Legally Addicted Read Free Page B

her jurisdiction.
    But this thing was happening, and she needed to get a grip.
    Georgia took a deep breath and swallowed hard, but squashing her emotions downward only allowed space for professional concerns to rush in to the void.
    She was the divorce specialist in this firm. There was no way she was going to start taking instructions from anyone, let alone Brad Spencer.
    ‘Obviously you will maintain your autonomy and your own client list, although I would hope to be able to assist you in growing your client base,’ Brad said, anticipating her objection.
    Georgia stared at him for a few seconds before answering, trying to gauge just how far she could go in voicing her disapproval of the new arrangement without alienating the other partners. Dayton and Llewellyn were clearly delighted by the coup they had pulled off in joining their firm with the practice of the highest profile lawyer in the city.
    ‘I have managed perfectly well in establishing my own client base to date, thank you,’ she said, as curtly as she dared.
    Brad smiled at her, a patient, indulgent smile that made her even testier.
    ‘I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise, Georgia, but I have more clients than I can comfortably handle, and having been assured by John and Roger of your considerable skill, I would feel comfortable passing over any client that you were interested in taking on.’
    She momentarily relaxed with the compliment, registering a rising fuzziness inside, but taking stock of the feeling only succeeded in annoying the hell out of her. Brad’s attentiveness was one of the things that led her into bed with him in the first place; right about the time he was choosing disingenuousness over honesty in failing to mention that he was joining the firm. That piece of news was something he obviously knew last night, yet had chosen to keep it to himself.
    His good opinion of her could, therefore, be of no consequence. His staggering lie by omission was something she intended to take up with him privately, and as soon as she got the chance.
    Georgia gave in to the urge to scowl at him.
    ‘I’ll have to look at my case list and get back to you. I’m not sure I need any more clients.’
    Llewellyn gave a cough, his face turning a pinkish colour.
    ‘I, we, I mean John and I, couldn’t help but notice, how well — that last night — well, you and Georgia seem to know each other, outside the office as it were. That won’t be a problem, will it, Bradley?’
    Brad leaned back in his chair, thoughtfully pressing his fingertips together. Then he looked up in Georgia’s direction.
    ‘I can’t speak for Georgia, but it won’t be a problem from my side — Georgia, what about you?’
    She averted her eyes.
    ‘Er, no. It won’t be a problem from my side either,’ she lied.
    It was a problem, though.
    A big one.

Chapter Three
    Georgia sat at her desk with her head in her hands. Before she left the partners’ meeting, and once she got over the shock of learning that their two firms would be merging, she had managed to pull herself together enough to say something lame like, ‘Congratulations, Brad, welcome aboard’. She shook hands with him, and then escaped back to her office.
    Then it hit her. As a full equity partner, Brad Spencer would have an influence over the partnership equal to that of Dayton and Llewellyn, effectively making him senior to her. So, extrapolating on that, last night she may as well have gone and shagged her boss.
    Well, as good as.
    ‘I assume from that pose of utter jubilation you’ve heard that we’ll be moving?’
    The voice was Miriam’s. Georgia sat up and folded her arms. Her secretary held a clipboard with some sort of checklist pinned to it.
    Georgia realised she should have seen this coming. There were only three corner offices in the triangular shaped building rented by the firm, and the Brad Spencer could hardly be asked to work in a cubicle and meet with his glittering client list in the shared conference