Pain and Pleasure by Callie Vincent

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Chapter One

Charlotte

I kept my eyes on the clock while my fingers typed away as quickly as they could. I made a promise to myself that I’d treat my upcoming vacation as an actual vacation. Not as an excuse to take my work home, close myself up for two weeks, and pretend like I wasn’t still chugging along with work. I had extravagant plans for my summer vacation. Expensive, extravagant, lovely plans for my next two weeks. But it all hinged on me getting this paperwork typed up by five-thirty sharp.

“Come on,” I hissed.

I pushed my fingers faster than I’d never pushed them before. I felt burn-out settling against my shoulders, weighing me down towards my mahogany desk. But I knew once I got the rest of this paperwork submitted to Mother Dearest, I’d be free.

From her, and from this place.

“Oh, come on, Roger. You can’t really tell me you’re bringing this up now.”

I heard my mother’s angry voice in the other office space across the hall, and I felt the hairs on the nape of my neck stand on end.

“It’s four-forty-five on a Friday. What do you expect us to do!? This was something you should’ve brought to us weeks ago, Roger. Do you know what this implicates you in?”

I drew in a deep breath. “Focus. Stand your ground when she comes in. Don’t let her take you down.”

My mother, the prominent lawyer that she had become, didn’t get there by playing nice. She didn’t come to be the influential woman she was in New York City without stepping on toes and bending the rules until they cried out for mercy. But, it was one of the many reasons why I wanted to grow up and be just like her. I wanted my own office, just like her. I wanted my own career as a prosecutor, just like her. I wanted to wear pencil skirts with stiletto heels, just like her. I wanted to wear a grin on my face and have people scatter in the wind, just like they did with her.

But, the idea of lounging around an island vacation home in the Aeolian Islands no worries called to me.

Unlike my mother, who had never taken a vacation in all her life.

I remembered the lonely summer days of my childhood. The vacations my father and I took before Mom had to back out at the last second due to work, or a court date. I understood the terrible toll her workaholic ways brought down onto our family.

One of the many reasons why my parents divorced.

So, I had one aspiration: to have the perfect life my mother thought she had. I wanted the career, the office, the prominence, the sway, and the family. All I had to do was make sure I followed all of her moves while correcting the wrong steps she made while I was growing up.

And it all started with getting myself, and her, on this vacation.

Then, I heard my mother’s heels clicking across the hall before a knock came at my cracked office door.

“Charlotte? You free for a moment?”

I recognized that tone of voice. “Don’t do this to me, Mom. We’ve got—.”

I glanced down at my alarm as she pushed my door open. “I just got a call from Roger—.”

I licked my lips, my fingers flying across the keyboard still. “I’m not letting you back out of this. You need this vacation as much as I do.”

“Sweetheart, it’s not that simple. The Striper Case is—.”

I finally looked up at her. “About to make you cancel this vacation, isn’t it?”

She leaned against my door frame. “You don’t have to cancel. The Striper Case isn’t yours. You’re still more than welcome to the two weeks you’ve taken off.”

“And I have every intention of making that flight Sunday morning. You need to be with me on it.”

“I can’t, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I have to stay here and keep working. Some things have surfaced and I can’t ignore them.”

I blinked. “Can you bring it with you?”

She furrowed her brow. “What?”

“Your work. Bring your laptop and the files. Your work phone, too. Maybe it’ll bring you some peace to work somewhere with an Italian view.”

“You know as well as I do that if I take work on this trip, you will as well. Which defeats the purpose of a blackout vacation, yeah?”

I drew in a sobering breath through my nose. “Mom, you promised me you wouldn’t do this.”

“And I’ll make it up to you. I promise. But it’s out of my hands. I have to stay behind.”

I heard my mother’s office phone ringing across the hall and I waved her away. I didn’t have the energy to continue fighting with her any longer. If this was the life she had chosen for herself, then I had no right to complain at her or tell her what I thought she should’ve been doing. Like upholding a promise to her daughter. But as I finished up my paperwork and submitted it, I made a solemn vow to myself.

I’ll never make the same mistakes she has.

I gathered my things as Mom’s voice rose in volume. I heard her slam her office door closed and it gave me pause. I’d been working with my mother ever since I started law school. I had worked at her side for almost eight years, and not once had I ever heard her slam that door. I furrowed my brow as I gathered my things. I walked over to her office door and pressed my ear to it, listening to her muffled voice grow more heated with every word that fell from her lips. I went against my better instinct and knocked on the door. Every single part of me screamed to get out of that place and finish packing my things.

But something ate at my gut. And I knew if I didn’t figure it out, I wouldn’t rest on this vacation.

“Mom?” I asked as I knocked again.

Her voice went silent, but she didn’t answer the door. “Yes, sweetheart?”

I sighed. “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to help while I’m still here? The flight doesn’t leave until Sunday, remember?”

“Charlotte, get out of here. Go enjoy yourself.”

I settled my hand against the doorknob. “Can I at least hug you before I head out?”

“Uh, why don’t I give you an extra-big hug when you get back? I really have to take this phone call.”

