Chapter 337 Prospective Clientele
Ella
A slight heaviness was felt when I lifted the omate box, hinting at something more substantial than just fabric within.
With bated breath, I carefully tugged the ribbon apart and lifted the lid to unveil its contents. Inside lay an intricately crafted dress in a silver hue that perfectly complemented my skin tone. It shimmered as I held it in the light, its sheer beauty leaving me momentarily breathless.
My fingers brushed the soft fabric with a reverence, the sensation eliciting a soft gasp from my lips. But as lovely as the dress was, it was the necklace nestled beside it that truly caught my eye.
The delicate, shimmering stones caught the dim office light in a dance of colors that made it seem as if a fragment of the cosmos had been captured and presented to me.
After a moment’s hesitation, I took another glance at the note; that Logan would be picking me up soon for the luncheon, which meant that I had to start getting ready now.
I carefully exchanged my work clothes for the dress and clasped the necklace around my neck. Turning to face the mirror, I hardly recognized the woman staring back.
The dress enhanced every curve, and the necklace added a touch of opulence that made me feel… pretty. It had felt like so long since I had felt this way. We had been working so tirelessly on our three cases that my image was often at the very back of my mind.
Lost in my own reflection, a sudden knock at my office door startled me.
“Oh no,” I whispered, suddenly feeling out of place in my own workspace. The realization that I was dressed up so extravagantly in a professional setting sent my heart into overdrive. Taking a deep breath, I called out with a shaky voice, “Come in.”
The door opened to reveal Sarah, my somewhat prickly coworker. Her dark eyes widened in surprise, and she took a moment to scan me from head to toe. I could feel my cheeks heat up under her gaze. The mix of judgment and intrigue was hard to discern.
She tilted her head, indicating the box on my desk with a sly smirk. “What’s this? Is that a gift from your boyfriend?”
I swallowed hard, cursing myself for not hiding the box. “What do you need, Sarah?”
Shrugging off my avoidance, Sarah approached, dropping a stack of paperwork onto my desk. “These need your attention.”
I blinked in surprise. Ever since that challenging case I had won, Sarah had become a tad less abrasive, almost civil, in fact. But this was too direct, even for her. “Isn’t this something you should be handling?”
She merely smirked, arching one eyebrow. “Thought you might want to handle it considering your newfound… fame.”
“Is that it?” I asked, attempting to regain some semblance of control over the situation. She studied me for a moment, the edge to her gaze softening just a fraction. “Yeah, that’s it. And, for the record, you look… nice.”
Before I could formulate a response, she was already out the door, leaving me in a whirlwind of emotions. The warmth of a compliment from Sarah, however backhanded, was a new experience. Maybe she did have a heart somewhere beneath that tough exterior
Or perhaps, like everyone else, she was merely adjusting to the shift in dynamics after my recent success When I was alone again, I turned back toward the mirror to take one last look at my appearance.
Sunlight reflected off the ornate necklace Logan had sent, casting prismatic splashes around the room as I moved around. It was surreal, wearing such an exquisite piece given to me by a man.
Growing up in the lap of luxury, of course my father had occasionally treated me to gifts like this, but it somehow felt different now that I was a woman. And Logan was different, too: where my dad often when for the understated sort of wealth, Logan was no stranger to blatant displays of opulence.
I twisted around, inspecting myself in the full- length mirror, the dress draped gracefully around my figure. Every detail, from the shimmering fabric to the elegant cut, was testament to the opulence I’d been introduced to since my connection with Logan deepened.
Just then, the light chime of my phone brought me out of my contemplation. A message from Logan simply read, “I’m outside.”
Taking a deep breath, I opened my front door. As expected, Logan stood there, looking striking in his finely tailored suit. He glanced up, and his eyes locked onto mine. The intensity in them made my breath catch.
“You look lovely, Ella,” he murmured, his voice resonating with genuine appreciation.
A blush warmed my cheeks. “Thank you. But, Logan, why the dress and the necklace? They must have cost a fortune.”
He took a step closer, lifting a hand to gently touch the necklace. “For me, it’s nothing. You deserve to feel and look beautiful at these events. And besides… appearances and all that.” The sincerity in his eyes told me he meant every word.
I let out a soft sigh. “I just don’t want you spending money on me unnecessarily.”
He grinned, mischief lighting up his features. “Consider it an investment.”
Before I could probe further, Logan led me to his car, opening the door for me like a true gentleman. The drive was a short one, ending at a scenic venue overlooking the sea.
The air was infused with the salty tang of the ocean, and soft music played in the background. Instantly, I recognized the event’s nature-a wedding shower, and from the glimpses of Harry and Marina at the center of it all, it was clear for whom the celebration was.
My fingers brushed against Logan’s as we walked side by side, a silent acknowledgment of our unspoken connection.
As we moved through the gathering, whispers floated around us, punctuated by the occasional gasp of recognition. It seemed my involvement in that notorious case hadn’t gone unnoticed by the high society frequenting events like these.
A lady, impeccably dressed, approached me with an air of authority. “You’re Ella, correct?”
I nodded. “Yes, and you are?”
She extended a hand, bedecked in diamonds. “Madelaine. I saw the news coverage of your recent case. Remarkable work, truly.”
Taken aback, I managed a polite smile. “Thank you. It was a challenging situation, but we managed.”
Madelaine leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’ve been considering having someone with your expertise handle a… delicate matter for me. The current lawyer I have is good, but not great.”
There was that word: ‘delicate’. Something about it told me that it wasn’t actually delicate in the slightest.
I hesitated for a moment. That last mafia case had been perilous in ways I hadn’t anticipated. “I appreciate the offer, Madelaine, but I’m quite swamped at the moment. Perhaps in the future?”
She arched a finely plucked brow, her gaze scrutinizing. “Very well, but do consider my offer. Opportunities like these don’t come often.”
Returning to Logan’s side, I felt a growing unease settle itself in my stomach. More mafia clients weren’t on my wishlist, especially after the last close call. Logan was one thing: we had an arrangement. But representing these sorts of people in court, helping them get away with their crimes? It would ruin everything I stood for.
