章 2: CHAPTER 2 - YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
"Ow, really?"
Patricia nodded enthusiastically. "He graduated from Harvard,"
Elena struggled to control her expression when she heard the University that Patricia had just mentioned. Well, it's true that not all the men there are annoying, it's just that she knows one guy as annoying as he is and he's around her.
"Listen, Elena. I really think this guy really suits you. He's very handsome, sexy, and has the same mindset as ..." Patricia's words were cut off when Cameron came back into Elena's room. This time by knocking on the door first, though still he went straight in without being invited.
"Can we go now?" Cameron asked Elena.
"So sweet of you to pick me up, Cam."
"Beautiful women can't walk alone, can they?"
"Are you guys in a relationship like..."
Cameron and Elena both looked at Patricia as Elena's private secretary then became flustered and didn't continue her sentence.
Elena smiled. "Of course not, Pat. Cam and I had a very professional relationship, far from what you might think right now." Then Elena moved to collect the folder containing the notes and summary of the trial data for her meeting with Stanton. Well, although Elena wasn't really sure about the topic that Stanton was going to discuss with her and Cameron.
But Elena guessed that this meeting might have something to do with the judge which was to start in four days.
"Pat, let's go first." Elena said as she grabbed a pen and notebook and put them both quickly into the folder she was carrying.
Elena glanced at Cameron as they both walked out into the office of Stanton, the head of the litigation department.
"What kind of manipulation are you going to do?" Elena hissed.
Cameron did the same. But he took a look around first, making sure everything was safe as it was clear the two of them were being sweet to each other, doing tricks with admirable expressions that were so kind just in front of the staff. Everything was done so that no one noticed the fierce competition between the two of them.
"That's nice of you to ask that, Elena," Cameron blurted out as he looked at Elena with a look that Elena never liked at all.
Elena stopped her footsteps. Damn, for the umpteenth time Elena was pissed off a hundred times because she had to admit how tall Cameron was and she had to be in a position—which in the truest sense—had to look up at a man who had a thousand rhetorical questions he would immediately ask whenever he had the chance.
One, Two, Th ...
Cameron's eyes narrowed as he still stared at Elena. By the way, he was quite enjoying this.
While crossing her arms across her chest that Elena knew very well that was the hallmark of Cameron Jones' Superior Aura, Elena managed to correctly pronounce the third number in her heart.
Bingo!
"So let me ask you..." Cameron began again.
Elena tossed her hair behind her shoulders.
"...what do you think, if Stanton talks about something big about a partner who just resigned?"
"HA!" Elena almost laughed in response to Cameron's question. "Keep walking, Stanton must be waiting."
Cameron and Elena went back down the corridor and before they knew it they were already at the doorway of Stanton's room. And for the second time Elena could see clearly, Cameron crossed his arms again as he leaned against the door.
After six years, Elena clearly recognized Cameron's body language well—meaning that this annoying man was about to start over and even demand an answer to one of the most ignorant questions he just asked.
"It wouldn't be a big disaster for me. It's your partner after all," Elena replied and shifted Cameron sideways so she could open the door and enter Stanton's room.
Elena realized that Stanton still hadn't returned to his room, so Elena chose to sit at the table and Cameron did the same by sitting right next to Elena.
With a cold and calm gaze, Elena undauntedly turned to say something to Cameron.
"For some reason it was so exciting when I saw a guy who graduated from Harvard Law School sitting next to me, in a suit as expensive as my watch, having the guts to ask me what I thought about a partner who had just resigned."
Cameron opened his mouth to cut off what Elena kept on saying, but Elena managed to stop Cameron with just one finger. Obviously it's the index finger, not the middle finger. Because Elena always felt that she was an honorable woman who shouldn't do that.
"Despite that fact, I don't care what the real reason your coworker resigned. And I really don't care if you have to get a new partner who is more junior than your previous partner."
"What if Stanton agrees if I say I want the partner you're currently working with?" Cameron's eyes flashed as he asked.
Elena raised an eyebrow before she answered. "You're joking with me? Are men like that? Quickly agree to each other just because they graduated from the same school and also an elite tennis club whose members only accept men?"
Cameron and Elena are senior lawyers who have one junior partner who always accompanies them.
