The Lawyer by Charlotte E Hart
Chapter Two
WILLOW
Iclamp the straightening irons over the section of hair between my fingers and slowly draw them down to smooth out my eternally unruly locks. After I finish this daily ritual, I pull all my hair back into a sophisticated bun, suitable for any personal assistant.
With my hair tamed, my wardrobe pressed and presentable, I allow my only indulgence in such a stuffy job—my shoes. I slide back the wardrobe door and marvel at the array of choices in front of me. It’s my first day with Nina, so I opt for a more muted hue. A violet peep toe with scalloped edges, and as I slip my foot inside, I allow a private Cinderella moment for myself.
Grabbing my coat and bag, I head off to the office.
I’ve been making this journey to Broderick Media for a little over eight years. I joined as a necessity rather than anything else. I was desperate for a job back then, and they were hiring office administrators. A very junior role to begin with, but as I picked up the work quickly and efficiently, I've been promoted and moved up in position and salary.
Looking back now, I hardly recognise the disorganised and grief-stricken girl who joined that office. She was adrift and searching for anything to cling to—searching for hope. Thankfully, she found that refuge in the small rituals of daily work.
The grey clouds ahead are a disappointment for early summer. There should be warmth and light in the air, not the cover of clouds. But that’s London for you. I weave in and around others on the way to the Tube and make my commute into the centre. As I do on most trips, I look down and examine the multitudes of footwear on display—trainers, flip-flops, sandals, brogues all in different shapes and styles. You can tell a lot about a person by their choice of shoe. Do they invest in a shoe that they will undoubtedly be in for hours on end? Or do they simply buy a cheap pair and have done with it?
It doesn’t take the whole journey for me to size up all of my companion passengers mentally, and I’m left to wonder what level of torture I’m in for today. I shouldn’t be so ungrateful. Nina was supportive and friendly when we worked together a few years ago. That she even thought of me for her maternity cover should be a huge compliment. After all, she’s now the PA to the big boss.
She’d been working for one of the other executives when she was promoted, handling a lot of his work even before he took up a regular position here back in the spring. Now, he’s the CEO. Although, there’s to be some sort of official thing in the next few weeks. Nina’s timing to get knocked up is impeccable.
I’ll have the next few weeks to shadow and learn everything I'm required to do. A part of me is insulted. I mean, how hard can it be to manage someone’s calendar? I’ve been an assistant for plenty of other staff, and I had a year of business and management under my belt before I had to give everything up. I'm more than qualified.
I make the familiar journey to Fleet Street and into the Broderick building, swiping my ID pass through the turnstiles next to the impressive reception desk. Instead of floor six, I hit the button for the twentieth floor after slotting my ID badge in the reader, but I’m met with an irritated, red warning flash.
Repeating the process, as more people join the lift, I end up rolling my eyes and exiting to go back towards the receptionist.
“Excuse me. I’m needed on the twentieth floor.” I glance at my watch and note the time. If this doesn’t move along, I’ll be late on my first day, and there’s no way I want that, even if I don’t want the job.
“You’ll need clearance. Have you seen HR?” She doesn’t look up at me but frantically taps her nails on the keyboard in front of her.
“Yes. It should all be cleared. Call Nina West please, and let her know I’m here.”
I turn away and wait, my pulse growing stronger as the minutes slip away, growing closer to my expected time. After all, I’ve not met Mr Broderick yet. And I can only assume tardiness won’t be tolerated.
“Willow, I’m sorry. This should have all been sorted. I’ll have it fixed by the end of the day," Nina greets as she waddles towards me from the lifts. She already looks like she's about to burst.
“No problem.” I offer her a kind smile and push back the small flare of anxiety.
“I see your style of footwear hasn’t changed.” She nods to my heels.
“No, sorry. That’s not going to be a problem, right? Mr Broderick doesn’t have a particular dress code requirement?” Nobody has ever complained about the height or colour of my heels before.
“I doubt it. But just be warned that the job may be varied. You won’t be at a desk all the time. You can run in those, right?”
Is she serious?
I smile again, knowing full well I can handle myself in these shoes, as we ride up to the heady heights of the top floor and she gives me a brief tour.
