Chapter 14
Lena's POV
Monday, 8:30 AM
The office felt wrong the moment I stepped through Madison & Partners' glass doors.
It wasn't anything obvious—same polished marble floors, same hushed conversations, same scent of expensive coffee drifting from the break room. But the energy had shifted. Clusters of associates huddled near the copy machines, voices low and urgent. Heads turned as I passed.
Rachel intercepted me before I reached my office, her expression tight.
"Lena." She fell into step beside me, lowering her voice. "Big news this morning."
I set my briefcase on my desk, shrugging off my coat. "What kind of news?"
"Richard called an emergency partners meeting at eight." She glanced toward the hallway. "Announced a new hire. High-level. Starting today."
I turned to face her. "Who?"
"Nora Kane."
The name hit like a carefully aimed stone. I kept my expression neutral, reaching for my coffee mug. "I see."
"She's being brought in as senior associate." Rachel's voice dropped further. "On the Reynolds Industries project. Working directly with you."
My fingers tightened around the mug's handle. "Richard said that?"
"Not just working with you—" Rachel hesitated. "Co-lead counsel. Equal authority."
I set the mug down carefully. "Interesting timing."
"That's what everyone's saying." Rachel leaned against the doorframe. "Word is Richard's uncle sits on Kane Corporation's board. They've got seats on half the major companies in Silverton. This whole thing reeks of connections."
Kane Corporation. Lucas Kane's family. Rowan's closest friend.
Of course.
"But it's not just that," Rachel continued, frustration creeping into her voice. "She's only been in private practice for four years. You've been here eight, handled dozens of major deals. How does she just walk in and get equal billing?"
I pulled up my calendar, scanning today's schedule. "Because that's how these things work."
"It's not fair."
"Fair has nothing to do with it." I met her eyes. "Richard made his decision. We adapt."
Rachel studied me for a long moment, then sighed. "You're too calm about this."
"Would being upset change anything?"
She shook her head, pushing off the doorframe. "I guess not. But still—" She paused at the door. "For what it's worth, everyone knows you're the one actually qualified for this."
After she left, I sat down at my desk, staring at the stack of Reynolds files.
Kane family connections. Rowan picking her up at the airport. That bouquet of roses.
None of it was coincidence.
---
9:00 AM - Conference Room
Richard had already started talking when I entered. Nora sat beside him, hands folded on the table, picture-perfect in a rose-colored suit that probably cost more than most associates' monthly rent.
"—extensive experience with EU merger regulations," Richard was saying. "Her work in London speaks for itself. This partnership will strengthen our position significantly."
I took my usual seat across the table. Nora's eyes met mine briefly—warm, friendly, utterly unthreatening.
"Lena." Richard nodded toward me. "Glad you could join us. I was just explaining how Nora's European expertise complements your corporate governance background."
"Of course." I opened my portfolio. "Welcome to the team, Nora."
"Thank you." Her voice was soft, almost delicate. "I'm really looking forward to working with you. I've heard so much about your work here."
The other associates watched this exchange with varying degrees of skepticism. Brett Morrison, who'd been angling for a role on the Reynolds project for months, looked like he'd swallowed glass.
"Now, I know some of you have questions about the timeline," Richard continued, addressing the room. "But I want to be clear—this decision is about delivering the best possible outcome for our client. Nora's background in cross-border transactions is exactly what we need for Reynolds's European expansion."
Smooth. Professional. Completely avoiding the question of why she'd been brought in so suddenly, with no interview process, no internal vetting.
"We'll be restructuring the team slightly," Richard said. "Lena and Nora will serve as co-leads, with full authority over strategy and client communications. Brett, you'll continue handling due diligence. Rachel remains as primary research associate."
I felt Rachel tense beside me.
"Any questions?" Richard scanned the room.
Silence. No one was stupid enough to challenge him directly.
"Good. Let's make this work." He stood, gathering his materials. "Lena, Nora—I'd like a word after this."
The room emptied slowly, associates filing out with carefully neutral expressions. I caught Brett muttering something to another lawyer, but couldn't make out the words.
---
Conference Room - Immediately After
Richard closed the door behind the last associate, then turned to face us.
"I know this is unconventional," he said, addressing me specifically. "But the Kane family has been very clear about their expectations. They want Nora involved in high-profile matters, and Reynolds Industries is our biggest current engagement."
"I understand." My voice came out level, professional. "When should we schedule our first strategy session?"
"This afternoon?" Nora suggested, glancing at me. "If you're available?"
"Two o'clock works."
"Perfect." Richard looked relieved. "I'll leave you two to coordinate. Lena, I trust you'll bring Nora up to speed on where we are with the European expansion framework."
After he left, Nora and I stood on opposite sides of the conference table.
"I know this must be strange," she said, her tone careful. "Coming in mid-project like this."
"It's fine." I gathered my materials. "I'll have Rachel send over the current file structure. We can review everything this afternoon."
"Great." She smiled. "I really do want this to work, Lena."
I met her eyes. Behind the warmth, behind the careful friendliness, I caught something else. Something watching. Calculating.
"So do I," I said.
---
10:00 AM - My Office
I tried to focus on the documents spread across my desk—due diligence reports, regulatory filings, timeline projections. But my mind kept circling back to Nora's presence down the hall.
Working with Rowan's ex-girlfriend. His first love. The woman he'd picked up at the airport with roses while I sat at home pretending our contract marriage still meant something.
And now she'd be here. Every day. In meetings, on calls, reviewing the same files, talking to the same clients.
To Rowan.
Rachel appeared in my doorway with coffee, closing the door behind her.
"You okay?" she asked quietly.
I looked up from the contract I'd been staring at without reading. "Fine. Why?"
"Because this is insane, that's why." She set the coffee on my desk. "Kane family connections or not, she shouldn't just walk in and get equal authority. You've been killing yourself on this project for months."
"It's how the business works, Rachel. You know that."
"Doesn't mean I have to like it." She crossed her arms. "Everyone's talking about it. About how she got the job, why Richard didn't even interview other candidates. There are rumors—"
"I don't need to hear rumors."
"But people are saying Kane Corporation has leverage over Richard somehow. His uncle's on their board, manages one of their real estate divisions. That maybe this wasn't even Richard's choice."