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He had been fighting his feelings for Marissa for years. Griffin noticed her the very first day he walked through the doors of Hamilton, Hamilton and Clark. At the time, Marissa was in college—too young. She was also Jacob Hamilton Jr.’s daughter, which made her completely off-limits.
Now Marissa was all grown up. However, Griffin wanted to ensure that his career was firmly established before he settled down, which meant that falling in love with her would be a distraction he could not afford.
* * *
Marissa stepped out of the elevator and saw that Griffin was walking a client to the door. He stepped aside to let her enter through the mahogany doors.
She gave him a tiny smile of gratitude but did not linger.
A few minutes later, Griffin appeared in the doorway of her office. “You all right?” he asked. His gaze was as soft as a caress.
“I’m fine,” Marissa responded with a nod.
Griffin’s expression showed that he did not believe her. He walked all the way into her office and said, “Marissa, what’s really going on? You look troubled about something.”
She looked up, meeting his gaze. “It has nothing to do with work, Griff.”
“Okay,” he said, quickly backing off. “But if you need to talk…about any of your cases, you know where to find me.”
She forced a smile. “I know. Thanks.”
He was still watching her. Marissa thought she detected a flicker in his intense eyes, sending her pulse racing alarmingly.
Marissa noted how well the black suit fit his six-foot frame. She was entranced by his compelling personage. She found him very attractive. Griffin wore his hair cropped close and his dark brown eyes complemented his warm brown complexion. At thirty years old, Griffin tended to treat her as if she were years younger, when in fact there was only a four-year age difference between them.
She checked her watch. “I have about five minutes to prepare for a meeting,” Marissa announced.
Taking the hint, Griffin nodded and headed to the door. “Don’t forget what I said.”
“I won’t,” Marissa responded as he walked out. Something in Griffin’s manner always soothed her, which was why she’d often confided in him in the past. However, things had changed between them in the past few months, to the point that Marissa was somewhat surprised when Griffin had ventured into her office just now. Lately, the only time he stopped by was to discuss a case.
She released a soft sigh. Marissa had wanted to confide in Griffin, but the risk was much too high. She did not want what Harper had told her leaking out. She intended to have a conversation with Azure, as well. Clearly someone was out to hurt her family.
She was not about to let that happen.
After her meeting, Marissa worked in her office until three o’clock. It was a struggle for her to concentrate and she felt queasy, so she decided to go home. She packed up her briefcase, intending to get some work done there—locked in her bedroom. She just wanted to be alone.
Ten minutes later, she was in her BMW X5 and pulling out of the parking structure.
A wave of disappointment flowed through Marissa. After what Harper told her, she felt that everything she’d ever known about her parents had been a lie.
She had never heard her parents argue—they had always been very loving toward each other. So what would make her mother cheat on a man she proclaimed to love more than life itself?
As she neared home, Marissa released a soft sigh. She could hardly wait to get to her room and soak in a hot bath.
The Hamiltons had lived in the West Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia since the founding of the law firm. The neighborhood had a rich Revolutionary War history and featured a mosaic of restaurants, shops and cultural venues.
Marissa’s eyes watered at the sight of Integrity, the family homestead. She loved the late-1800s Victorian-style home that had been a staple in her family for two generations. All of her friends used to tease Marissa about living in a castle that came complete with turret and gargoyles. Her family later added a swimming pool and basketball and tennis courts.
She walked into the house, struggling to keep her expression blank. Marissa was hoping to avoid her mother and escape to her room. She was not ready to face Jeanette yet. She was still in shock from the news that Harper had given her.
“Marissa, dear,” her mother greeted from the kitchen. She met Marissa at the bottom of the back stairs carrying a bottle of water. “How was your day at the office?”
“It was fine,” she muttered in response.
“Your father and I are having dinner at Devon’s tonight,” Jeanette announced. “Why don’t you join us? Your sister’s going to meet us there.”
Devon Seafood Grill was a favorite of hers, but Marissa really could not stomach being around her mother right now. “I’ll just make something here,” she told Jeanette. “I brought some work home with me.”
