Sweat dripped off me, pooling on the gym floor as I cranked out another round of push-ups. My arms shook as I finished my final set and jumped up for another set of sprints on the treadmill. I had been working out for over an hour, the nervous energy from waiting for a verdict was too much to handle. The jury was still deliberating, but I imagined they would be calling it a night pretty soon. Last night they had quit before nine, and it was already past that time.

The shrill sound of my phone ringing cut through the quiet gym, and I immediately jumped off the treadmill and grabbed my phone off the weight bench. It was Olivia.

“Hello,” I answered, my breath coming in short gasps.

“They have a verdict,” she said.

“What?” I had expected her to say they were recessing for the night.

“The jury has a verdict. The judge wants us back in the courtroom in an hour. Why are you breathing so hard?”

“I’m working out,” I said, grabbing my towel and water bottle and heading back upstairs. “I didn’t think they’d have a decision tonight.”

“Well, they do. You better hurry. Judge Davidson isn’t going to be happy if we have to wait for you.”

“I’ll be there, don’t worry.”

I walked into the courtroom with five minutes to spare, but everyone else was already there. Olivia was seated at the defense table, and Jack and Dan were seated in the audience on the bench right behind the bar, next to the media. Josh’s family was on one side of the courtroom, Cecilia’s on the other. Josh and the jury were the only people missing.

“Hi,” I said, sliding into the seat next to Olivia.

“You made it,” she said. “The bailiff just came and asked me when you would be here.” A side door of the courtroom opened, and Josh was escorted to our table. He was white as a sheet, and when he sat down next to me, I noticed his hands were shaking. Olivia and I both looked at him, but neither of us said anything. What was there to say? The next five minutes were going to determine the rest of his life.

“All rise for the jury,” the bailiff said, coming back through the side door. The jury shuffled in and stood in front of their seats while the judge came in.

“Please be seated,” Judge Davidson said. “Jury, have you reached a verdict?” The jury foreman, a young man with red hair stood, a piece of paper clutched in his left hand.

“We have, Your Honor.”

“Let’s proceed then, shall we? Will the defendant please stand?” Josh, Olivia, and I rose as one, every second feeling like a minute as we waited for the jury foreman to read the verdict.

“On the count of murder in the first degree, how do you find the defendant?” Judge Davidson asked.

“Not guilty,” the redhead said. There was an audible gasp from Cecilia’s side of the courtroom, the sobbing, no doubt from her mother. Josh didn’t move; it was too soon to breathe a sigh of relief, as there were still other charges that could send him away for dozens of years.

“On the count of rape in the first degree, how do you find the defendant?”

“Not guilty.”

“On the count of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony, how do you find the defendant?”

“Not guilty.”

“On the court of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, how do you find the defendant?”

“Not guilty.”

That was it. Those were the final charges. Josh’s head dropped, and tears of joy ran down his cheeks. Olivia patted him on the back and said something to him I couldn’t hear, but he smiled at her—the first real smile I’d seen from him. The courtroom broke out into a buzz of whispered conversations.

“Noooo…” Cecilia’s mother cried out. “No! He murdered my daughter! He can’t get away with this! He murdered Cecilia!”

“Order! Order!” Judge Davidson pounded his gavel on the bench. “You may all be seated.”

Judge Davidson began thanking the jury for their time and service, but I wasn’t listening. I was watching Olivia. She had leaned back in her chair and was watching the judge closely, a look of satisfaction I had never seen before playing across her face. A few moments later we all rose as the jury shuffled back out of the room, then we were excused.

Josh ran around the bar and was met with a crushing embrace from his father. I couldn’t help but notice the sour look on Zack’s face.

“Nice work, Ms. Roberts,” I said, turning my attention to Olivia. She looked up, her eyes alive and dancing with happiness, a smile spread across her face.

“As much as I would like to, I don’t think I can take all the credit.”

“Oh?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Putting Josh on the witness stand really was a brilliant move.”

“Oh, we’re back to that again?”

“I think it really sealed the deal,” she said. Just then, Josh came back around the bar and stood in front of me, his hand extended.

