Insufferable Proximity (7 page)

“She doesn’t hate you, she’s just mad because you called her Heaven, you know she hates that name.”

“I should have just saved us all the trouble and named her Hell.” Sybille squealed before she stormed off sobbing, her silk robes flowing behind her and emphasizing her dramatic display. Coco rolled her eyes and grabbed a glass of iced tea, enjoying the sudden silence.

***

Ayden King sat behind his desk looking at Heaven and Julian, who sat side by side in the chairs across from him. They sat there silently, their faces trained on Ayden as they waited for him to speak. It was rare for the two of them to be in the same room and not go at each other’s throats, but despite their forced civility, Ayden could feel the thick rage emanating from both of them.

He never understood why the two of them could not get along, especially since they had so much in common. They were both young hotshot attorneys, both superior to their peers and both so damn intelligent it was intimidating. Ayden had assumed that maybe over the years they would grow to respect each other, but their hatred had only blossomed out of control. They had the same taste when it came to picking cases to defend and seemed to relish battling it out between each other. They both sought the hardest cases, challenging themselves to win where others would fail.
Over the years, their war had escalated to a dangerous level, leaving Ayden to suffer with bouts of dread when a new case came.

Right now things were especially tense between the two of them, they were dueling for the partnership as well as the new Hudson case and they had managed to up the ante once again. It was an irresistible case with a defendant whose innocence would be hard to prove, that very fact alone was driving Julian and Heaven into a frenzied battle.

Now was the moment of truth, Ayden had decided who would best represent the Hudson case and he knew his decision could possibly start a one-lawyer-riot.

“I’m giving the case to,” he took a deep breath, watching Heaven’s fingers clutch the arms of her chair and Julian relax, as if he knew he was going to win, “Julian.”

“I told you I’d win.” Julian smiled arrogantly and it took everything in Heaven’s power not to slap him.

“No, that’s not fair!” she cried, completely flabbergasted by his decision, “I can win this case, all he wants to do is have sexual relations with Mrs. Hudson.”

“Sevigne.” Ayden shook his head in fatherly manner.

“But it’s true, everyone in the cafeteria heard him discussing the proportions of Mrs. Hudson’s behind.”

“She does have a nice ass.” Julian’s wily grin infuriated Heaven.

“You see!” she pointed an accusing finger at Julian then stomped her foot, “his libido is too out of control for him to properly defend this case.”

“Now who is being the spoiled brat?” Julian chuckled. Considering the fact that Heaven was beginning to feel more like a spoiled child than a hard-nosed attorney, Julian’s words infuriated her even more.

“What did you just say to me?” she was ready to fight.

“Enough!” Ayden roared and they both stopped speaking, but refused to break eye contact. “I need Julian on this case, he has the experience we need, besides, I need you on a new case.”

“New case?” both Julian and Heaven spoke in unison as they raised their brows in excitement.

“Mr. Rob Myers, a member of the rock band “The Dead Men” has been accused of bludgeoning his girlfriend to death.” Ayden handed her the file and Heaven’s temper quickly subdued as the new prospect sparked her interest. “He claims he’s innocent, that someone snuck into their hotel room and murdered her while he was in bed.”

“Who sleeps through a bludgeoning?” she shook her head as she glanced through the file, her adrenaline racing like ignited gasoline through her veins.

“A heroin addict, and he claimed he was too high on drugs to commit this murder.” Ayden explained.

“And what do you think?” she raised her brows in question.

“I’ve spoken to the members of the band and when they left him an hour before the murder took place, he was too high to lift his head to say goodbye to them.”

“Piece of cake.” she smiled in satisfaction then turned and gave Julian a dirty look before leaving the office.

***

Heaven walked into the break room, needing to be away from everyone for a moment. Yes, she was happy with her new case, it would prove to be very challenging, just the way she liked it. However, she was not happy with losing to Julian King, in fact, she was quite livid. She stood at the window looking out, trying to bring her anger under control when she heard the voice behind her.

“If you’re not careful he will win the partnership as well.” Heaven did not bother to turn around, instead looking at Ian’s reflection on the window.

“He won’t.” she said as she raised her chin haughtily.

“I hope not.” Ian responded before he slipped back out of the room.

***

Heaven walked into the cafeteria, ignoring the smug look that Julian was giving her. She especially did not have time for his nonsense today, she had a lot of work to do with her new case. She had just started pouring coffee into her cup when Julian walked over to stand beside her. Heaven acted as if he was not even there and Julian frowned when she began dumping packet after packet of artificial sweetener into her cup.

“It amazes me that someone with such a sour tongue is addicted to fake sugar.” he shook his head, “have you ever tried having coffee with your artificial sugar before?”

“And I’m surprised you still have a tongue after what you did with Miss Lake in that elevator.” she pursed her lips in disgust, “then again it’s probably rotting as we speak.”

“Did you watch my tape?” he asked and Heaven adjusted her poker face, refusing to let the comment affect her. “I did things in that elevator that would make your prudish little heart stop.”

“Better to be a prude than a walking STD slogan.”

“It amazes me that such a pretty little girl is such a frigid little bitch.” he smiled in satisfaction when he saw her poker face slip for a fraction of a second. Over the three years they had been dueling, he alone knew how much she hated to be referred to as a child.

“And it amazes me that someone who claims to be such a good lawyer would have to resort to whispering sexual innuendos in the client’s ear to guarantee a win.”

“How I got it doesn’t matter, all that matters is that I won.”

“That method won’t work to win the partnership, unless you plan on wooing your own father.” she slowly stirred her coffee.

“So the little Princess thinks she can beat the big bad King for the position.” He almost chuckled.

“I will rip through you like a bull shark as I take my prize.” She challenged him.

