Battle of Wills
by Bliss Addison

Chapter 1

“It’s Not Rocket Science”

Shannon Murphy glanced at her coworker, Abby Anderson, sitting across from her, then out the window at the dismal October sky. Her skin prickled. Something unpleasant awaits me. She knew this how? A sixth sense? No, not likely.

If only she were clairvoyant.

If only she could turn back the clock.

She doodled on her steno pad and wondered which fate brought her here. There were two, you know. The evil fate—elfin with a bulbous nose, thin lips and pointed teeth—and the divine fate—cherubic, eyes the color of an azure sky, and a smile that melted hearts. Yes, divine fate brought her here. For how many times could she be in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Leaning back in her steno chair, she surveyed the office. The decor—or lack of it—surprised her. It wasn’t as though she frequented law offices in the past—she’d only been in one other—but she expected something more than peeling plaster, plastic chairs and threadbare carpeting.

In one corner of the office sat…well, she didn’t know who. The steno chair girl—as she’d come to think of her—reminded her of a bird on a perch and exiled from the flock. What was her story?

She turned at the sound of someone clearing his voice.

“Is Edward out of the office today, Shannon?”

“Yes, he’s bird hunting, Mr. Montgomery.” For her, Peter epitomized masculinity. At least six feet tall and very well built, he had a thick neck set on powerful-looking shoulders. His almost-black hair, slightly longer than the average cut, curled at the ends. She hardly thought lawyer when she looked at him.

“Uh-huh.” He sat kitty-corner on her desk. “So, how’s everything going?”

“Fine.” If truth be told, things weren’t fine. In fact, things were horrible, but she wasn’t about to admit that. Not yet.

True, she could walk away. No one would miss her. But she committed herself to Edward, to her job, and above all else, to her promise never to fail. The fast pace and the work was as much a part of her now as her heartbeat. So, whatever doom providence decreed for her...well, it would have to take a number because she, Shannon Murphy, would not allow anything or anyone interfere with the plans she’d made for herself.

Peter stood. “Why don’t you come to my office? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Okay.”

In the hallway, she nodded at a coworker. “Good morning.”

Bridgit glared at her. “You’re one to talk.”

Weren’t her coworkers damn strange?

***

Peter looked out the window. Brittle leaves clung to the branches of the oak trees, the last vestige of a courageous fight for life. Dark cumulus clouds promising rain loitered overhead. Perfect, he thought, bemoaning his schedule—back-to-back appointments from the next half-hour on. He’d intended to take advantage of Edward’s absence today by getting to know Shannon better. A few minutes could be spared now, not enough time really, but enough to make a start.

His office door creaked open. He turned and studied her. She didn’t look like the bitch everyone heralded. The slightest movement of her mouth dimpled her cheeks. He stared at her lips, so full, so lush and imagined kissing them. Within seconds, he envisioned her entering his bedroom. She leaned back against the door and gazed into his eyes. His breath caught in his throat. She stepped out of her dress and moved toward him. He gaped at her breasts as they rose and fell with the spirited rhythm of each of her breaths. He gulped. On tiptoes she kissed him, first on the neck, then on the chest. He groaned. She unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his trousers and unzipped his fly. She lowered her face.

“Are you all right, Mr. Montgomery?”

He bolted upright. Christ! He cleared his throat. “Er…um…What was that, Shannon?”

“I asked you if you were okay.”

“Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I thought you…you looked like…well, I thought you suffered a stroke.”

“No, just lost in thought.” He shuffled files and noticed that his fingers shook. Pull yourself together, Peter. “So, how do you like working here?”

“This is my first job, so I have nothing to compare it with.” She tucked her legs beneath the chair. “I like it, though.”

 “Good, good. Catching onto the work all right?”

“Well, it’s not rocket science.”

He chuckled. “No, I guess it’s not.” He raised the cuff of his shirt and looked at his watch. “Shannon, I’d like to discuss this with you at more length, but I have an appointment in a few minutes. Why don’t you come to the office tonight, say around eight o’clock? It’ll give us a chance to get to know each other better.” He cocked a brow. “You do something for me, I’ll do something for you. Quid pro quo. What do you say?”

She inhaled a deep breath. “Mr. Montgomery, I wouldn’t have sex with you if you were Adam and I were Eve and the Holy Spirit prescribed it!”