“Mr. Beck, thank you for all your hard work on this,” he said. I took his hand and shook it. When I released his hand, he turned to Olivia, but he didn’t shake her hand. He pulled her into a hug, whispering things I couldn’t hear in her ear. I glared at the two of them. This was highly inappropriate, but Olivia caught my attention and just shrugged.

“Come on, Olivia, Josh,” I said, breaking up the hug. “The media is waiting for a statement outside.”

* * *

Two hours later we finally left the courthouse, stepping out in the still-hot September air. Interviews with the media, then meetings with the Delaneys, then congratulations from Jack and Dan had taken longer than I’d expected, and it was nearly two in the morning.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this feeling,” Olivia said, lifting her hands above her head and spinning around in a circle.

“I’ve never seen you like this.”

“Like what?” she asked, dropping her hands and turning to look at me.

“So happy and...” I thought for a minute, trying to find the right word.

“And what?”

“Carefree,” I said, finally. “You are usually so composed and calculated and always on point, ready for work at any second.”

“You say those things like they are bad,” Olivia said as she began walking down the street. “Besides, for this one brief moment, I don’t have to worry about anything else. We won, we did the job we were hired to do, Josh gets to go home tonight, and it feels awesome.” I jogged down the sidewalk to catch up with her.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m starving. I was too anxious to eat dinner, but there is a great little diner just a few blocks from here. You can get pancakes all day long.”

The diner was deserted. There were no other customers, no other people as far as I could see in the small space.

“Olivia!” A large, round man came out of the kitchen when the door shut behind us. He pulled her into a hug like it was the most the natural thing in the world. She laughed and said hello as he squeezed her.

“I take it you’ve been here before?”

“I come here after every verdict. It’s tradition,” she said, pulling herself out of the chef’s embrace. “Jameson, this is Rubio. Rubio, this is Jameson Beck.”

“Nice to meet you, Jameson,” Rubio said, sticking out his hand. “You seem to be in a good mood, that must mean you won again.”

“We did, not guilty on all counts,” Olivia said, taking a seat at the bar. “I’ll have the usual.”

They both turned and looked at me, and I realized they were waiting for my order, even though I’d never been offered a menu.

“I’ll have what she’s having,” I said a little more grumpily than I intended. Rubio brought us both water and cups of coffee before he disappeared into the kitchen to make whatever the usual was.

“Lighten up, Jameson,” Olivia said, jabbing me softly with her elbow. “We’re celebrating, remember?”

“I don’t think anyone really associates a ‘50s-inspired diner with a victory celebration.”

“Ooooh, that’s right. I forgot you are much posher than this,” she teased. “Too good for pancakes and coffee at two in the morning.” She turned away from me, and I couldn’t tell if she was mad or still joking.

I wanted to point out that I had probably spent more time in run-down diners in my life than she had, but when she turned back to look at me again, her face was still bright and alive, with the huge smile she’d had since we left the courthouse. I didn’t want to ruin her good mood with a silly argument.

I looked at my plate skeptically when Rubio set it down in front of me. It turned out the usual was chocolate chip pancakes with bacon, over-easy eggs, and a glass of chocolate milk.

“What?” Olivia said, watching my face. “Please tell me you don’t hate chocolate chip pancakes?”

“Who hates chocolate chip pancakes?” I asked, taking a large forkful and stuffing it in my mouth. The combination of my workout from earlier and waning high from the adrenaline had suddenly made me starving. “I’m just surprised this is what you always order,” I said, my mouth still partially full.

“What is that supposed to mean?” she replied through a bite of her own pancakes. “You think I’m too good for chocolate chip pancakes?” I swallowed my bite and laughed.

“No, not at all. It’s just women with bodies like yours don’t usually eat chocolate or pancakes, and definitely not in the same meal,” I said. “With bacon nonetheless.”

“Eh,” she shrugged. “My ass likes carbs, what can I say.” She took another big bite of pancakes, then turned to look at me, but all the laughter was gone from her face now.

“Besides,” she said, “I know a way we can burn off all these calories later.” She ran her hand up my thigh, her fingers stopping just short of my crotch. I nearly choked on my bite of bacon before she pulled her hand away and picked her fork back up.

“Let’s go now.” All thoughts of hunger and pancakes were gone from my mind.

