Legally Tender

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Bruce pulled a card out of his pants pocket and toyed with it as if it were a poker chip. “Come on, Julie,” he cajoled. “Call him for me.”

“I shouldn’t,” she said, wavering a little under the deliberate high wattage.

“He’ll be glad you did. Trust me.” Those blue eyes twinkled, and Christina shifted her weight to the opposite leg, again acknowledging that Bruce Lancaster’s charm affected her, as well.

As for Julie, she picked up the phone and dialed. “Yes, this is Julie in reception. Mr. Bruce Lancaster of Lancaster and Morris is here in the lobby and wishes to speak with Mr. Gray.”

Her gaze darted back from Bruce to Christina. “There’s some female with him.” Julie lowered her voice. “She’s wearing Prada. I recognize it from last month’s Cosmo.” She waited a moment. “I’ll tell them.” Julie replaced the receiver. “Mr. Gray is unfortunately indisposed, but his legal counsel, Elaine Gray, is on her way down.”

“Thank you,” Bruce said. He cupped Christina’s elbow and moved her away from the reception desk. “It had to be your Prada. Elaine Gray never comes down, either.”

“What—your charm can’t sway her?”

Bruce grinned again. “Not since I went to prom with Marilee Becker, instead, no. She’s thirty-two, went to Washington University, worked for a St. Louis firm and then returned home two years ago after a failed relationship.”

“Out of curiosity, where did you go?”

Bruce turned slightly. “To Morrisville High School, like everyone else around here.”

“No. I mean to law school. I just realized that not only do I not have any business cards yet, but I also have no idea about your background.”

He leaned closer, and she stopped herself from stepping back. “I went to undergrad at Purdue and then Indiana University in Bloomington for my J.D. Yes, IU’s public, but going there’s a family tradition and it’s one of the best law schools in the country. Ah, here she is. Smile, Christina. You’re our ace. Make her worry.”

Bruce extended his hand. “Elaine, how are you? You’re looking exceedingly well. I’m sorry we just dropped in and I’m so glad you could take time out of your busy schedule to see us. Let me introduce you to Christina Jones, Lancaster and Morris’s newest partner.”

“Nice to meet you,” Elaine Gray said politely as she and Christina sized each other up. Christina was five-nine, and Elaine probably five-ten. Bruce was taller than them both, but not by much.

Elaine’s hair was platinum blond, almost white when compared with Christina’s natural honey-wheat color. Up on the latest fashions from when she’d been Kyle’s wife, Christina recognized a Dolce & Gabbana suit when she saw one, and that Elaine sported the latest haircut. Elaine extended her hand and gripped Christina’s. When she let go, Christina resisted the urge to flex her fingers to revive them. “I take it you’re new in town,” Elaine said.

“Relocated from Cincinnati,” Christina confirmed.

“Well, I hope you like it here. The shopping’s terrible. I have to make quarterly trips to New York to find anything decent to wear. So tell me, what brings you both by? Our meeting regarding your little matter isn’t until next week.”

Christina kept her instinctive bristle hidden. Title VII sexual harassment and ethnic discrimination were not “little matters.”

Bruce, however, remained calm, as if he’d known exactly how Elaine would react and exactly how to play her. “One of our clients, María Gonzales, returned to work today. Her supervisor has been threatening to dock her pay if she leaves her work area. Unfortunately, because the women’s facilities are inoperable, María must leave the area in order to carry out basic bodily functions. Elaine, my client should not have to fear going to work. Her supervisor cannot harass her for legitimate health and safety issues. On her behalf, I have contacted OSHA, and my paralegal will also keep our EEOC mediator abreast of this development.”