“Dear, are you feeling well?” her mother inquired as she scanned Marissa’s face. “You look a little peaked.”
“I’m fine,” Marissa lied. “I need to get started on this work.”
She walked briskly out of the kitchen before Jeanette could utter a response.
Marissa rushed up the stairs and to her bedroom. She dropped her briefcase and purse on the bed before taking off for her bathroom.
When she walked out a few minutes later, she felt weak, but the queasiness was gradually dissipating.
She changed into a pair of sweats and an oversized
T-shirt, then climbed into her bed and opened her briefcase.
There was a soft knock on her door before her mother popped her head inside.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you, but I thought you could use some hot tea,” Jeanette said as she walked into Marissa’s bedroom. “I can tell that you are not feeling well.”
Marissa accepted the tea with a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
“Have you considered going to see Dr. Wallace?”
“Mother, I’m just tired,” Marissa responded with a small sigh. “I don’t need to see a doctor.”
“Are you getting enough rest?” Jeanette asked. “I know how you lawyers tend to burn the candle at both ends.”
Marissa was touched by her mother’s concern, but she was also angry with her. She cleared her throat awkwardly before saying, “That’s probably it, but I’ll be fine. I’m going to take a hot bath and turn in pretty early tonight.”
Jeanette studied her for a moment. “Marissa—”
“Mother, I really need to get some work done,” she interjected. “The sooner I get it done, the sooner I can have that bath and get some rest.”
“Okay, dear. I’ll get out of here.” Her mother backed off and headed to the door. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Marissa shook her head sadly. She would never be able to look at her mother in the same way. Their relationship would never be the same.
Chapter 2
Thoughts of Marissa had consumed Griffin much of the evening and again this morning as he drove to work. He could not explain why he felt such a connection to this woman whose life experience was so different from his. The why really didn’t matter, since Griffin did not intend to pursue her.
When Marissa had started working at the firm, she and Griffin had spent a lot of time together when Jacob assigned him to be a mentor to her. He was one of the few nonrelatives working at the firm and Jacob had thought Griffin would be a good fit for his daughter.
Griffin immediately recognized the desire and dedication in Marissa to become a successful attorney. While she lacked the confidence of her older sister, Jillian—who had quickly made a name for herself with a high-profile case involving a lawsuit between a rapper she’d gone to school with and his record label—Marissa had what it took to make it. She was only with the firm one year and she still had a lot to learn. He knew exactly how she felt; he’d been in that position himself years ago when Albert Clark had hired him.
Albert often told Griffin how much he reminded him of Albert at that age—an intelligent, motivated student with a passion for the law and no connections. He often advised Griffin to focus on his career for the time being.
Griffin took his advice. He grew up in the inner city and was the first person in his family to attend a four-year university, let alone obtain his law degree. Many of his classmates had gone to law school because they really did not have a clue as to what they wanted to do in life, but for Griffin, studying law was his dream.
For the Hamiltons, law seemed to be a family tradition. Griffin respected them all because they were good attorneys and they all seemed to have a passion for the law. He shared that same passion and drive. Griffin worked as hard as anyone else in the firm, if not harder at times. He wanted to prove himself and hoped to make partner one day.
To do that, he knew he’d have to make sacrifices, but he was constantly struggling where Marissa was concerned. She dominated his thoughts, causing him to fight his feelings on a daily basis. He would not risk the wrath of Jacob Hamilton, although Marissa was certainly worth it.
He really cared for Marissa, but constantly reminded himself that he could not let his emotions get in the way.
Too late.
* * *
Marissa stood in front of her full-length mirror eyeing her reflection. The antique mirror had once belonged to her paternal grandmother. The reflective glass offered a glimpse of how much Marissa resembled her father’s mother.
She’s Uncle Frank’s mother, as well.
Marissa shook the thought of her uncle’s affair with her mother out of her mind. She turned to get a side-view look at her appearance. Marissa’s mouth tightened for a brief second. She removed the dress she had just slipped into moments before and tossed it carelessly across the room. It landed on her king-sized bed, joining a small pile of other abandoned clothing.
