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Date Posted: 16:19:00 05/03/02 Fri
Author: Repost Fairy
Author Host/IP: 64.193.19.25
Subject: Chapter 59
In reply to: Genevieve 's message, "Burden of Proof - Chapter 55 onwards..." on 16:10:02 05/03/02 Fri

~*~*~*~*~

Michael’s secretary was deeply immersed in a telephone conversation when he walked into the small outer office. With her back to the door, she had no idea he was there until he spoke. “Good afternoon, Theresa.”

Theresa Viscano spun around on her chair, her dark eyes wide with surprise. “Mr. Samuelle!” After giving him a nervous smile, she glanced up at the clock on the wall. “You’re back so soon.” She turned her head away slightly, her voice dropping several octaves as she spoke into the phone. “I have to go, Mum. I’ll call you later.” She quickly replaced the receiver and gazed up at him worriedly. “Sorry about that.”

Michael sighed to himself. Theresa making too many personal calls was the least of his worries. However, she was looking at him as though, not only was she expecting a reprimand, she would be disappointed if none were forthcoming.

“That’s quite all right, Theresa. But try not to make a habit of it.”

Seemingly satisfied by the rebuke, she nodded, then looked up at him shyly. “Did the mediation go well?”

Michael’s eyes went to the wall clock. Was it possible that only a few hours had passed since he and Vachek left here this morning? Today’s encounter with Nikita Wirth seemed to have dislocated his sense of time. He looked back at his secretary, once again uncomfortably aware of her adoring gaze. “The matter wasn’t resolved, unfortunately.”

Theresa looked disappointed. “That’s a shame.”

Despite the weight of thoughts pressing down upon him, Michael couldn’t help feeling faintly amused by his secretary’s unintentional understatement. He gave her a polite smile as he headed for his office. “I agree, but it’s not over yet. Could you please pull the file for Fulton vs. McWilliams from the archive? I’d like to go over the precedents.”

She nodded. “Anything else?”

“Not at the moment.” Michael looked back at her as he reached the door to his office. “But I have several urgent letters on other matters that will need to go out tonight.”

Theresa’s face fell. Typing was not one of her favourite duties, although her skill level was more than adequate. And given it was Friday afternoon, the traditional ‘leaving early’ day, her displeasure came as no surprise.

When Michael lifted an inquiring eyebrow at her, she blushed and gave him a quick smile that didn’t quite ring true. “Of course.” Still looking more than a little downcast, she rose to her feet. “I’ll just get those files for you.”


~*~*~*~*~


Michael checked his watch as he put the last file aside. 11:30pm. He was alone, having taken pity on Theresa and sent her home just before six o’clock. Despite her initially unenthusiastic reaction, she’d worked industriously through the afternoon, churning out letter after letter from his dictation cassettes.

As for himself, he’d located the precedents he wanted. The case in question had occurred over three years ago, and involved an unfair dismissal claim not dissimilar to Joe Duskovic’s action against Vachek Holdings. The only difference being, Michael thought grimly, McWilliams had been a legitimate businessman who’d simply made an error in judgment. A mistake he had rectified at a mediation conference by settling a large sum on his former employee, and offering the man his job back.

The other difference, of course, was that Michael’s opposing counsel had been an unremarkable, rather pompous Oxford ‘old boy’, who was only too happy to let Michael take the lead when it came to the terms of settlement.

In other words, an opposing counsel who was light years away from Nikita Wirth.

Michael turned off his laptop and reached for his coat. Nikita Wirth was strong-willed to the point of mulishness, but her stubbornness on behalf of her client was admirable, if inconvenient.

He sighed, running a careless hand through his hair as he relived their conversation in the smaller meeting room. From a legal point of view, today’s mediation had been a total loss. From a personal point of view, it was quite a different matter. Nikita Wirth was a beguiling mix of beauty and intelligence, practicality and passion. It was a heady combination. Michael closed his eyes as his body’s memory eclipsed his mind’s, lingering over one single, heated moment that had been seared into his consciousness with disturbing clarity. He’d touched her, and in the space of a heartbeat, his world had been tipped off its axis.

The time they’d spent together had only confirmed his initial response, the almost instinctive recognition that had jolted him into life when he’d looked at her photographs.

He wanted her. More than he had ever wanted anyone in his life.

He also wanted to protect her. Michael no longer knew if both objectives were possible. He only knew he was going to do everything in his power to make them happen.

~*~*~*~*~

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Replies:

  • Chapter 60 (bit of bad language) -- Repost Fairy, 16:24:19 05/03/02 Fri
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