A Dangerous Game | Girl of Glass & Victor Kane

[Girl of Glass]

Office parties were the same everywhere and they were nothing like the one's in movies where everyone was completely inebriated and the secretary was xeroxing her fanny. No, they were these quiet banal affairs where there was a constant hum of hushed talk interspersed with the occasional laughter from a group or individual while someone played slow jazz on a piano. Sometimes the clients got drunk but considering they were defense attorneys that were often covering up some crime the wealthy committed, they were quick to get them home before they could embarrass themselves. And of course the esteemed lawyers of Arnold & Procter would never get even a little bit tipsy if they had any aspirations whatsoever. These parties weren't for fun they were for hunting and Deja Adams clearly knew that as she was wading in and out of circles before her rows of teeth clamped down on its prey with a firm handshake while avoiding the other sharks.

Once they got a glimpse of those honey brown... or was it jade green eyes? It didn't matter because once they saw them, they were hers. That beautiful smile could light up a room and they had no choice but to witness it as she shook their hand. And as well as she could talk business, she could shoot the shit with the boys like she was one of them and if it was a female client they would simply discuss their plans to rule the world. Everyone just thought she was a delight. Which meant the next time they needed representation they would call the firm and ask for 'That beautiful colored girl.' A true triumph. But once she'd finished her two minutes of elbow rubbing, she would retreat to the balcony to try to recover from having to socialize. It was like pulling off a mask that had no ventilation and was full of sweat to finally take a deep breath of air... Oh, god and just remember what sweat doesn't smell like. Standing in front of a judge and jury using good research, knowledge of the law, and logic to convince them that a murderer who had been caught red handed was innocent? Cake walk. Pretending to have ever had anything resembling a social life and learning how to be a proper human being as opposed to what everyone in the office referred to her as, the Ice Witch? That was exhausting.

At the corner of the balcony she was leaning against the railing with a glass of champagne that she had been babysitting for a good part of the night. The wind whipped her long brown hair across her face, but she must have been lost in thought somewhere far away as she didn't move to push the hair out of her face. While she didn't mingle with the other sharks very much, she did pay attention to their movements and, as she often did, she was thinking about the one that could match her. Ever since they announced the opening for partner she thought about him almost obsessively. They were in equal in almost every way except that he was a little more well connected and maybe a few other things. He was competition to her when she had only ever seen herself as competition. Which was a concerning thing if you were him because she was not often kind to herself.

 

[Saint Grime]

Making partner at Arnold and Procter at thirty.

It was a thought that had made Noah Williams’ nights sleepless. It was every lawyer in town’s wet dream. Ever since the opening for partner had been announced, Noah had been fiercer than ever, solving the tougher cases and showcasing his worth. Every moment spent from the day of the announcement was dedicated to one thing and one thing only; grabbing that position. It was what he went he to Harvard for. From that day on, everything got upgraded, right down to his suits and shoes. Money wasn’t and never had been an issue. His life had been perfect up till now, getting everything, he ever wanted. This position was also going to be his too. Tonight’s party was like countless others that happened a couple of times every year. The same old rich clients that were corrupt to the bone being flattered by greedy lawyers looking to fill their endless pockets. Not that he was a saint. He was as corrupt and cunning as they came, one of the best at what he did; making the guilty look innocent.

Noah didn’t like this part of his job, but he was willing to do whatever it took. Flattering the snobbish clients and praising them with fake smiles while drowning champagne was hard. It was hard for a man like him that was arrogant, proud and snobbish himself. His roots were deep in money and his father, a billionaire had left him a fortune. His early life was something most would only dream of or see in movies. But he didn’t turn out lazy like most of his friends did. He turned into the opposite. A man driven by ambition to conquer and to multiply his wealth and influence. This had cost his social life but for him, life was work as work lead him one step closer to his dream. He had no partner or girlfriend and most of his friends were like him, men and women driven by insane ambition and a hunger for power. In his world power and influence was everything and money paved the way for that.

“Would you excuse me for a bit Mr. Winston, I have to step outside.”

Noah chuckled and excused himself from a round bald man dressed in a black tuxedo looking tipsy with the way his face curled in a smile, his grey mustache accentuating the funny smile further. Mr. Winston was a regular client of the firm and Noah had helped him on several cases involving tax fraud and hiding money trails. He’d been chatting with him for fifteen minutes and it was too much listening to the old man ramble on about golf. He needed a breather so he stepped out from the crowded half to the balcony, away from the pollution of the bland music and laughs of people. He took out a cigarette from the pack the pocket of his midnight blue tuxedo and light it up, taking a deep drag and exhaling towards the sky. He was dressed to nines tonight, he made sure of that. His bronze stubble was trimmed perfectly, hair slicked back and shows shining with a luster. It was at this moment his blueish gray hues landed on a woman he was all too familiar with.