I giggled. “Roger still not leaving you alone?”

She paused. “Have a safe flight. And text me when you land before you do your blackout!”

I turned the doorknob. “Mom, are you sure everything’s all right?”

However, her office door was locked. And that worried me. Since when did Mom lock her office door?

“Sweetheart, I’m about to have a late night and you’re kind of holding me up,” she said.

I snickered. “Fine, Mom. Don’t know if I can get you a reimbursement for your half of the house.”

“Don’t worry about it. Have a good flight! Love you.”

I shook my head as I stepped away from the door. Something felt off, and I still didn’t have answers. But, if Mom wasn’t willing to let me help her, there wasn’t anything I could do. So, I headed for the exit and set my sights on the next two weeks.

Before her voice sounded behind me. “Oh, oh, oh! Don’t forget to be on the lookout for a dress if you’ve forgotten! We’ve got that client party the night before you leave. You don’t have much time to shop between now and then.”

I whipped around, smiling at her. “No worries! Already booked and attended a nice dress appointment last week. I’ll be there Saturday evening in a one-of-a-kind gown.”

She grinned. “That’s my girl. I’ll see you then if I don’t see you before.”

I waved goodbye before I put my shoulder into the door and walked outside. And when the honking of horns and the cursing of people met my ears, my eyes glanced around. Everywhere I looked, there was nothing but crime. Graffiti on the sides of abandoned buildings that I’d become fluent in, considering my job. Everywhere my eyes touched, there seemed to be the mark of a crew, or a family, or drugs that owned a specific corner. All of this chaos was the exact reason why I chose to follow in my mother’s footsteps. I had dreams of fixing this city. Of fixing the world, really. Eventually, I wanted to take over my mother’s practice. But I also wanted to do more with it.

I had government dreams with government pull and governmental authority. I had dreams of taking on the biggest, most idyllic cases and making sure my clients saw the justice they wanted for their loved ones. And as I slipped into my car, a smile spread across my cheeks. I knew I’d be able to get everything I wanted, and more. All it would take is some time, some effort, and a little bit of elbow grease.

After this client party and my two-week vacation, of course.

Chapter Two

Charlotte

I drew in a deep breath as I slid my hands down the front of my dress. The shimmering crimson red really stood out, especially since the dress fell off my shoulders and fit my bodice perfectly. The trumpeted skirt flared out a bit in back, like a miniature train, and the red heels I donned made me feel powerful as it rounded out my back and gave me curves I always used to sway clients to my side of things. I wasn’t ashamed of what I had, or using it. As Mom always told me, ‘there’s no shame in flirting if there’s a professional endgame’.

And these client parties we always got invited to served as a wonderful way to network.

If there was one thing I’d learned during my time beside my mother, it was this: crime begets crime. And when one victim is gathering in a place with other people, there’s surely at least one other victim in the mix that needs help. That needs representation. Which is why I wanted to put on my best for tonight. This particular client kept my mother’s business on retainer and accounted for thirty percent of our portfolio alone. So, it wasn’t as if we could turn down a party invite, even if we wanted to.

And why would we?

This was a great place to stake out more potential clients.

With my clutch purse loaded down with money, my cell phone, and cards, I made my way out of my bedroom. I had woefully outgrown my crummy studio apartment, but I tried stomaching it every single day. I had a goal in mind; a particular place I wanted to purchase for myself. It was less than two blocks away from Mom’s law firm I’d take over one day, and it came with a gorgeous view that didn’t come with the not-gorgeous price tag. It was perfect for me, and I’d had my eye on it for a few months now.

A fixer-upper three-bedroom, two-bathroom condo with a balcony, a hot tub, and panoramic views thanks to the tempered, tinted glass that lined the entire outside of the condo building.

I couldn't wait to make that sucker my own.

“One step at a time,” I whispered to myself.

I walked out of my apartment complex and flagged down a cab. Not the classiest way of getting to one of these things, but I wanted to save the money I would’ve spent on a town car and throw it at the down payment I’d need for my future home. So long as Mom didn’t see me stepping out of the cab, we wouldn’t have an issue.

However, once I made my way into the party, I found a completely different issue altogether.

As I made my way into the ballroom where the party was being held, I felt eyes staring at the profile of my face. I put on my best smile and scanned the room, trying to find the source of the burning. And when my eyes connected with a pair of brooding orbs that followed me wherever I walked, I felt a warm shiver trickle down my spine.

This man looked delectable, and the idea of a fun romp in bed before an early flight to Italy sounded like perfection.

Especially with the way he kept staring at me.

I kept shooting him glances and tossing him smiles as I made my way around the room. And the entire time, I felt his eyes on me. Most women wouldn’t have enjoyed that, of course. ‘Good boys’, and all that. But, me? I salivated after men who knew what they wanted and weren’t afraid to go get it.

And this man clearly wanted me.

I introduced myself and gave out my card to potential clients that I thought might need my prosecuting expertise. I shook hands with new people and flashed my best smile. I even gave out my number to a couple of people that wanted nothing more than to talk shop and explain their problems to me before I consulted them. In the middle of a party! But every time I tried to get myself closer to Mr. Mysterious, he seemed to disappear. One moment here, and the next? Vanished.

