Boss Lady

Chapter 1

“Ms. Alexander the new claims have been brought in. Would you like to review them before or after you go on your lunch break?”

I stared my secretary, Cassandra, straight in the face just trying to figure out whether or not she was trying to make a joke. If the new claims were here then there was no time for lunch. I couldn’t have my client waiting simply because I decided to step out for lunch. The world constantly moves and we have to choose whether we will move with it or not. Lunch? That was out of the question.

“Take them to me, I’ll review them now.” I said flatly. It was a little after midday and I didn’t have the time or energy to try being hospitable.

She nodded then ran off immediately. I shook my head then went back to the documents that Avery’s Group of Companies had sent me just two days earlier. As I did a small smile came unto my face. Just a few years ago companies like Avery’s would have even considered looking at us much less hiring us. When I took over the company from my dear father, may he rest in peace, I had to make a decision and that decision was to never settle for second best. Alexander and Pearson would be the firm that everyone wanted to hire for all their legal representations. That was the standard I set for the firm and that was exactly what I got.

Had I always wanted to be a lawyer? Yes from the moment I was old enough to argue. My father used to joke about me being held in contempt every time I stepped into the courtroom for arguing with the judge. I thank the lord that he wasn’t alive to see just how right he was.

At the moment I wasn’t exactly on the best terms with most of the judges which was why I tried settling my cases outside the courtroom. It was better that way and I had a higher success rate.

My door swung open and my secretary walked in with a thick stack of papers. I almost got a headache just looking at it.

“Here they are . . .” Her voice was hesitant.

I glanced up at her with a look of indifference. “Is something wrong?”

“Well no . . . nothing really it’s just that Max Cahil is outside . . . he says he’s here for his appointment with—“

“His what?” I raised an eyebrow at her. Both she and Mr. Cahil must have been joking. That man was supposed to make it for 10 and it was now 12:38. Did he think that I had time to waste or was it simply that he thought the world ran on his time?

“H-His appointment—he said he made one about a week—“

“Exactly, he made one and he missed it. Tell him that I refuse to have him wasting my time so he needs to get out of my firm before I had security escort him out.” Cassandra’s eyes bulged at the message I had given her to relay. I sighed; I guess someone like her wouldn’t have had the balls to say something like that to someone as influential as Mr. Cahil. “Look tell him that I’m busy and he‘ll need to make another appointment if he wants to speak with me, unless he would like to speak to any of the other attorneys in the building.”

She nodded meekly then slowly made her way out. I didn’t wait until she left to start looking through the conditions of the new claim. If I could get this done by 6 I would be able to make it home on time to take my daughter to Chucky Cheeses for her birthday; she was turning 6 and I heard that was a major milestone so I refused to miss it. I also couldn’t bear to have my husband lecture me about the little time I spent with either of them. He found it hard to accept that my job was demanding and I couldn’t simply stop just because he felt abandoned. I guess that’s what I get for marrying a feeler instead of a thinker.

I glanced at my watch briefly then got back to work.

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