his fingers in the direction of the mini fridge across the room. “Be an angel and get me the bottle of tequila in there, will you?”
Tequila and coke. That’s all the fridge was filled with. Sinead pulled the bottle out and reluctantly handed it to him. “Here you go.”
“Thanks, cutie pie.” Oliver lifted his head, taking a swig from the bottle. He lay back down with a sigh. “You look zonked.”
“I am.” Sinead nervously twirled a lock of her hair around her finger. “I think the seniors might know I’m seeing Adam.”
“How?”
She told Oliver what Jeff Kaplan had said to her.
“This is so not a problem, Sinead.” He took another swig. “Jeff is a clueless fuckwit, so I doubt he knows anything. But just in case, here’s what you do: you go to Adam. You tell him that the big kahunas suspect something, and that you two need to split up temporarily. You split up. Then, if Jeff and the lads call you in to ask if you’re screwing your client, you’re not. Integrity intact. The end.”
Sinead made a sour face. “The double standard really pisses me off.”
“Understandably. It’s even worse for you because you’re the only female partner here.”
Sinead’s shoulders sank. “Thanks for reminding me of that, Oliver.”
“Anytime.” He heaved himself upright. “Trust me: it’ll all come out right in the end.”
Sinead was skeptical. “If you say so.”
18
Sinead was confident
as she made her way to Adam’s apartment. He’d be in a good mood since the Blades had swept their road trip, and Oliver’s plan was solid. When Adam heard why they needed to split up temporarily, he’d understand. Adam took his job as seriously as she took her own, and he had to know that given her high-strung personality, there was no way she could keep seeing him without being constantly worried about being caught.
as she made her way to Adam’s apartment. He’d be in a good mood since the Blades had swept their road trip, and Oliver’s plan was solid. When Adam heard why they needed to split up temporarily, he’d understand. Adam took his job as seriously as she took her own, and he had to know that given her high-strung personality, there was no way she could keep seeing him without being constantly worried about being caught.
A couple of blocks from Adam’s door, Sinead realized she’d never been to his apartment before. In fact, she’d never been in this part of the city. Adam’s descriptions of his surroundings were on target: the area was fairly nondescript. Still, there was a neighborhood feel to it that reminded her of the old Hell’s Kitchen before the real estate brokers started calling it Clinton. People were walking their dogs, hanging out on stoops talking, doormen chatting with apartment residents. She wondered if Adam ever stopped to chat with anyone. Probably not.
The lobby of his building was pretty nondescript as well: a few well-placed plants, two black leather sectional couches for waiting guests, and a pile of magazines on a small cherrywood sideboard.
“Can I help you?” asked the doorman, a slight, balding man in his early fifties. Sinead wondered how long he’d been working here. One of the doormen in her building, Alan, had been there thirty years.
“I’m here to see Adam Perry.”
The doorman nodded, buzzing Adam, while Sinead’s eyes strayed to the security camera mounted high in one corner of the ceiling. She saw herself standing there in black and white. It was odd.
“Go on up,” said the doorman pleasantly.
Sinead smiled. “Thanks.”
Adam’s apartment was in keeping with his personality: spare, the home of someone who had no patience for excess. A small, apartment-sized leather couch, an ottoman, and one end table. No rug yet. There were crates of what she assumed to be artwork leaning against the wall that hadn’t been opened. And, of course, there was a television. She’d never known a man who could survive without a television.
Adam looked so happy to see her she was tempted to toss Oliver’s advice out the window and go with the damn flow. But the flow had become a fast-moving, perilous torrent that could sweep her career away. She had to be careful.
Adam drew her up in his arms, kissing her full on the mouth. “Mmm. Missed you.”
“Me, too.” She wished she’d changed out of her work clothes before coming over. Here he was, in jeans and a well-worn sweatshirt, casual and comfortable. And here she was, Ms. Corporate. She slid out of her shoes, wiggling her toes. God, she hated wearing heels. She was going to be one of those old women with mangled feet; she knew it.
“You want to rest up for a few minutes, then go grab some dinner?” Adam asked.
“I’m not really hungry.”
Adam shrugged. “Okay. We can just order in later.”
“That sounds good.” Sinead sank down on the couch wearily. Adam sat beside her, rubbing her shoulders.
“Hard day?”
“You could say that.”
“What’s up?” He sounded concerned.
She told Adam about her conversation with Jeff Kaplan. The more she talked about it, the more emotional she got, fighting off tears.
“Anyway,” Sinead continued as she pulled herself together, “Oliver helped me figure out a way around it.”
“What’s that?”
“You and I need to split up temporarily.”
Adam looked uncomprehending. “Excuse me?”
“It’s simple. We split up. That way if they flat-out ask me if I’m seeing you, I won’t be lying when I say no. In the meantime, I win the case. Then you and I get back together.”
She smiled at him as if to say, “See? Easiest thing in the world.” But her smile soon faded as she took in the look on Adam’s face. He looked mildly offended.
“What’s the matter?” Sinead asked.
“And what happens in between? We keep in touch via e-mail?”
“Adam.”
His sarcasm threw her.
“You handled this wrong. You should have fought back and said, ‘Hell yeah, I’m seeing Adam Perry. Why is it all right for all of you to date clients, but not me?’ ”
“It doesn’t work that way.”
“It will if you speak up for yourself, rather than put us through some cloak-and-dagger caper. I’m not surprised this was Oliver’s idea.”
“It’s not cloak-and-dagger,” Sinead said defensively. “And what’s wrong with it being Oliver’s idea? He knows how things work there better than I do. His plan is absolutely what needs to happen to make sure I don’t get fired.”
Adam shook his head obstinately. “I repeat: I think you need to stand up to them on this. Don’t you see? If you let this double standard continue, they’ll think they can cow you when it comes to other things. Plus, they’ll do it to every woman after you who works for them. It’s bullshit, Sinead.”
Sinead blinked. This was not how she expected him to react. She thought he’d be annoyed that they had to break up temporarily, but that he’d see it made sense for her politically as well as emotionally.
Adam looked pained. “I’m disappointed in you.”
Sinead felt her blood pressure spike.
“What?”
“What?”
“I thought you were someone who stood up for herself, no matter what.”
“I am standing up for myself!” she said heatedly. “What if your job was on the line? You’d—”
“My job
is
on the line!” Adam snapped. “But you don’t see me giving in, changing who I am to please others.”
is
on the line!” Adam snapped. “But you don’t see me giving in, changing who I am to please others.”
“You’re not getting this,” said Sinead, her frustration mounting. “This is a completely different situation. My reputation could be ruined if I rock the boat.”
“Then don’t let it happen. Call them on their hypocrisy.”
Sinead’s mouth fell open. “You’re clueless.”
“And you’re gutless.”
“How
dare
you? You have no idea what it’s like to be the sole female partner in an all-male law firm, no idea at all. I’ve had to work twice as hard to get where I am because of my gender. I’m
always
working twice as hard. You think I’m going to risk everything I’ve fought for?”
dare
you? You have no idea what it’s like to be the sole female partner in an all-male law firm, no idea at all. I’ve had to work twice as hard to get where I am because of my gender. I’m
always
working twice as hard. You think I’m going to risk everything I’ve fought for?”
“So you don’t care if they maintain their double standard, as long as it doesn’t affect your job. You’re willing to sacrifice us.”
“It’s temporary! Why don’t you get that?”
“And what happens when we get back together, huh? We hide it? We meet clandestinely?”
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