FLAMES OF PASSION

In the bustling hearts of New York, where the skyline gleamed with the promise of dreams realized and fortunes made, Emma Sullivan made her way into the twenty-one-story tower owned by the most prestigious law firm in New York and even probably the whole of America. It was a known fact that Beacon law firm had the best attorneys in the city and Emma took pride in working for them. Dressed in a sleek sky-blue business suit that fits like a second skin, accentuating her curvy hips and long legs paired with her red Bottega heels, Emma exuded an aura of confidence as she made her way into the building. "Ooooooo!!, someone's looking good today. if I wasn't so straight I would be eating you up right now" said Nadia. " Thanks, babe", I replied while laughing. "When does she never", chimed Tammy. " Are you nervous about the meeting with the chairman?", the blonde asked. "Kind of". I retort. "You will be fine love, just relax" Honestly, I don't know if it's more of excitement or anxiety or a mix of both. I inhaled a refreshing amount of air and slowly drew them out hoping the breathing exercises could calm me down; however, they seemed to do the opposite. Worried eyes glanced my way as I approached the chairman’s office and I wasn't oblivious to the hushed whispers amongst the staff. However, I chose to ignore them after all they probably weren't the ones troubled by a random summoning from the chairman. It was a non-peculiar situation for the boss and his subordinates to engage in a one-on-one conversation. Nine out of ten times, it usually means the person is getting laid off and I highly doubt my efficiency. At twenty -three, I won an award for the most outstanding lawyer of the year in the state of New York and a year later, went on to single-handedly win thirty consecutive divorce cases which makes me question why he had chosen to see me first thing in the morning. I quickly fixed my jet-black hair into a ponytail and dabbed my face while mentally preparing myself to come face to face with the perfectionist himself. " You can do this Emma, just stay calm and be positive", I muttered to myself. For a split second, I was contemplating turning back but on a second thought why don't I just get this over with? I came to a halt outside the chairman's office and just seemingly stared at the door as I concluded my fate. With a sudden burst of energy, I firmly knocked on the door and almost immediately, I heard a thick poise voice laced with a bit of Italian. "Come in", he boomed. I scurried into the office and instantly felt the energy shift, seemingly like stepping into another universe. The office screamed luxury and elegance yet was still very minimalistic. Sitting in all his glory was the chairman himself. His neatly trimmed grey hair highlighted his high cheekbones and green eyes. He wore a bright yellow Armani shirt, a stark contrast to his custom leather pants. He had his legs crossed and his arm neatly tucked above his knees, a pose so powerful and dominant that I couldn't help but feel intimidated. "Sullivan!, have a seat please. I have been expecting you" I obliged and sat across from him inwardly hyperventilating as I did. I watched him with keen interest as his eyes scanned each of the documents placed on the mahogany desk. There was a brief pause before he spoke again. " You must be wondering why I called you" he spoke whilst lifting his head for the first time, making eye contact causing me to blink in surprise. " Miss Emma, your hard work and excellence haven't gone unnoticed by me or the board. I must add I am quite impressed by how much you have achieved at such a young age, an unattainable feat if you ask me, which is why I chose you to handle this case" His statement left her flustered and relieved as she couldn't believe she was getting praised by the demi-god himself and there she was, freaking out about losing her job. "What case sir?" she probed inquisitively. He pushed the documents towards her nudging her to take a look before continuing. " This is a very special case here; our top client is being sued and probed for s****l assault and domestic violence by not one but multiple women" he voiced, gauging to see her reaction. Emma stared at him with an unreadable expression and with uncertainty, she picked up one of the documents and glanced through it. " Sir with all due respect, I don't think this is going to be an easy case because se-" "- I never said it was going to be a walk-over case, especially when it involves Ethan Kane which is why I specifically chose you to oversee it because I know you are more than capable. " He curtly stated, abruptly cutting me off. "All this began about twelve months ago as some baseless threat by a woman named Amelia Powers, who shared intimate relations with Mr Kane" he stopped to take a sip from54 the cup of coffee that I just happened to notice before resuming again. " Amelia had been married to Pablo Picasso, a notorious Russian drug lord and when he found out she was having an affair with Kane, he ended their marriage. Kane, who didn't want to be involved in a gossip scandal also ended things with her but apparently, she didn't take it too well" he added. " Interesting... " I say as I decide to voice out my depth of thoughts. " Interesting indeed, because after things went south in her and Mr Kane's relationship, she went to a journalist and cooked up very juicy false stories, fabricating and spreading false rumors around. She didn't just stop there but she also went ahead to hire different women to file various lawsuits against him. Now all these have had a negative impact on Mr Kane's business connections; it is our duty as his legal representatives to defend and protect the image of our client" he explained his tone unwavering as he spoke. Her brows furrowed slightly as the chairman's words settled in. s****l assault and domestic violence weren't her top niche but she also wouldn't pass such a golden opportunity to prove she's the best in the game. "When do I meet my new client sir?", she inquired with as much professionalism leaving an amused expression on the chairman's face. "Not to worry, my assistant will email you his number so you can get in touch with him. In the meantime, I would implore you to get started on dismissing the lawsuits by those other women". "I will do my best sir", her voice becoming determined and purposeful. "Lest I forget this new appointment comes with double pay so I expect premium results" he revealed so casually. She blinked for a few seconds before realizing what he implied. She couldn't believe it, a double pay of her current salary?..that's twice the annual earnings of a vet. Unable to hold back her astonishment, she gasped, causing the chairman to stare at her with a bemused expression. " I promise not to let you down sir" she squeaked, barely holding down her excitement. "Of course, I expect nothing less" he responded with a tone of finality. *