Realm Wraith Read Free Page A

is, and I—”
    “Rayne, this is a very important client. If you don’t think you can handle what is asked of you, than perhaps you should reevaluate if you really want to pursue a career in law. It’s not about what’s best for you or your family. It’s what’s best for all of us. Swim along, or drown in the current.”
    Those words, coming from his superior, snapped Rayne back to reality when he remembered his place here. The strange, foggy feeling crept through his mind again, despite his efforts to drive it back. He straightened himself up.
    “Yes, yes, sorry. No worries, Mr. Bastley, I’ll have everything ready by tomorrow.”
    “See that you do. I expect great things from you, Mr. Mercer. Ever since you first came to this firm, fresh out of university, I’ve always thought ‘there’s a man with a keen mind. There’s a sharp observer who can talk his way out of anything.’ I know one day you’ll make something great of yourself. Keep moving forward, as they say, and you’ll get there someday.”
    Those were words he needed to hear, reassurance that sacrifice would pay off in the end, regardless of how vague. Rayne’s eyes met his superior’s while he nodded and reached out to shake his hand.
    “I won’t let you down, sir, I promise.”
    “Very well, then. Have a safe trip home.”
     
    * * *
    Rayne could not get out of the office fast enough, still in a slight daze over what had just happened. Perhaps he was too tired from all the stress. He straightened himself out and checked his watch. To his shock, it now read a quarter to six. A thunderbolt struck as he realized he was late. Trying to maintain his poise he raced to his office and stuffed the remainder of his paperwork into his briefcase. Then he looked over the files Hawkins had brought in. One file didn’t have the right name at the top; it wasn’t even from his case. His heart skipped a beat. Hawkins must have screwed up.
    “Dammit!”
    He rushed to Hawkins’s office, but he wasn’t in there. No sign of him in the hallway either.
    “God, I can’t wait to hit the pubs,” Rayne heard Hawkins say as he neared the break room. “Is it too much to ask to have one day where Mercer isn’t breathing down my neck?”
    Rayne froze. They were talking about him?
    “Watch it now, he’ll write you up.” This time it was Jenkins’ voice.
    “I know, I know. I hate being on a team with him. I mean it’s great he does all the work, but you can’t talk to the man at all. Such a bloody bore. All he cares about is work, and sucking up to Mr. Bastley. Like he’s his pet, you know?”
    They all started laughing. Rayne stood there, stunned, waiting for the laughter to cease. A minute later, a few other lawyers walked out of the room, glancing behind them. They didn’t even notice Rayne as they all returned to their offices. Hawkins came out a moment later, and nearly crashed right into him. He glanced at Rayne with a rattled look on his spectacled face, like a child who’d been caught stealing from his mother’s purse.
    “Oh, hey Mercer, I was just on my way out—”
    “It’ll have to wait. You gave me the wrong duplicates; please tell me you didn’t send this file to our client.”
    “Yeah, I sent it out when you told me to. I’m certain that’s the right paper. I had a sticky note and everything.”
    “It is not the right file, these are records for a banking company our firm is handling.”
    Hawkins looked at the folder. “Oh. Well I guess I mixed them up.”
    “Do you know what you’ve done?”
    “It’s fine, I can just get the proper ones later; they’ll have them by tomorrow.”
    “It is not fine! They need time to review the briefs before the meeting! I’m already late for something very important! Now I’ll have to call them and apologize, and make certain you didn’t just fax them confidential information from a completely different company, and—”
    “Hey, hey, calm down. So it’s just another late night, that’s