Destination D (11 page)

“Thanks. And I wear boxers, not briefs.” He laughed as he watched Dee give him a disgusting look. “You brought up the underwear thing, not me.” His hand reached for the glass, gingerly touching her fingers as she released it.

“You're welcome,” Dee said, oblivious to Sedrick's mild attempt of flirtation. She stretched her arms, causing her tank top to rise slightly above her midsection. Sedrick's eyes were drawn immediately to her smooth stomach. It was a mystery to Sedrick as to how many crunches this woman did a day to keep such firm abs.

I know Dee takes kickboxing, too, but damn! I had no idea she had such definition.
Unconsciously, he patted his own stomach to reaffirm
his
tautness. With such a hectic schedule, he had little time to go to a gym on a regular basis.

Dee sat back down on the sofa and crossed her legs Indian style. “So, how is the construction coming for your new building?”

“Great! We've run into a few snags, but nothing we couldn't work out.”

“Sed, that's wonderful. You have worked really hard.”

“Yeah, this last year has definitely been a killer for me and the other doctors, but I'm glad it's almost over.”

“Well, you know Pam and I will be right there cheering you on when you cut the ribbon on that new building.”

“Yeah,
my
two girls right there in my corner. A guy couldn't ask for much more,” he said, raising his hand to give Dee a high five.

“I know that's right.” Dee's top rose again as she jumped up to slap his hand. His eyes caught another flash of her stomach.

“Damn,” he whispered.

“Did you say something?”

“I said
Sam.
I need to call and check in on Samantha, one of my patients.” He moved in closer to her. “So, what's happenin' with you these days? How's the flying going?”

Dee shook her head and got up to straighten the coffee table and sofa pillows. Her drawn face reflected a sudden mood change.

“Hey,” he said laughing, hoping Dee's mood would return to normal.

“What's so funny?”

He took a sip of his water and perused the
Ebony
article. “Have you had a chance to read this yet?”

“No, that's my mail pile, but I haven't looked at it yet.”

“Well, it's pretty interesting. Women can do some wild stuff according to this article. It's called, ‘The Five Mistakes Women Make With Men.'”

“Really, we can make that many, huh?” Dee stopped straightening the room and walked over toward him.

Sedrick's phone went off before he could respond. He looked at the text message. “All right, gotta go. Duty calls.”

“You better get a move on then.”

He stood up and hugged her for as long as he could without making her feel uncomfortable.

“It was great seeing you, Dee.”

“You too. Here, let me walk you to the door.”

“All right. Tell Pam I'm sorry I keep missing her.”

“I will. Talk to you later.”

Dee had just begun sorting through her three-day mail when the doorbell rang again. Who could that be? She knew Sedrick didn't forget anything.

“Delivery for Pamela Madison,” the doorman said when she opened the door. He handed her a bouquet of exotic tropical foliage that included a delightful blend of ginger, protea, and orchids.

“These are absolutely breathtaking. Hold on a sec, Eugene, I'll run and get your tip,” she said, running back to the change drawer in the kitchen.

“Thanks, Ms. Bridge. Tell Ms. Madison she sure is one lucky lady. Someone really thinks a lot of her.”

They most certainly do,
she thought as she closed the door and placed the vase on the end table in the living room. “Let's see who it is.” Dee knew she was being nosy but opened the card anyway.

One of a kind flowers for a one of a kind lady.
I hope to see you again soon.
Sincerely,
The man you're too busy to have breakfast with!

Dee slipped the note back in the envelope. Well, whoever he was, good luck. He may starve to death if he was waiting to take Pam out to eat. Dee wished Pam would consider seeking some professional help. Her doctor would be great for her, but nobody knew Dee was seeing a psychiatrist.

Dee sat back down on the sofa and flipped though
Ebony
until she came across the article that Sedrick had mentioned earlier. “The Five Mistakes Women Make With Men.” Number one: not being truthful. Dee slammed the magazine shut, walked over to the telephone, and immediately dialed her psychiatrist.

