The games we play

In the corner office on the 4th floor of his law firm Bernie Williams is sitting behind his desk listening to footsteps coming towards his office. He already knows that it's Carly, she's the only person that walks that fast and in heels no less. He's always wondered how she was able to move so quickly in her impossibly high heels. He knows what's coming,too. She has a pattern, her early morning visits to his office only meant she came to inform him what she was up to with a client, which was usually something unconventional inorder to win a case. He takes a deep breath trying to calm himself. He was still trying to fix her last mess. But what could he do? She is the best lawyer in the city and he believes the country, many lawfirms tried to percure her with big promises but she stayed loyal to him and only asked for some freedom in choosing which cases she takes on. He hadn't thought anything of it, she had no other conditions and didn't even ask for a raise. He should have known and been suspicious of her. Unfortunately her given freedom in the last five years was the source of many restless nights and serious stomach problems caused from the stress. And there it is, her soft knock on the door. Taking a last breath he counts to three and sits up bracing himself for what's to come. The door flies open and it's even worse than he thought, "Good morning, Bernie, I..." She gets cut off by him, "No,no,no,no, wh-whyyy are you wearing that? " His words come out tired almost whiney and he tries to breathe better. Pinching his nose and squeezing his eyes shut he knows something big is about to happen because Carly had a signature outfit that she wore to give her confidence when she was about to win a case but also knowing she was taking certain risks to do so. Risks that could blow up in her face and have repercussions for his firm. She doesn't lose often, four cases in five years to be exact, but it felt like she was getting more and more reckless with each case she took on. She stood staring at him with her figure hugging black dress that sat tight above her knees and her striking red stilettos that shows off her long, lean and tanned legs. The dress cups her breasts perfectly with a v-neck cut that doesn't show too much cleavage, but just enough for every mans eyes to linger there for a moment. Her dark brown hair sits in a tight bun on her head, a sight for sore eyes, really. Then she flashes him a smile. It's her signature smile, the one that's genuine and reaches her eyes fully, the one that makes her face look even softer, brings out her blue eyes even more and makes you feel warm and welcomed. He was sure her smile was one of the reasons she was able to get away with all her shenanigans,"Bernie, now now! First off that's NO way to start a morning, very rude! Secondly, I came to ask you a favor," Bernie laughs sarcastically, " THERE it is! What Ever it is NO. I told you Carly no more unconventional methods!" She's still standing in the door and takes slow cautious steps into his office. "Look it's too late now anyway." She says smiling sweetly. Bernie all but growls. "I don't care, I'm still your boss, this is my firm and I've told you my nerves can't take it anymore. I need one just one week of normal sleep!" The word sleep comes out whiney again. He eyes her and notices something is off. Reaching a chair that sits across his desk she grabs onto it almost swearing under her breath. She looks tired and almost rushed, not her normal demeanor at all. He c***s an eyebrow at her, "What's wrong?" Looking up her cheeks flash bright red making her look even more beautiful, sheepishly she looks at him, and he can't remember a single time he's seen her blushing. This makes him even more nervous. Finally she speaks eyes to the floor,"Look Bernie, we're grown-ups so I'm going to be honest with you, I have a hangover, a nasty one which is really unfortunate but I'm going to have to push through because the ball is already rolling." He can't believe his ears she's never come to work with a hangover, that was just not Carly Summers! She was the most professional person at his firm, she's never been anything like this. His mouth almost hangs open and finally he manages to make a sound, "uh,uh". He has a very bad feeling rising in the pit of his stomach. "OK, before you freak out, the hangover is part of it all. Just trust me, ok? " He gives her a pointed look and can't decide if he wants to know what she's up to now. Suddenly she gestures to his office phone, "May ,I?" With a strict nod he hands her the receiver and she says, "Please dail Michael." Michael was her assistant the best of the best , he would walk through fire for her, they had a very close work relationship. "Mikey, hey, It's me, listen I know I've never asked you to run a personal errand for me BUT, I need some of your hangover cure juice, the one that had you fit as a fiddle in 20minutes last Wednesday, because that's all the time have before ... you know." Bernie watches her with squinted eyes very aware of the fact that she purposely leaves out some information. After more chit chat about not even having had a coffee today and inquiring about a client she hangs up and he could swear she had to brace herself for what she was about to tell him, which scared him because Carly Summers was the most fearless person he knew, well composed and never ever let anyone see her weak, scared and never caught off guard. Was it just because she was hungover or was it because her newest case involved something big and dangerous? "OK, Now,uh.. just please stay calm ,ok? Your phone will ring in about 5minutes to inform you that Dexter Moore is on his way up." She says it fast and without emotion and pauses to catch his reaction. Bernie hangs his head and groans. She quickly continues, " Bernie, this involves 32 people, and it's not as bad as you think. They need my help, and yours!" He feels defeated, why ,why did she insist on looking for trouble with the most dangerous man in the city? "Carly,no, not Dexter, it's, it's just I.. " Even Bernie was scared of that man. "Now Bernie, that was our deal, for every four firm cases I get to do a pro bono, and this time they really need me!" He knows what the deal is but he also knows that no one takes Dexter Moore to court and comes away unscathed. Genuine worry started to set in him. "Oh Carly, what have you done, he is dangerous, you know this! I can't protect you from him!" She gasps