“You can go,” she said. “But I’m finishing my pancakes.” She poured more syrup on her plate and took another bite.

“You could pour syrup on my body and eat me instead,” I smirked.

“And miss watching you squirm?” she asked. “This is way more fun.” Syrup dripped off her fork onto her fingers, and she put them in her mouth, sucking on them seductively, her eyes never leaving mine.

“Are you trying to torture me?”

“Always,” she smiled. “Is it working?”

“I’m never going to think of chocolate chip pancakes the same way again.”

“If you’re going to work with me, you’ll have to get used it, as they are a post-trial tradition,” she said, popping a final bite of bacon in her mouth and pushing her plate away.

“Let’s start a new post-trial tradition,” I said, grabbing her stool and turning her toward me. I leaned over and kissed her, my fingers inching up my thigh as I did. A soft moan escaped her when I kissed her neck.

“Okay, let’s go,” she whispered. I pulled some cash out of my wallet and threw it on the counter before I grabbed her hand and led her toward the door. “Bye, Rubio!” she yelled over her shoulder as we stepped out into the night.

We walked half a block before I pulled her into an alleyway and pushed her up against the wall. She opened her mouth to say something, but I silenced her with a kiss. She tasted liked syrup and chocolate, and it was divine. She moaned into my mouth when I squeezed her breasts. I started to pull up her skirt, ready to take her right there in the alley, but she pulled away, cupping my face with both of her hands.

“Jameson. We’re not fucking in this dirty alleyway.” I ignored her words and kissed her again, my hand dipping under her skirt and between her legs, where I was greeted with bare skin and moisture.

“Do you always go commando in court?” I asked, nibbling her neck and earlobe while my fingers traced lazy circles over her clit. “God, you’re so fucking wet.”

“Jameson,” she pleaded.

“What, baby?” I slid a finger inside her, and she bucked against my hand. She spread her legs wider, her skirt bunching up around the tops of her thighs. “Tell me what you want,” I said, rubbing my thumb over her swollen clit. I slid another finger inside her, my mouth teasing her neck as I fucked her with my fingers.

“Fuck, don’t stop,” she whispered. “Oh God, Jameson, holy shit, yes!” I silenced her moans with my mouth as she came, her body convulsing around my hand. I sucked her juices off my fingers, just like she’d done to the syrup less than ten minutes ago. I turned and started walking back toward the street, but she grabbed my arm.

“Where are you going?” she asked, still breathing hard, her skirt still bunched around her waist.

“I thought you said we weren’t fucking in this alley?”

“I changed my mind,” she breathed. “I don’t give a shit where we are, just fuck me. Now.”

I didn’t have to be asked twice. My mouth crushed against hers as she tugged on my belt and the button of my pants, reaching inside and pulling out my cock, stroking it while she kissed me. I unbuttoned the top buttons of her blouse and yanked her bra down, sucking one of her nipples into my mouth. Her grip on my dick tightened, and I moved away long enough to roll on a condom before my mouth was back on hers. I lifted her up and slid inside her as she wrapped her legs around my waist.

I had no restraint. I couldn’t have gone slowly if I’d wanted; my body took over and my mind couldn’t stop it as I fucked her hard against the brick wall. Both of us were oblivious to the fact that anyone walking by would see us going at it like animals.

“Olivia, Jesus, you feel so good,” I grunted into her neck, and she responded with moans of her own. Sweat beaded on my forehead, matching the sheen that was covering Olivia’s naked chest. I wasn’t going to last long. I pinned her against the wall with my body and pushed one hand between our bodies, using two fingers to put pressure on her clit.

“Fuck,” she breathed and pulled my mouth back to hers, her body contracting and releasing around me moments later when her orgasm hit. I pounded into her for a few final thrusts before I came, my legs shaking when I pulled out and set her back down on the ground.

We both straightened our clothes while we caught our breath.

“I think you owe me a new suit,” Olivia finally said.

“You’re the one who demanded I fuck you in the alley against a brick wall, so I don’t owe you anything.”

“Let’s go somewhere with air conditioning.”

“My place or yours?” I smiled.

“My place is closer.”

“Mine has a better shower.”

