The two middle–aged menb. /b

ed bmen /blit up the moment they saw Charlotte walk in. She was youngb, /bbeautiful, andpletely out of ce in a room like this,

One of them, a slightly overweight executive, leered at her.

“And who might this be?”

Willy nced sideways at Charlotte and rolled bhis /beyes, full of contempt.

Charlotte calmly ced the contract on the table, offering a polite smile.

b+/b25Monut

“Mr. Zink, Mr. Lawrence. I’m Charlotte Riley from S80 Law Firm. I’m here to discuss byour /bpotential legal advisory contract

seatona

bShe /btook a seat on a single chair next to the sofa.

“Mr. Zink, I believe yourpany’s legal advisory contract with the previous firm is about to expire? You bmight /bconsider working with us. So is the topw fi

some of the best in the industry.” In Jersey City We’re well known for ourmercial, criminal, 1P, and administrativew divisions

She turned to the other man

“And Mr. Lawrence, I heard yourpany is currently involved in a trademark infringement dispute. Our IP attomeys have handled thousands of simr cases. You’d be in excellent hands with us

Mr. Zink casually flipped through the contract Charlotte handed him–barely ncing at two pages before tossing it aside.

His eyes locked ontober, that creepy smile never leaving his face.

“A legal contract? Sure, sure. That first, how about you have ba /bbfew /bdrinks with me, Miss Riley? Get me in a good moodb, /bband /bwe can talk about anything.‘

Mr. Lawrence joined in, leering at her shainelessly.

“You’re too young band /bpretty to just be awyer, you know. What a waste. Why don’t you considering with me instead? No need to work so hard running around for cases. I’ll give you $100,000 a month. How’s that sound?

Charlotte’s smile was polite, but her eyes were cold.

Sorry, Mr. Lawrence. I’m here to discuss business, not to sell myself.”

Mr. Lawrence chuckledb, /bundeterred.

“I get it, I get it bGids /bthese days all have a bit of temper. No btush/b. You don’t have to decide now.

He pulled bout /ba business card band /bhanded it to be.

“Here. That’s my card. If you ever get tired of working hard and want an easier lite, give me ba /bbcall/b.”

Charlotte nced at the drinkin front of her, Instincts ring. Something babout /bit didn’t feel right.

bShe /bshook her bd /b

“Apologiesb, /bMr. Zink I bdon’t /bbdrink /b”

But Mr bZink /bwasn’t faced. His sleazy grin widened bas /bhe slowly stood and walked toward her.

“Miss Riley sure likes bto /by high and mighty”

Then suddenly, he bgrabbed /bher wil

“Such a fiery one. Looks like op one

ever taught you the real rules of business. Don’t worry, I’ll bteach /byou tonight

The stink of alcohol and cigarettes oled off him bas /bhe lunged at her.

Charlotte sprang to her feet and twisted his

sbel?nd his back in a swift takedown.

The man let out ba /bcry of pain, lus grim vanishing as he sailed, “You bitch you darey a hand on me?”

Mr. Lawrence“Lexpression darkened, He jumped to his feet, sweding a lie rushed over

“Let’s leach ber a lesson together”

Charlotte delivered a hand kick to both men,nding squarely where it out, in their blett of shock, she tumed and bolted for the door. “Damn!” Mr. Zinkroared. “She kicked me Get her! bi /bwear ill teach that little bit a lesson she’ll never forget!”

Willy was the first to chase afterlier

The two furious mendollowed close behind

chadoste burst out of the private room and didn’t even bother waiting for the elevator. She sprinted straight down the stairsb. /b

b1/2 /b

She bwas /bin heelsb, /bband /bit bmade /brunning difficult. As soon as she reached the ground floor and ran out of the stairwell, the collided head–on with anmront,

Charlotte fell into ba /bbroad, warm embrace, surrounded by the crisp, woodsy scent of the man holding her.