Chapter 1
Droplets of water gathered on the gold plaque reading “Grossberg and Co. Law Offices” in front of the large stone building. A young woman’s heels clicked on the downtown sidewalk through the misty California rain, up the steps to the building. Mia Fey fumbled with her umbrella for a brief moment, then smoothed her skirt under the cramped awning, steeling herself before going inside.
First day jitters meant she had skipped the morning coffee run, not wanting a repeat of her last interview, when she could hardly hold a pen to paper. Mia never was a coffee drinker, but university workload plus auditing graduate program classes meant she was spending more than her fair share of nights at the library. Mia felt the weight behind her eyes of a lost night’s sleep, but she was wired to go. She flicked at her bangs a couple times in the reflection of the window, and opened the door.
A darkened corridor greeted her with a receptionist’s desk whose cobwebs said it hasn’t had an occupant since her last visit. She rounded the corner and noticed a light across the hall from the door marked “Marvin Grossberg” in gold plate lettering. Nothing moved inside the clearly vacated office. The light was about the only indication of life in the grey office space. The break room, she remembered. Mia jumped at the sudden harsh whirring noise that issued from the illuminated doorway and made her way toward the offending sound.
She jumped again when she noticed Tall Dark and Handsome, who stopped his grinding coffee beans upon catching her eye. He flashed her a smile that at least doubled the wattage from the sole fluorescent bulb in the room.
“My, my,” he began, rubbing one finger along his tanned, stubbled jaw. “It’s a good thing I haven’t had my morning cup yet, or I wouldn’t still be dreaming.”
Mia simply gaped at him at a loss, feeling suddenly very out of place, and wondering where the hell Grossberg was. Her glance back over her shoulder didn’t go unnoticed, she saw in the shake of the man’s head.
“Sorry hermosa, I can get ahead of myself this early in the morning. Pretend it didn’t happen.” He waited until she met his eyes again then resumed his brewing, still grinning.
Mia brushed it off like she wasn’t flushed and indignant, quietly muttering something about not realizing the time. She surprised herself with a glance at the clock face that read just past seven. No wonder Grossberg, or anyone else for that matter, isn’t in yet. God damn them all, she thought, taking in the man’s violently gold vest, way too flashy for the dull grey of the rest of the room.
A moment of silence stretched between them, punctuated by the drip and gurgle of the coffeemaker. When the man seemed overly preoccupied by the filling pitcher, she cleared her throat. He leaned away from the counter turning to her, and she went in. “I’m Mia Fey, the new intern,” she said with a neutral expression and her hand outstretched. He smirked a little, but grasped her hand in a firm shake. She broke contact after he started to raise their hands as though to kiss the top of hers.
“Diego Armando,” he offered with a respectful nod. “I look forward to working with you, Miss Fey.”
“Likewise, Mr. Armando,” she said through her teeth, feeling thoroughly mocked. Diego hardly noticed, his pot having brewed. He poured a cup for himself and immediately took a sizable swig. He held out another empty mug and lifted the coffeepot in offering.
“No, thanks,” she responded, again too quietly. She felt her headache deepen with the overpowering coffee aroma filling her nose.
She continued standing across the table from him, visibly uncomfortable, and unsure what to do next. She wanted badly to glance back over her shoulder at the open door, but refused to break eye contact until he did. Diego reached across the counter, pulling out a large metallic contraption Mia had only ever seen the likes of at cafés. Mia was now positive this man was sent to make an absolute fool of her. Wordlessly she watched him prepare the apparatus with the finesse of a seasoned veteran. She sat down at the table, easing into the comfortable silence of being ignored while Diego worked at the machine hissing and sputtering back at him.
“Okay,” he started abruptly, making Mia curse herself for jumping again, “Mi querida, un café con leche.” He slid a mug over to her with a perfect heart drawn in milk on the surface. Mia half-sighed, half-laughed. “Thanks,” she said with a tight smile and took a small sip. Though she was going to drink whatever he had offered out of nothing but courtesy, she had to admit it was a damn fine cup of coffee.
“I promise you, the only other place in this country you’ll find café con leche like that is Miami.” He intonated his heavy accent at the name of the city, leaning back in her direction while he cleaned up the espresso maker.
“That so?” Mia responded, “Then it’s a good thing I came here.” She smirked over the rim of her mug.
“I think you and I can agree on that, Miss Fey.” He shot her another winning smile, to which she made sure he saw her roll her eyes with her next sip. “Have you been to Miami, kitten?”
“A-HEMMMMMMMM”
She was interrupted before she could answer or condemn his use of increasingly condescending pet names by a tremendous clearing of the throat.
“Ahhhh-hm-hm, I see you’ve met our newest charge, Mr. Armando,” Grossberg’s mustache fluttered with his booming speech, which woke up Mia quicker than any cup of coffee.
“Sure, we were just discus-”
“Yes, bright one isn’t she! I have high expectations! Mia my dear, wonderful to have you in first thing in the morning.” Mia hid her smirk at Diego’s attempt to look busy with the coffeepot. She thought Grossberg could steamroll over the damn president if he wanted.
“It’s my pleasure-”
“Yes yes, up and at ‘em. Very good! Refreshing! Reminds me of my youth, like the scent of fresh lemon, you see…”
Mia and Diego shared a look across the table as Grossberg basked in his reverie, mustache twitching proudly.
“Hmph, yes well then. Mia my dear, let me show you your desk. Armando, my boy, I do hope you wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on Miss Fey here as she gets acquainted. Hm hm yes very good.”
Mia followed Grossberg back out the door, thankful for once for his impatience for an answer. She glanced back at Diego, who raised his mug in acknowledgment. She let out a breath and made her way down the hall.
“Ah yes, Mia, perfect job for you. You’re familiar with the District courthouse, yes? How about running these depositions over to Hammond, hm?” Grossberg cheerfully dropped the sizable pile of documents on the desk. The resulting dust plume made Mia’s eyes water. “Of course, Mr. Grossberg,” she said, trying not to cough. She remembered passing by the courthouse on her walk over. It was about twenty minutes back. Uphill. She shifted in her heels and smiled through the dust. “I’d be happy to.”