Nose Dive

W
hen Pam pulled into the parking lot of Sterling, Mathis, and Silverman, thoughts of her meeting with Greg resurfaced. She felt the deluge of tears begin to fall.
Shit! I've got to get a handle on myself.
She took deep breaths and tried to refocus her thoughts. This case she was about to try was too important to let emotions rule over logic. She couldn't help but notice the dark oil stains on the spot where Amanda used to park her car. The empty spot seemed so barren without the champagne-colored Camry.

It was already 9:00 a.m., two hours later than when Pam usually arrived. Amanda was typically at work at least one hour before Pam walked in and would have case files already organized and waiting for her. Today was the first time in three years Pam's day would start off without Amanda. Damn Amanda and her ungrateful ass!

Pam walked toward her office. Pete Sterdivant, the hiring manager, was right on her heels. His charcoal trench coat swayed behind him as he followed Pam in dogged pursuit.

“Hey, Pam. Getting a late start today, are we?”

Pam looked at her watch without breaking her stride. “Yes,
you
are getting in rather later than usual. What's going on?”

“You tell me. I heard Amanda turned in her resignation on Friday.” He tried to maneuver his folders to keep the papers from falling out while he held onto his briefcase.

Pam continued to walk briskly as she entered the building. “My, word travels fast.”

“I got a call from the office at home late Friday night since I was off on Friday,” he said as he clumsily readjusted his horn-rimmed glasses back up on his nose.

Pam nonchalantly pressed the elevator button. “So?”

“So what happened?” Pete finally caught up to her and looked at her sternly.

“I think it says it all in the letter, which, by the way, should still be on your desk where I left it,” she said glaring back at him and cutting her eyes to stare at the numbers at the top of the elevator. The elevator doors opened and she stepped in, secretly hoping they would close on him.

Pete was as unrelenting as a pit bull. He pushed his way through the narrow closing of the elevator's doors. Pam rolled her eyes and let out a disappointed sigh. “By the way, how soon will I have a replacement? I need someone, as in yesterday, to assist me with the Tyfish case.”

Pete didn't seem to hear her question. “I just don't get it. She was one of our best paralegals. I just didn't think she would quit.”

“Yes, well we all didn't think, but she did. And now she's gone and I say good riddance,” Pam said firmly as the doors opened. She stepped brusquely off the elevator. “The replacement, Pete? When will I get one?”

“I'll have someone sent to you by lunch.”

“I suppose I should be grateful,” she mumbled as she turned down the corridor, leaving Pete taken aback by her response. He walked to his office and saw Amanda's resignation letter cloaked in an envelope on his desk. He opened it and was surprised at the letter's terse words.

Dear Mr. Sterdivant,
Effective immediately, I am resigning from Sterling,
Mathis, and Silverman.
Sincerely,
Amanda C. Shipman

Pete folded the letter and tapped it against the top of his desk. He quickly picked up the phone to buzz his secretary.

“Yes, Mr. Sterdivant,” Donna answered.

“Donna, get Amanda Shipman on the phone for me, will ya?”

“Right away, sir.”

Pete waited a few seconds before Donna buzzed him back. “Mr. Sterdivant, no one is picking up the phone, and her voicemail did not pick up. I can call back later.”

“Just give me her number and I'll try her myself later today,” he said with some irritation.

“404-555-6671.” Pete scribbled the number on a yellow sticky note and stuck it on the front of the phone. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Sterdivant?”

“No, that will be it for now. Thanks Donna.”

“You're welcome, sir.”

Pete stared at the number for a few seconds as he hung up the phone. He knew that he would have to start interviewing for another paralegal immediately because he didn't want to overload the others with Amanda's casework. Unfortunately, for now, they would have to make do with who they had for the Johnson vs. Tyfish case.
And of all cases, too,
Pete thought, dumbfounded. Amanda couldn't have left at a worse time. And the big question still remained unanswered—why did she leave?