Cameron laughed as he leaned back against the chair in a defensive manner. "It's just an illustration, I wouldn't have done it if I didn't have to. You know exactly what kind of lawyer I am."
"So what do you think Cameron is like, Elena?"
Elena immediately sat up straight when she heard the voice. He glanced at Stanton, who walked in confidently and sat behind his desk. Stanton looked at Elena curiously.
"Oh, of course you know better than me," said Elena, waving lightly. "That's right, Cam?" Elena glanced at Cameron.
"Of course you know better, Stanton." Cameron answered by showing a row of clean white teeth.
Stanton laughed at Elena and Cameron's antics. "You two, won't you two stop?"
Cameron and Elena tried to pick up on the signal of the question Stanton was asking with a level of vigilance full of fear. Stanton began to realize the war they had no idea when the two of them started.
"This is about the Johanson Group which is experiencing a series of lawsuits regarding discrimination cases that clearly discriminate against the gender of the staff they have,"
"I heard the complaint, the case is being handled by Judge Shaw," Elena said. He wanted Cameron to know that he never missed any important news.
"The complaint was incorporated into the lawsuit alleging more than a million male employees at the company stated that they were discriminated against," Cameron added, glancing at Elena.
Another stubborn woman. That's what Cameron implied from the look in his eyes.
Stanton smiled at the enthusiasm that Elena and Cameron showed. He tapped his index finger on the table. "This is the biggest case ever brought. Do you know what this means?"
"This case will be a money tree for the firm that handles it." Elena answered confidently. At that moment Elena saw a glint in Stanton's eyes. "Then who will be selected and appointed to defend him?" then Elena asked.
"Johanson Group CEO Elizabeth Johanson still hasn't decided which law firm to appoint. But they've already selected three of the best and biggest law firms in town for them to meet. And ..." Stanton was silent for a moment watching Elena and Cameron.
Cameron cleared his throat, then said. "Let me guess. Our firm is one of the firms they will meet. Right?"
Stanton nodded proudly. "That's right. That's why I'm having a meeting this afternoon with you guys. I told Elizabeth I have two perfect litigators to take on the case she's facing."
"Then?" Elena seemed impatient to hear the sequel.
"Like I said earlier, I have two perfect litigators, smart and also 0.1 percent failure on every case you two handle. But..."
Elena was starting to feel sick to her stomach when Stanton said 'but' so clearly and also with emphasis. Elena was very sure that her current meeting chat would start to lead to something bad, even very bad.
Elena was sure that Cameron was feeling the same way right now. In fact, I don't know when this all happened. The feuds as well as the rivalries they faced just happened and it even felt like that from the start.
But without a word, both Elena and Cameron both agreed to hide their distaste for each other. Cameron and Elena are more concerned with their careers and achieving success more than anything else.
Luckily so far Cameron and Elena can keep this game very well. Even though they both worked at the same law firm, it had obviously been a long time for the two of them to work together on the same case. In this case it is impossible for both of them to live it.
Cases in a litigation group are usually carried out by one partner, one senior partner and don't forget two junior partners who will be ready to help too. And in this condition, both Elena and Cameron are in the position of partners who already have one senior partner, even though Cameron's partner has resigned.
Given that Cameron and Elena were on the same level, it was clear that there was no reason for either of them to work on the same case unless Stanton had clearly ordered them to compete for the case.
Elena remained silent, trying not to show the shock she was feeling. She glanced at Cameron who was now shifting his seat nervously.
Competition was not something the two of them were afraid of. But they could clearly hear Stanton saying that Elizabeth Johanes would come to meet them both together while playing golf and having dinner at a five-star hotel next week.
One thing that crossed Elena's mind was that she had to immediately take private golf classes so she wouldn't look silly later. For Elena a sport that does not produce sweat is not a sport, which is why she never liked golf. Then the second is how can he be close to Cameron all day long?
"But, as you all know that the two of you are currently in the same position. Then you can conclude for yourself what I mean, although I know very well that skills are perfect when combined,"
"Well, this is very great news. So you want one of us to succeed in enticing Elizabeth Johanson, right?" Elena asked while trying not to choke on her own words.
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