Until I found myself at the bar.

“A glass of dry red, please,” I said.

An accented voice sounded behind me. “I would’ve never taken you for a dry wine kind of woman.”

A grin slithered across my face as I turned around. “And I would’ve never taken you for a Valentino lover.”

He paused. “The suit is Armani.”

“Oh, no no,” I said as I raked my eyes down his body, “that much I know. Your cologne is what I’m referencing. Valentino.”

He chuckled. “‘For the man who needs everything’.”

I reached for my glass of wine the bartender set down. “Hell of a tagline, if you ask me.”

He leaned against the bar. “So, let’s get particulars out of the way: who are you, and why have I never seen you around before?”

I looked up at him from beneath my eyelashes. “I’m going to call you on your first bluff, because you do know me. If you invited my mother to this party, then you understand exactly who I am.”

He chuckled, and the sound washed over me like warm dark chocolate.

“What makes you think I’m the one throwing this party, Miss Particular?”

I giggled. “I know my way around these types of crowds, Mr. Mysterious.”

His eyes darkened. “How I’d love to. Let’s start with this question, then: who are you?”

“My name is Charlotte.”

He nodded. “Charlotte. Lovely name for a lovely woman.”

I sipped my wine. “And your name?”

“My friends call me ‘Teo’.”

“Short for…?”

He shrugged. “Not important.”

I set my wine glass down. “In my experience? Things people willingly hold back are always important. Even if they say otherwise.”

His eyes narrowed. “Who did you say your mother was again?”

“Gloria Pettigrew. I’m her daughter, Charlotte.”

He blinked. “Pettigrew.”

“Yes.”

His back stiffened and he took a step away from me. I watched a wall come down over his darkened eyes, which turned wary in the splitting of a second. His sharp jawline clenched and I saw his temple pulse. One of the many things I clocked when speaking with someone. My mother taught me a lot of things while growing up. How to tell when someone was lying. How to know when they were telling the truth. How to recognize when someone was about to lie, or make a break for it, or haul off and hit me.

She also taught me how to tell when someone was hiding something.

And Mr. Mysterious had a big secret to hide.

“I hope you enjoy the party, Miss Pettigrew.”

I unclasped my purse. “Here. If you need to get in touch with me or anything, here’s my—.”

I didn’t even get my card held out in front of me before he vanished into the crowd. I whipped around, my eyes following him and that navy-blue suit as long as I could before he disappeared into nothingness. Confusion filled my body. This man named ‘Teo’ had gotten lost in the crowd as quickly as he had appeared at my side.

And dread filled my gut.

I scanned the room, looking for any signs that my mother and I were in trouble. I had a bad feeling about this party, despite the glitz and the fashion and the sparkling jewelry. To the outside eye, this looked like a charity ball. A place where the richest of the rich gathered to donate the money coming out of their ears to a worthy cause to make themselves look better.

But everywhere I looked, there was evidence of a cover-up.

I noticed the armed guards at every entryway and exit point. I noticed the waiters and waitresses had earbuds in their ears. And every once in a while, a man shuffled by me to pick up his drink and I caught a glimpse of twinkling metal on his hip.

Just about every man I came across in this place was armed with a gun.

What kind of client party is this?

I reached for my wine glass and threw the rest of it back. Then I picked up my purse. I needed to get out of there anyway. I needed to finish the last-minute packing I still hadn’t done. With a cool head and a calm outer facade, I made my way for the entrance. All I had to do was get out of this party and flag a cab down, then I’d be home free.

Ready to make my way to Italy for two weeks and forget about the creepy feeling I got in this ballroom.

“Charlotte! There you are. Over here, sweetheart!”

I cringed at the sound of my mother’s voice before I turned around. And I forced myself to put on my best smile as I sauntered over to her.

“I thought I’d never find you in this crowd,” I said.

She wrapped her arm around me. “Gentlemen, this is my daughter, Charlotte. She’ll be taking over the firm for me when I finally choose to step down.”

A man in a gray suit barked with laughter. “Which will be never, Gloria. You know that.”

Mom smiled politely. “Well, I’ll die at some point and someone will have to take over that place.”

I hissed at her. “Mom, seriously?”

She shrugged. “It’s true! Can’t fight against the truth, can we?”

Gray Suit grinned. “But you can scoot it over a bit.”

I paused. “Wait, what?”

Mom hopped back in. “Charlotte, this is Niles and Raymond Buttress.”

I offered them my hand. “It’s lovely to meet you both.”

Gray Suit—also named Niles—shook my hand. “Lovely to meet you.”

Raymond shook my hand next. “Might I be able to secure a spot on your lovely dance card for the evening, Miss Charlotte?”

Mom smiled brightly. “I’m sure she’d love it. Right, sweetheart?”

However, as I looked over at my mother with Raymond pressing a kiss against the back of my hand, all I thought about was Mr. Mysterious.

And why he ran off so quickly when he figured out my name.

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