Stephanie Walker, another paralegal, had been pulled from another attorney to work part-time on the Johnson vs. Tyfish case with Pam. Stephanie took a second glance in the full-length mirror and buttoned the top button of her grey wool suit. Her thin frame and poised walk resembled a ballerina about to take the stage on opening night. When she left the ladies' bathroom, a rush of adrenalin ran through her. Enthralled at the idea of assisting on one of the firm's largest cases made her both excited and tense. Her hands became clammy as she tapped firmly on Pam's office door.

“C'mon in,” Pam called. She sat buried behind a mound of paperwork on her desk. She had just checked her messages and saw that Marco had called twice that morning. His persistence was flattering, but she did not have the time to respond to his overtures.

Stephanie slowly opened the door and was astounded at the amount of paperwork. “Miss Madison? Are you in there?” Stephanie joked.

Pam poked her head out from behind the stacks and gave a half smile. “Take a load off,” she said, pointing to the chair across from her desk. “So, you've been assigned to me part-time, eh?”

“Yes, Ms, Madison, I have.”

“Well now, tell me what you know about the Johnson vs. Tyfish case?” Pam demanded as she crossed her arms tightly across her chest anticipating her answer.

“Well, I just found out that I was assigned the case today, so…”

“So, what can you tell me?” Pam snapped.

“Well, not a whole lot. I mean, I know that our client is being sued for misappropriating $15 million dollars from his company.”

“Why is that all you know about the case?”

“I beg your pardon?” Stephanie asked with a puzzled look on her face. “Well, I just found out about it, and I haven't had an opportunity to…”

“To find the time to pay attention to the details of the case?” Pam blared.

“Yes. I mean, no. That's not what I meant.”

“What's your name again?”

“It's Stephanie. Stephanie Walker.”

“Oh, yeah, that's right,” Pam snapped her fingers as she remembered. “Well, Stephanie, I've heard about you and I'm not impressed.”

“But I don't understand what you mean.”

“From what I've heard, you
don't
understand a
lot
of things, and I don't have time to sit around and explain them to you.”

“But I don't think…”

“No, I don't believe you
do that either
!” Pam scoffed.

Stephanie watched Pam roll her eyes and pick up a piece of paper with one hand and the phone with the other and began dialing.

“Pete, this is not working,” Pam snapped.

“What's
not working?”

“Stephanie
is
not
working,” she said accusingly.

Pam saw Stephanie's face turn a crimson red. “Ms. Madison, please,” Stephanie interrupted. “I really want to work this case with you.”

Pam raised her hand, gesturing her to silence herself. Stephanie slumped back in her chair, wanting to melt right out of sight.

“Listen, Pam,” Pete yelled as he snatched his glasses off his nose. “This is a big case. And it's going to take work bringing someone up to speed on it. Give Stephanie a chance. She's a good paralegal.”

“Pete, I don't want good. I want outstanding. I want impeccable. I want—”

“AMANDA!” he yelled into the phone like a wild man. “And unfortunately we don't have her to give to you, because in case you've forgotten, she quit!”

“I realize that. But, trust me, this case is too big for me to have to work at bringing someone like
her
up to speed.” She eyed Stephanie disapprovingly. “Give me someone else. Find me someone who does not have to go through Basic Case Knowledge 101.”

Stephanie squirmed and wanted to run out of the office and forget this day had ever happened. She was so devastated by Pam's belittling remarks that her legs grew as heavy as cast iron steel and her body felt paralyzed from the neck down.

“You're insufferable, Pam!” Pete said.

“I know I am.”

“If you weren't such a damn good lawyer, and if this wasn't such a huge case for the firm, I'd tell you to work with who I gave you or go straight to—”

“You don't need to finish the sentence, Pete. I love you too!” Pam hung up the phone and continued reading through her files without looking up from her desk. “Sorry, but this is just not going to work out.”

Stephanie sat there looking stunned, dejected, and ready to be cast aside.

Pam nodded at the door. “You may leave now. As you can see, I've got a ton of paperwork to sort through.”