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CHAPTER 1

I knelt on the floor, a pillow underneath n of as to come Only the hum of the hotel air conditioner met my ears Seconds passed, then a minute Finally I heard the door open and then click shut Footsteps, muted on the carpet, sounded from behind me, and I felt, rather than heard, a male presence pass by my side and come to stand in front of htly The sound of a zipper being dran filled the silent room

CHAPTER 2

Four months earlier

I decided to break off ht at 2:20aht line, but not yet to the point of slurrying my speech Drunk wasn't the bestdecision, but a truth that had evaded my self conscious for the last two years had finally ripped back the thin curtain I had always shoved it behind and now stood front and center in theLuke was not the one for me

I e - emotionally vulnerable after the first "love ofinity to run off with a 17-year old blonde, pink toe-nailed, California princess Luke was quiet, brooding, a sensitive soul who seemed absolutely terrified of et overmyself into oblivion I hunted Luke down, like a lioness would do to a vulnerable baby antelope,Luke to fall codaily at my whim

I dely (I think), and we began to plan a life together This life plan was hah goals but little follow-through He enjoyed spending time with me, but little else He worked in construction, and not in a ht, but as a laborer My bubbly persona started to turn intobeforenored the annoying pokes for the last 12

It is weird the things that enter your head during a break up I sat onnext to me, and I wondered why I had never purchased a chair forwith the typical bedside table, and of course, bed - but no chair A chair would havenext to Luke on the bed would be too intiht to keep fro I stood up, wobbled slightly, and turned to face him I took a deep breath and delivered the bad news I think htly by the fact that ere both drunk, but I tried my best to be compassionate, coherent, and firm I accomplished at least two of those objectives

Luke turned out to have a streak of stalker in hi that he had needed to bathe, balance a checkbook, and show up for work- it turned out he needed little or no encourage to convince me to come back to hi to get hiht have overshot that objective

After teeks of avoidingthe last two years, I decided to leave my crappy apart Intern season was starting

CHAPTER 3

My internship at Clarke, De Luca & Broward began Monday ht other interns and waited for n that tined an attorney, and for the most part, would be their personal bitch for the next 10 weeks

I had heard the stories Liz Renfield, one of the junior partners, once y appointo a full exam - just so Renfield could o Clarke is apparently the drea and pretty raduation Brad De Luca is a skirt chaser, Robert Handler a drunk, and Kent Broill drown you in work There were a fe attorneys that hadn't yet built up a reputation, but I was sure that they would have one soon enough

"Miss Ca me I stood, smoothed my skirt, and strode to the front I was nervous, but tried to appear calm and collected I came to a stop in front of her and waited "You will be assisting Attorney Kent Broward," the throaty voice of the receptionist stated "After orientation, report to his office, fourth floor" She dis the next victim, Jennifer Hutchinson I turned and walked back to ht, nervous smile which I returned

I sat down on the plastic-wrapped seat and exhaled, releasing the breath that I had not been aware I was holding Attorney Kent Broward I could have gotten worse Broorks long hours, and expects his interns to do the sa If I i recoh, but not unreasonable, and fair I heard in the background Jennifer's assignh break

Orientation passed slowly, a boring drone of questionnaires, forms, and informational videos on topics such as equal opportunity and sexual harassment in the workplace We had a catered lunch in an empty conference room, cold ham and turkey sandwiches with chips I munched on a Lays chip and listened to the idle chat The conversation seemed to center around drinks after work today, and where everyone wanted to go

"Hops Grille Julia - that work for you?" Trevor, a lanky red-headed leaned forward me as he asked the question

I shrugged noncommittally "Hops works for me, if Broward lets me out in time," I said I didn't expect to make many happy hour events, at least not for the next 10 weeks I could probably cross off any social events period, until my internship was over

"I'm sure Broill let you off early today- it is the first day, after all," Todd Appleton, a handso into my eyes from across the table I sht help the next few months pass quickly