Marissa walked barefoot, crossing the room quickly. She entered her walk-in closet with purpose. She regretted not taking time the night before to find something to wear, and she did not want to be late for work. She had a meeting at nine o’clock with a client.
She chose a navy dress with a white Peter Pan collar and an empire waist. Marissa slipped into a pair of navy-and-white high-heeled pumps to match. She walked over to the mirror to check her reflection once more. Marissa brushed back her long brown hair and pulled it into a ponytail, securing it with a navy barrette. She scrutinized her appearance once more.
Although she was twenty-six years old, everyone seemed to think that she looked years younger. Maybe in time, Marissa would come to appreciate being considered so youthful looking, but for now she absolutely hated it.
As the youngest of Jacob and Jeanette’s five children, she was babied by everyone. Growing up, she had always received special treatment, but lately, she had begun to feel that no one really took her seriously. Especially…
Marissa shook her head. No, she did not want to think about him.
“I am not going to let you ruin my day,” she whispered.
Marissa glanced at the clock on her bedside table and then grabbed her purse. She needed to leave now if she planned to make it to the firm on time.
Her parents were seated at the table when she entered the kitchen.
“Good morning,” Marissa said to no one in particular as she rushed in, grabbed a bottle of water, blew kisses toward them both and rushed out of the house.
Her father followed her. “Hey, that’s all we get?”
Marissa smiled as she opened her car door. “Sorry about that, Daddy. I had a late start this morning and I have a meeting at nine. Are we still on for lunch?”
Jacob nodded.
“See you then,” she responded, fighting back tears. “I need to leave.”
He pressed a keypad on the wall to open the garage door.
Marissa waved and then backed her car out.
She loved her father dearly and it was killing her inside to carry this secret. Marissa could not understand how her mother could be so deceitful. How could she risk tearing her family apart by having an affair with Uncle Frank? He was her father’s brother!
Poor Aunt Vanessa, she thought silently.
By the time Marissa arrived at the office, she was focused on business. She had always wanted to follow her siblings into law and worked very hard to make that happen, which included graduating from law school with honors.
Marissa was intent on showing her brothers and Jillian that she was every bit as good as they were, since they still seemed to treat her like the little baby sister who needed to be sheltered, despite the fact that there was only a five-year difference between her and Jake, her oldest brother.
Marissa wanted to be taken seriously by everyone, including her family. First, as an attorney, and then as a woman.
* * *
“Marissa, are you busy?”
She glanced up from her computer monitor to see Harper’s new wife. “Azure, come in.”
Azure closed the door behind her. “Harper told me about his conversation with you,” she announced as she sat down in one of the visitor chairs.
“Someone contacted you anonymously claiming that my mother and my uncle had an affair.”
Azure nodded.
“And that person also said that I am a result of that affair.” It was more of a statement than a question. “Is there any proof of this, other than Uncle Frank confessing the truth to Harper?” Marissa wanted to know. “Do they have pictures of them leaving a hotel or something more scandalous?”
“Not that I know of,” Azure responded. “Right now we have no other information, but in situations like this—all that is needed is a rumor, whether true or false.”
Marissa settled back in her chair and crossed her legs. “So, what does this person want for this little tidbit? Money?”
“There’s been no demand for money or anything. Marissa, I haven’t taken this to my editor. You have to know that I am going to do everything I can to see that this accusation never sees the light of day.”
“If your magazine doesn’t publish the story, then I’m sure this person will go somewhere else. I really would like to know what’s in it for them to try and ruin our lives.” Marissa shook her head sadly.
“I can’t imagine how you must be feeling right now,” Azure told her. “I’m so sorry, Marissa.”
“I still find it hard to believe that my…my mother could do something like this to my dad. They always seemed so happy and in love.”
“I won’t let this get out, Marissa.”
“It may be out of your hands, Azure. Unfortunately, we will all have to wait and see if the other shoe falls.”
Chapter 3
“Marissa, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me,” a young woman said as they walked out of the courtroom.
Smiling, she responded, “You’re welcome, Rita.”