almost surprised, "Like I need protecting! You're making a big deal out if nothing. It's all going to be fine. And when it's all said and done you're going to buy Maureen that little cottage in Aspen she's been talking about!" He couldn't help but sigh. Although risky she always won which meant money. Last year he could pay for his daughter's tuition in a private school, they lived a very comfortable life because of her. "Do I have a say in the matter?" She smiles realizing she won. "Nope, I'm pretty sure he's on his way here now, coming to see you!" Shaking his head he asks, "What do you need?" She's back to her big warm smile now.."So he has some... some unfinished business with me, but he can't come out and say it. So my guess is he's going to ask you to give him a tour of the office since he wants to buy the building next door." Bernie doesn't understand and he feels annoyed being left in the dark as always, "What unfinished business? And why would he want to look at our building when he wants to buy the one next door?" Ignoring the first question she quickly answers, "That's just how he does it, he always makes sure the investment is safe, with the last four properties he has purchased, he always requested a through "check-in" with buildings next to it. He's more paranoid than you." She adds jokingly. "Anyway he's hoping to just run into me, but I need you to show him to my corner last." Bernie is visibly annoyed but agrees, the man was on his way what choice did he have? She gives him one last smile and says softly, "Thank you Bern, I know it's not easy working with me..." taking a moment to think she adds ,"I really do want to help these people, they do need it." He shrugs and waves her away but as she's about to turn on her heel his phone rings just like she predicted and she almost beams, she was right. Reaching to pick up the receiver she suddenly says, "Wait, tell Amy to send him to breakfast room, and only go to him when you're sure he is done eating, make him wait a bit." Bernie shakes his head, "No one makes that man wait, Carly. He has a wicked temper." She shruggs ,"I know that's why I said send him to the breakfast room, so he's distracted and besides he has a hangover, too. He might not be on edge , like he always is. I have a good feeling about this Bernie, don't look so worried! I have to get to my office to prepare, remember my office last, I want him to be almost annoyed before he sees me." With that she takes her leave marching to the other side of the building, heels clicking on the tiles. Bernie answers his phone and says almost pained, "Yes? Send him to the breakfast room please Amy, and make sure there's coffee... and Amy can you track down some asprin, I feel a headache coming on." 20 minutes later Bernie is sweating in akward places, nervous and chewing his nails when the phone rings once more, "Sir, Mr. Moore is growing somewhat impatient, he wants to know how much longer you'll be?" Bernie draws in a breath and curses himself for actually being part of whatever this is. "Oh, I'm on my way Amy, leaving my office now." He hasn't seen Dexter in 7 years, although they used to be good friends all through college and well after, they have turned into acquaintances. He wasn't planning on having any one on one conversations with the man soon. His reputation was dark and dirty in the worst sense, there were many reasons to fear him. Walking as fast as his legs can go and trying to hide his nervousness as best he could, he makes his way across the floor to the conferenceroom that Carly has turned into what they all call 'the breakfast room' she insists on keeping it stacked with food everyday and secretly pays for it out of her own pocket. The employees love Bernie for it but they don't know it's all her. Dexter is standing at the big window looking toward the building he proposedely wants to buy, clearly calculating in his head. "Dexter, old friend! I'm sorry for the wait! You know how it is!" He turns around and instead of looking angry or annoyed as Amy had said there's a big smile on his face. Tired eyes smile right at him and a surge of relief shoots through Bernie. "Bernie, look at you old champ, how long has it been, 3, 4 years? How are you?" He steps in for a bear hug and pats his shoulders smiling. "Yeah not quite it's around the 7 yea....." Dexter doesn't let him finish, "Anyway, you look good!" Dexter continues with light chit-chat for almost twenty minutes and it feels familiar, Bernie can't believe that this man had done the things people have whispered about. He seems happy, care- free and light, even. Not like someone who has strangled men, shot them, buried them. But years in the business has taught him that people have many faces and can not be trusted. "Bernie, let's get down to why I'm here today, I was hoping for a tour of the building?" Goddammit, how did she know? Bernie shouldn't be surprised, Carly is never wrong when she is invested. Giving him a fake suspicious smile he says,"I'm not selling old pal!" This does seem to annoy Dexter somewhat but he launches into a full blown explanation of property and how he has become careful about his building buys. Sometime later they are on their way, Dexter asks questions and seems interested in the building he listens attentively and if Bernie had not known that Carly had something to do with his being here he would never have known, proof that Dexter Moore is infact a very dangerous man, being able to hide behind a facade. He has half a mind to end this so called 'tour' without passing by the last offices, specifically the very last office where Carly is, he has a sudden urge to protect her and feels enraged all over again that she's some how involved with him. He stops in the hall and points to the last three offices and that's the last if them." Dexter doesn't stop walking, over his shoulder he says, "The view from the corner office, worth seeing?" Bernie can see the look on his face, determined he wants to find her, needs to. The friendliness on his face fading soon. In an attempt to stop this crazy plan of hers he clears his throat and hopes that his words come out as confident as he intends. "Not bad, but the view from my office... breathtaking." His words fall in an empty hallway, as Dexter completely ignores him and starts towards the corner office where Carly's laughter can be heard like a melody magically drawing him to her, and Bernie knows in this moment that he's lost her to Dexter Moore.