She was the only hiccup in his way. He recognized that figure, those brown locks and that skin all too well, not even needing a look at her face. His animosity went that deep. If there was anyone apart from him who could make partner, it was her and he knew it well. He looked down at his Rolex and realized it was almost midnight. He couldn’t take anymore of this. Another drag from the cigarette and just a few steps later, he was standing besides her. “Looks who it is. Tired from wiping the ass of every possible client, Adams?” His voice was laced with venom, hidden behind the politeness in his tone that he was faking. He didn’t even look at her and he just stared ahead into the midnight sky and the city view, smoking away to relax.

 

[Girl of Glass]

The little black dress wasn't something she considered practical and she was regretting wearing a backless dress when a chill ran up the curve of her exposed spine. Or perhaps it was her sixth sense trying to warn her of the devil's approach. She pushed her hair out of her face as she straightened up and let it fall around her bare shoulders, the backless strapless dress seemed to be held up by sheer willpower but in reality it was a lot of double sided tape, multiple trips to the bathroom, and prayer. It was expensive, something she really didn't care about but it seemed to mean something to those soulless vacuums inside. It also really didn't fit her budget that month. And the red bottom Louboutin six inch heels that made her calves and butt look amazing in the form fitting, modestly hemmed dress made her feet feel like they were going to fall off. She was pissed before he'd said a word to her.

Still, she half turned to face him with her hip resting against the banister and grinned. It was that prize winning smile of hers, pure and genuine. But there was something behind her eyes that made it sinister. She watched as the smoke curled from his lips, it was that calm demeanor that frustrated her the most, purely because it was very believable. But Deja saw the switch flip when they announced the opening, he suddenly wanted to work as hard as she had since her first day at the firm. He was trying so hard to make it seem like he wasn't trying that it was like he wanted people to believe the rumors. "Well," she shrugged, "if I don't earn partner, my daddy won't buy it for me." Her voice was a sweet as honey but there was something behind it, something pulled too taut, something held back.

Just like a lawyer she didn't give him a chance to defend himself before moving on. "All kidding aside," she sat her champagne glass on the banister as she went in for the kill, "how's the Coleman case going? I only ask because Mr. Coleman came to me tonight and requested my representation. Said he needed some real results." She paused just long enough to let it set in and clasped her hands in front of her, "I'd be happy to go over the case details with you, just in case you missed something."

Deja knew he wouldn't accept her help, that was admitting defeat. And Mr. Coleman had a tendency to do whatever he could to be in her vicinity. She had no doubt that Noah was doing just fine on the case, it was all a mind game.

 

[Saint Grime]

This conversation was no different from any of their previous ones; sarcastic, filled with venom and giving the impression that they were always plotting each other’s downfall. In his head Noah had plotted Deja’s demise and even death on extreme days, thinking of how he’d make it look like an accident and get away with it. He was a good lawyer and could cover his tracks up well. But these were all dark fantasies he thought of before going to bed. “Aren’t you always hilarious, Adams?” Noah chuckled sarcastically and took another drag from his cigarette. He turned to face his nemesis and exhaled aiming for her face in attempts to comeback at her for her snide comments. “Well at least somebody’s daddy buys them things. Was yours even around?” A cruel smirk encompassed the man’s visage, knowing he too went for a nerve with that comment, targeted at her being colored. “Oh, but don’t worry, we don’t have to talk sob stories on a night like this.” He was quick to brush it off before it even escalated.

He extinguished his cigarette on the edge of the banister and ran a hand through his dark bronze locks as he turned his complete attention to Deja. The sudden mention of Mr. Coleman sparked a mischievous idea in his mind. The man was always ogling Deja and she was going to pay a price for bringing him up. “Coleman? I don’t like that pestering fucker anyway. He does adore you and he was asking for you. In fact, he asks about you a lot. I’ll gladly hand him over to you… For a price that is.” Noah played along, keeping the flow and the venomous sarcasm in his tone going. Mr. Coleman was a very prestigious client of Arnold and Proctor; a client Noah had successfully snatched from Deja and the rest of the competition. This party was boring and lately all the stress from work had him craving something fun, sort of night out. What better way to have that tonight than a game with his rival?

“Here’s the deal. You go back in there, grab a glass of champagne and chat up old Dorothy over there. And while you’re at it, spill the drink over her dress like it was an accident.” Dorothy Smith was another client of Noah’s who was an extreme pain in the ass. She was making his life hell and it would be amusing to see her expensive designer dress ruined and Deja do something embarrassing at the event. Not to mention Mr. Coleman was a pervert and handing over the case to her was like gifting her a creep. Dorothy was dressed in a red dress tonight and everything about it spoke money. It was her way of dominating the rest of the women, showing them she could afford a thing like that. Two birds with one stone. Noah’s grey hues twinkled with mischief as he stepped closer to woman and grinned at her. “But I can understand if you won’t. You are a goody two shoes and wouldn’t risk doing something embarrassing; even for a high-profile client. I mean, after all, dares aren’t for everyone.”