“You’ve only been a lawyer for three years, there is no way you‘ll become partner this quick.”

“Whether it’s three years or thirty, I’m still a better lawyer than you.” she smirked smugly, “and that’s why I’ll make partner before you.”

“You’ll never make partner before me.” he chuckled at her audacity.

“Your best bet would be to go beg daddy some more, because we both know that’s the only way you’ll beat me.” she took a small sip of her coffee before she continued, “you spend too much time feeding your libido to win something this important.” her words infuriated Julian and he felt that consuming need to make her bow before him.

“Does that suit come with a chastity belt attached, or do you have to attach it manually?” he asked.

“Do you get a free STD exam after every ten visits, or is that only with your antibiotics?”

“Prude.”

“Sex fiend.” she raised her chin haughtily then turned around and walked away from him.

He watched her sashay out of the cafeteria and felt the overwhelming urge to grab Ms. Deville then take her back to his office and show her who the boss really was. She was the only woman who had ever managed to make him feel every one of his emotions as well as new emotions all at once. She alone had introduced him to a new level of rage and he sometimes caught himself fantasizing about dominating her.

She was hands down the most ferocious woman he had even had the displeasure of meeting. Her audacious ways plagued his mind more than any other living creature ever had. To him, Miss Deville was an enigma, she wasn’t like any woman he had ever met in his life. She was cunning, calculated and as aggressive as any man, she fought fire with gasoline and she fought to the death. She was ferocious, unyielding and there was no way in hell she would back down from this position. He couldn’t get through to her like he was able to get through to other women, she took kindness for weakness and romantic sonnets as harassment.

Once again he had the pleasure of opposing her, but this wasn’t just any old battle, this one was for the big prize. It was a position that would entice them to fight like they had never fought before and bring them a whole new meaning to the word war.

***

Everyone from the firm had gone home for the night, the entire floor was black except the light shining from the two offices on the opposite sides of the floor. Julian King was finishing up some work when Candy had called his cell and informed him that she was at the restaurant a few blocks down from his work and would love to come spend a little time with him. It had taken less the seven minutes before Candy had opened his office door, and then opened the long, hot-pink, faux fur coat she wore, revealing the scandalous hot pink bikini below. Julian had known Candy for years and she had never failed to impress him when it came to sex. The woman was experimental as well as giving and offered every inch of her body to do with as he pleased. Julian knew he had to cease his disreputable behavior while on the job, but he could not resist the hours of depraved sex she offered. He realized that despite his best efforts, he would not be able to leave this office before fully submerging his erection inside of Candy.

In the office down the hall, Heaven Deville had been working diligently on her new case for hours. It was the third night this week that she had voluntarily worked late into the evening. After a particularly grueling day, she was ready to get out of her office, go home and give her mind and body the break it so deserved.  A hot bath with bubbles as high as the ceiling sounded divine at that particular moment, unfortunately before she could leave for the evening, she had a release form that needed Julian King’s signature. Ayden had personally asked her to make sure Julian had signed it, her boss was going home a little early and since she was staying late again to finish her own work, she agreed. She would do anything for Ayden, he was the father figure she had never had, but she despised having to go near his pompous son.

Heaven put on her large black jacket then grabbed her briefcase and the release form before locking up her office. She walked the long hallway that would lead her to Julian’s large private office, which was well secluded from the rest of the firm. Heaven did not feel that Julian deserved such a gorgeous office, and believed the only reason Ayden had given it to him, was to hide Julian’s indiscretions. She frowned as she neared his office, it was such a demeaning task to demand he sign the paper then wait around for his signature, like some common errand girl, she was a lawyer, not a babysitter.

She stood before his office, the corners of her mouth already frowning down at the thought of having to converse with him, she raised her hand to knock when she noticed the thick curtain that usually covered the large glass window, was ajar. She stood there, unable to move, her mouth agape in shock at the scene before her. Heaven had seen the same loud mouthed, fiery haired woman at the firm several times before, but this time she was naked and spread out on Julian’s large mahogany desk. Her long, slim legs were spread at odd angles and her body positioned in a peculiar way as Julian-the disgusting whoremonger-King, screwed her like a wild beast. His fist was filled with bright-red locks of hair as he slammed himself deep inside of the woman, her entire body lifting off the desk with each violent thrust. The red head below him squealed like a porn star, bouncing up and down like a windup toy while declaring her love for Julian.

Julian, unaware that his nemesis stood stunned outside of his door, was holding back his release like a professional, enjoying the feeling too much to let it end yet. Candy was making it easy on him, his erection softening a little more, with every mention of love she spouted out.

“Fuck me hard, yeah, harder,” Candy, cried as she contorted her mouth in a strange way and Julian wondered why she always went to extremes to appear sexy, it wasn‘t sexy, it was strange. “Oh god, I love it when you fuck me hard like that, oh god, I love you, baby! I love you so much” she cried out and Julian wished she would just shut the hell up. The girl fucked as if she was in front of a video camera and she spoke as she was reading from a teleprompter. He tried to tune her out, trying to screw her, get off and get it over with, but the girl’s dramatics were starting to turn him off and making him loose interest altogether.

Heaven stood outside of the window, unable to take her eyes off the scene before her. She knew she should have already turned around and quickly walked away, but the shock and the intensity of the display had stunned her enough to leave her immobile. For a split second, she felt like she had the day of her 9th birthday when she had wandered into the forbidden zone of her mother’s house. Seeing Julian act like this, so raw, primitive and slightly animalistic had her whole body emblazed and tingling. She had to turn away, she could not look a moment longer. Just as she was forcing herself to turn away, Julian King that depraved beast looked up, his eyes going directly to hers. She could feel the intensity of his accusing eyes burning into her before she turned and walked away from his office as fast as she could.