“Why did you even ask if you didn’t want my opinion?” She rolled her eyes and strode out of the alleyway to hail a cab.

We barely made it back to my place with all our clothes on, the driver sighing loudly as we groped each other like teenagers in the back seat. The sun was starting to peek through the buildings to the east when I finally collapsed on my bed. Olivia was already fast asleep beside me. I watched her for a few minutes, the soft light in the room making her skin glow. She looked like a goddess with her blonde hair in a halo around her head. I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest just looking at her.

I kissed her gently on the cheek before I pushed the button to close the electronic black out curtains.

“I love you, Olivia,” I whispered before I rolled over and fell asleep.

* * *

“Jack and Dan want to see you,” Beverly said before I had even stepped fully off the elevator Thursday morning. I’d taken half a day off on Wednesday, catching up on sleep after the Delaney trial. “They are in Jack’s office.”

“Did they say why?” I asked, even though I knew what this was about. I straightened my tie as I walked down the hall toward the large corner office Jack occupied. Jack was sitting at his desk, Dan leaning over it, both looking closely at a document. They lifted their heads when I knocked on the doorframe.

“Beverly said you wanted to see me?” I wondered for a split second if this was how Josh felt before the verdict, knowing the next few moments were going to have a major impact on his life. I wasn’t facing a lifelong prison sentence, but one way or another, my life was about to change.

“Mr. Beck, yes, please take a seat,” Dan said, pointing to a chair before sitting down next to me.

“Congratulations on the Delaney trial,” Jack said. This was at least the third time I’d been congratulated on the win, but that couldn’t be the only reason I had been summoned.

“Thank you,” I said, waiting to hear what else they had to say.

“Mr. Beck,” Jack continued, “as you know, we have been considering adding a name partner to the firm for quite some time now. We are both getting older, and we need someone young and driven to help lead the firm.”

I looked at the two of them. Neither of them were even sixty yet, but I understood what they were saying nonetheless. Working sixty to one hundred hours a week for thirty years had to be exhausting, not to mention a toll on the families they both had.

“We’ve thought about it, discussed it extensively over the past few weeks,” Dan jumped in. “And we’d like that person to be you.” It wasn’t a total shock … it was either me or Olivia, but I was still stunned. When I didn’t say anything immediately, Jack began speaking again.

“We’ve been watching you closely for several months, even before you came to New York, and we’ve been impressed with your work. We both agree you are the man for the job.” His use of the word man didn’t go unnoticed, and I wondered if Olivia were a man, if I would even be here, or if I’d still be in California working my ass off for Weston.

“Thank you. I am honored,” I said, finally finding my voice.

“We’ve drawn up the offer,” Jack said, handing me the paper they had been studying when I came in. I took the paper and skimmed it over. I would become a part-owner and name partner at the new Hugh, Roscow, and Beck, and was set to receive a substantial increase in pay, managerial duties, and the first choice of cases I wanted to work on, and people I wanted to work on them with. Nothing looked out of place, but I still wanted time to review the contract in detail before I signed it.

“Upon first glance, everything appears to be taken care of,” I said. “But of course, I’ll need time to give it a closer look.”

“Of course,” Dan said. “We would expect nothing less from a lawyer like you.”

“Hugh and Roscow is one of the premier defense firms in the country. I could never turn down an opportunity like this, so pending any contract negotiations or modifications, you can consider the offer accepted.” This was what I came here for. I didn’t want to pass this up.

Jack and Dan both stood, and I followed suit, rising and shaking their hands.

“Welcome to the team, Mr. Beck,” Jack said.

“I’ll have this back to you by the end of the day,” I said, holding up the contract before I turned and walked to my office. I shut the door behind me and punched a fist in the air. It was finally happening.

“Hugh, Roscow, and Beck,” I said out loud to myself. “It’s about fucking time.”

I spent the rest of the morning going over the contract, making a few notes of things I wanted to be changed or clarified, but overall it looked great, and I couldn’t wait to get started. I picked up my desk phone and called Beverly.

“Beverly, do Jack and Dan have any free time this afternoon?” I asked.

“Let me check,” she said. I could hear the rapid click of her fingers on the keyboard as she no doubt pulled up their schedules. “They are both free at 4:30 … would you like me to put you on their schedules?”