“Right. There’s a handful of key offices located on the twentieth floor. Mr Broderick, senior. He’s been the only CEO to date, so Landon Broderick taking over is a big deal around here. Our office, the Director of Finance, HR and Marketing plus assistants are all on this floor. With the boardroom, media room and break rooms over there.”
She makes a good job of covering the two main corridors of the floor and gesturing to the main rooms in quick fashion. Then she leads me through a glazed door, which has one main desk with a smaller desk next to it. My desk, presumably.
“This is us. Mr Broderick’s office is through that door.” She points to a sleek, black door that’s in keeping with the black and white decor. “He has a direct door to his office as well, but so far, only his father has used it. All his meetings and visitors come through here. Tea, coffee and other drinks, in the corner.”
She walks around her black, glass desk and sits in her chair. Although, chair doesn’t do it justice. It's like a throne compared to a normal description of the word.
Nina nods to my desk, which has been set up next to hers.
“Your logins have been created and transferred. You have full access to his diary, appointments, files and expenses.” A tablet, phone, and computer, all brand new, sit gleaming at me. “There’s a credit card in the top drawer, already linked to the phone for payments.”
Everything looks so sterile. So measured. There’s not a post-it or scrap of paper out of place.
“I’ll let you have a few moments to log on to the systems and familiarise yourself. You’re well aware of our systems. They don’t change, but we can spend some time later going over the next few weeks. There’s a lot to cover before I leave.” Nina stands and heads, at a leisurely pace, back to the small refreshment station.
I watch her pull mugs and start the coffee machine, filling it with water and pulling those little pod things from the top drawer. My hand glides over the mouse and wiggles it to life, sparking the monitor into action. The sleek keyboard matches everything else, and my fingers fly across the keys to enter my credentials.
I do the same with the phone and tablet, setting up my security and passwords. The tablet has a stylus, so I won’t be requiring pen and paper—God forbid I mess up the pristine environment.
Nina has a mug of coffee on my desk and is back scrolling over her screen.
“Mr Broderick has been away in Paris, but he's due back today. We usually have at least one weekly planning meeting for his schedule. That’s already in your calendar. Plus, there will be daily briefings, minutes, plus other arrangements to take care of.” She turns to me, and I can’t mistake the look of doubt that skits across her features.
“Nina, if you didn’t think I could do this job, why did you recommend me?” I challenge. So far, there isn’t one single thing that will tax my abilities.
“Oh, please, Willow, I know you’re capable. But …” she tails off, and I want to press her, but we hear a commotion from next door that interrupts us. Nina winces—physically shudders at the sound—and I have to wonder what type of character Landon Broderick really is.
After the outburst, there’s no further noise from the office. I turn to the computer and go over the next few weeks, making a note of anything I’m not sure of. There are file names and details associated with most of the appointments or tasks. At least Nina is as efficient as I remember.
“Nina!” The intercom blares, and a short crack of her name sounds around the office.
“Now, just bring your iPad and follow my lead.” She takes a visible breath before shuffling out of our office and into the adjoining room.
The black door opens, and I follow Nina through. She takes a seat in front of Mr Broderick’s desk, and I join her, crossing my legs and resting the tablet on my thigh, stylus in hand.
He’s standing with his back to us, looking out of the vast window behind his desk. All I can make out is that he’s tall, has broad shoulders, and so far, manners befitting his name and title.
“I want to look over the contract for the Foxton Herald. And I need time with my father—uninterruptible—he’ll try and dodge me at Earlwood, so I want it on company time. What’s on the agenda for this week?” He’s yet to turn around and simply runs off his demands to Nina.
I note down each of his requests.
“You have the first meeting with the author covering the Broderick feature. And the guestlist for the ball needs approval. Your usual standing items with department heads─”
“Yes. Right. Make sure my diary is clear on Thursday from three, and I want to speak to my sister.”
“Which one?” Nina responds.
“Ivy, of course,” he snaps, turning and firing his rebuke at her directly. He sounds like a prize jerk, and I take a deep breath at the prospect of what I may have to endure over the coming year. Poor Nina. Now the timing of her pregnancy doesn’t feel so inconvenient.