He gasped. “My God, Shannon. Sex? Is that what you thought? I think you’re cute and all that, but I’m a happily married man. I meant, if I got to know you better, as in personality, it would be easier to get a handle on what’s happening between you and your coworkers. And there is something happening, whether you want to admit it or not.” He took in a lungful of air and let it out in a rush. “To be blunt, you aren’t blending in, not like we hoped. There’s a lot of animosity felt toward you. Once I determine the why of it, I can work on finding a solution. In return, you can help me get some work done, work I never seem to have time to do during business hours. If you’re nice to me, I’ll be nice to you. That’s the way it works.”

“Oh,” she said with a twitch of an eye. “Well, thank you for your generous offer, but I can handle it myself.”

“Okay, but if you change your mind, my offer still stands.”

She nodded, looking everywhere but at him.

He checked the time again. “Good. Now that we have that straightened out, I want you to take a letter—”

“You want to dictate to me?”

“Well, I wouldn’t put it quite that way, but yes, I’d like you to take a letter for me.”

“Take a letter? Like fetch my slippers?”

“Don’t you use shorthand with Edward?”

“Yes, but—”

“Okay, then. This letter is to go to NB Insurance, address is in the file, today’s date, re Levine versus Allston, your policy number, et cetera, et cetera.” He waved a hand in the air. “This letter is written in response to yours of November 2nd er…did you know Abby’s husband is running around on her?”

She looked up from her steno pad. “Excuse me?”

“I asked if you knew Abby’s husband is running around on her?”

“Mr. Montgomery, correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you want me to take dic…ta…tion?”

His brows reached his hairline. “What is it with you anyway?”

“What is it with me? What is it with you? How can you talk about your secretary behind her back like that?”

“Shannon, I’m simply trying to keep you abreast of Abby’s personal problems in the event they spill over to her behavior here at the office.”

“Oh.” She knocked the side of her head and sputtered and coughed. “Excuse me. The foot in my mouth tickled my tonsils.”

“Ah. Back to the matter at hand, then.” He dictated the letter at hyper-speed.

***

Shannon attacked her shorthand notes with a vengeance. The first indecipherable word caused her to issue the walls an “oh, oh,”, the second had her swearing. She scratched her head and tweaked her ears, muttering and complaining beneath her breath.

Thirty minutes and every painstaking word later she felt the letter would pass the greatest scrutiny. It pleased her to know she was capable, notwithstanding the odds. She delivered the letter to Peter with a wide smile and a great sense of accomplishment.

“Here you go, Mr. Montgomery.” She returned his stare and caught a glimpse of anger in his eyes. Great. Just great. When she could stand to make some friends, she’d made another enemy. And a lawyer to boot. Good going, Shannon.

Why did you have to go bird hunting today, Mr. McIntyre?

***

For ten minutes Peter sat at his desk writing notes to himself like a madman. He tried to think rationally, but instead found himself reeling from indignation.

Did she think a wink and a smile excused her rude behavior?

How did she conclude he wanted to bed her from what he said? All he said was it would give them a chance to get to know each other better. That’s what he said, wasn’t it? He wasn’t so sure anymore.

He glanced across the hall at her. When he’d interviewed her, he wished he needed a secretary. Her red hair sent him into a tailspin. The spattering of freckles across her face made him grin like an ape, and when he looked into her umber eyes, he was smitten. He would never have thought that from that pouty mouth could come such bite, or that those remarkable eyes could pierce.

Restless, he stood and stared out the window overlooking the bay. Why can’t I forget about it? he asked himself.

The answer would be embarrassment.

No, that wasn’t it.

His pride had been hurt and he wanted to hurt back.

Now, as he thought about it more clearly, he wondered if she had believed him. Maybe not. If she hadn’t, then the gossip would start. She’d be only too happy to spread stories about him, he would bet. He could deny everything, but would he be believed?

No, he wasn’t going to let a secretary—cute though she was—taint his reputation.

He shouldn’t forget about his physical attraction to her either.

Yes, he needed to do something about her before he ended up doing something he shouldn’t be doing.

Firing her gave him a moment’s satisfaction, but he would have to be more subtle than that, particularly so given Edward’s attachment to her. Already his mind worked with devious manipulations.

Didn’t he like nothing more than to plan, strategize and second-guess? He rested his head against the back of his chair and pondered the ceiling.

Shannon has become a liability to be handled lawyer style.

He smiled.