“Yes, please. Thank you, Beverly.” I hung up and began sifting through the case files of clients looking for representation. At 4:30, I made my way back down the hall and found my new partners in the same positions I had left them in that morning.

“I made a few notes,” I said, handing the contract back to Jack. “Once those things are changed, I’ll be happy to sign.” Dan raised his eyebrow at me.

“What if we don’t accept your changes?” he said, as I took the seat next to him.

“I think you’ll find the changes I suggested make this deal stronger,” I said.

“You seem to be pretty sure of yourself,” Dan said.

“Of course I am, which is why you want me as partner.”

“I see nothing wrong with any of these,” Jack finally spoke and handed the contract to Dan. We sat in silence for a few moments while he reviewed my changes.

“Very well. We’ll have Beverly make these changes and additions,” Dan agreed. “It’ll be ready for you to sign first thing in the morning.”

“I look forward to it,” I said and stood. I still had at least two hours of work left to do before I could call it a day. I shook both men’s hands again and then turned to leave.

My hand was on the door when I heard Jack murmur, “Now we have to deal with Olivia.”

“She won’t be happy,” Dan whispered. I stopped in my tracks. I hadn’t even thought about Olivia. I’d been so engrossed in my work all day, I hadn’t had a second to think about how she would react to this news. ‘She won’t be happy’ was a gross understatement. I thought she had been furious when they added me to the Delaney case, but I imagined this was going to be one hundred times worse. I turned back around and cleared my throat. Both men looked up, surprised to see me still standing there.

“I think I can help with that.”

“What would make you think that?” Dan asked.

“We’ve developed a good relationship the past several weeks,” I said, choosing my words carefully. The full details of our relationship didn’t belong in this conversation, or any conversation at the firm, for that matter. “Maybe she’ll take the news better if it comes from me.”

“You do realize she’s wanted this job for quite some time now?” Jack asked.

“I do.”

“And you think she’ll have a better reaction if the news comes from you? The person we chose in her place?” Dan looked at me like I was delusional. “I respect your tenacity, Mr. Beck, but I think that is a terrible idea.”

I had to be the one to tell her. It wasn’t going to go well no matter what, but I didn’t want her to jeopardize her career or future here with the inevitable outburst she was going to have. I was used to arguing with her, so this would be no different. Besides, if I got to tell her, I might be able to salvage our relationship.

“I’d like to add that to the conditions of my contract,” I said, presenting the only option that would guarantee I got to give Olivia the news. Dan’s eyes narrowed, and he looked at me suspiciously.

“James,” Dan said, using my first name for the first time all day. “Are you saying you won’t sign the contract if you aren’t the one to give Ms. Roberts the news?

“That is exactly what I am saying.”

“That is a very strange demand,” he countered, and I could see the wheels spinning in his head.

“I do things a little differently than most,” I said, bringing the conversation back to me, steering it away from Olivia and any thoughts that our relationship may be more than a working one. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you want me as partner because I’m not like everyone else. I have an unconventional approach to my work from the courtroom to the office, and this is just one of those things.” They looked at me, considering what I was saying.

“I’d like to meet with all the senior associates and tell them in person,” I added. I couldn’t really give a shit less about everyone else, but this way, it didn’t seem like I was singling Olivia out of the crowd. The two men shared a long glance before Jack nodded.

“That is not unreasonable,” he said. “We’ll add that to the contract language.” Dan shook his head but didn’t say anything.

“Thank you,” I said, adjusting my suit coat. “I’ll return the contract as soon as I sign it in the morning.”

With that, I strode out of the office before any more questions were asked. I went back to my office, but instead of diving back into case files, I tried to prepare for the conversation I now had to have with Olivia.

Our relationship was finally on somewhat steady ground. I had almost told her I loved her the night after the trial, but decided at the last minute that I needed to wait, to keep the two separate. I didn’t want her to think it was just the emotions and adrenaline from the verdict talking, but now I was regretting it. Now I wished she knew how I felt, I wished I’d told her weeks ago.

Our relationship might be able to survive if she knew, but now all I could think was I had just demanded that I deliver the deathblow.