Nina nods. “Is that everything, Mr Broderick?” He’s turned back to the window already. I’m a little surprised that she hasn’t introduced me, or that he hasn't noticed there’s a stranger sitting in his office.
“Yes,” he says to the window.
She doesn’t say another word and heads back to the connecting office door. I’m astounded by the change in Nina in the presence of this man. Surely, he’s not a tyrant worthy of such action?
“Mr Broderick, I’m Willow Etherington. I’ll be filling in for Nina when she’s on leave.” I stand and offer my hand to him, ready for him to turn around, and surprised that he hasn’t even acknowledged me yet. I’m positive I’m not invisible.
But he doesn’t turn around. “Very well.”
My arm drops and the professional smile I’ve mastered slips from my lips.
“Willow,” Nina calls. I look over to her, and her eyes are bulging from her head as she beckons me into our office.
She closes the door firmly behind me. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Introducing myself. I’m a little shocked you didn’t, actually.” I can feel my brows knitting together in annoyance, but I fight to calm myself and let it slide off my back.
“Well, wait next time. Mr Broderick likes things a certain way. He’s very particular.”
“Very particular doesn’t mean he gets to be rude, or a bully, Nina.” I go back to my desk and set about finding the contract and space in his diary for his requests.
“Nina!” The same sharp snap of his voice rings into the room, and Nina immediately jumps to attention. This time heading to the coffee machine.
“Mr Broderick likes a coffee after our briefing in the morning.” She says as the machine does its thing.
“And will Mr Broderick tell me what he needs, or just call my name and expect me to know?” I look at Nina, stunned. And now a little resolved to the fact I may well be driven to throw said coffee over Mr Broderick if he doesn’t get that stick out his arse.
“He's really not bad, Willow. He’s just very organised and very busy. You won’t see him often and he doesn’t need checking on every few minutes.” She starts over to the door.
“Wait.” I stop her and hurry to take the coffee from her hand. “Let me.” I take the small tray and walk confidently to the door, a little tap before entering.
“Mr Broderick.” My legs stride across to his desk, and I place the tray on the edge of the desk. For someone who’s been back only a short while, there are files stacked high in front of him. I pause to see if he’ll acknowledge me this time, but he goes on reading, seemingly engrossed in his tablet.
“Can I get you anything else?” My voice sounds breathy, and I squeeze my eyes shut in mortification for a moment. But it works.
He lifts his eyes up to where I’m standing before him, and then he simply drops his eyes back to his screen. “That will be all.”
For that brief moment, he hit me with a look that doesn’t disguise how appealing he is. Dirty blond hair, pale eyes that make me think of ice in winter, and all presented in a suit-encased frame that will be physically intimidating when he stands over me.
I blink myself out of the stunned moment, and remember he’s just dismissed me. That scowl certainly hides the sexy look he could no doubt master if he could just get his head out of his arse.
~
For the first time in eight years, I’ve let the person I’m working for get to me. Even the hour home didn’t give me enough time to clear my mind. After the coffee, the rest of the day was uneventful. Nina talked me through the most critical projects that Mr Broderick was involved in, the responsibilities that I need to ensure he’s covered, and a few other things. Nothing too difficult. But I couldn’t shake the dismissive attitude Mr Broderick had. Like we were truly beneath him.
“Ash, I’m home,” I call out as I finally make it through the door.
“Great. I’m out.” He lumbers down the stairs, grabs his jacket and shoves past me to leave.
“Hey, watch the attitude.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
The door slams in my face.
After the day I've had, dealing with Ash is the last thing I want. He’s my little brother. A grown man, but still a baby at twenty-one. He comes and goes as he pleases, despite my repeated pleas to get a decent job. Of course, he has no incentive to. I pay for everything.
The mortgage was paid off when Mum and Dad died, and I’ve been working since then to cover the rest. Sure, Ash does the odd run in a job when he wants something, but he doesn’t have anything permanent or stable, and I've given up trying to force him, as long as he's safe.
The lure of a hot bubble bath is too much. I climb the stairs, place my shoes back in their home, and set about drawing a bath. Maybe then I’ll be able to forget the drawbacks to my new job and concentrate on getting through the next year.