Jacquelin Thomas - Legal Attraction

Poor Aunt Vanessa, she thought silently.

By the time Marissa arrived at the office, she was focused on business. She had always wanted to follow her siblings into law and worked very hard to make that happen, which included graduating from law school with honors.

Marissa was intent on showing her brothers and Jillian that she was every bit as good as they were, since they still seemed to treat her like the little baby sister who needed to be sheltered, despite the fact that there was only a five-year difference between her and Jake, her oldest brother.

Marissa wanted to be taken seriously by everyone, including her family. First, as an attorney, and then as a woman.

* * *

“Marissa, are you busy?”

She glanced up from her computer monitor to see Harper’s new wife. “Azure, come in.”

Azure closed the door behind her. “Harper told me about his conversation with you,” she announced as she sat down in one of the visitor chairs.

“Someone contacted you anonymously claiming that my mother and my uncle had an affair.”

Azure nodded.

“And that person also said that I am a result of that affair.” It was more of a statement than a question. “Is there any proof of this, other than Uncle Frank confessing the truth to Harper?” Marissa wanted to know. “Do they have pictures of them leaving a hotel or something more scandalous?”

“Not that I know of,” Azure responded. “Right now we have no other information, but in situations like this—all that is needed is a rumor, whether true or false.”

Marissa settled back in her chair and crossed her legs. “So, what does this person want for this little tidbit? Money?”

“There’s been no demand for money or anything. Marissa, I haven’t taken this to my editor. You have to know that I am going to do everything I can to see that this accusation never sees the light of day.”

“If your magazine doesn’t publish the story, then I’m sure this person will go somewhere else. I really would like to know what’s in it for them to try and ruin our lives.” Marissa shook her head sadly.

“I can’t imagine how you must be feeling right now,” Azure told her. “I’m so sorry, Marissa.”

“I still find it hard to believe that my…my mother could do something like this to my dad. They always seemed so happy and in love.”

“I won’t let this get out, Marissa.”

“It may be out of your hands, Azure. Unfortunately, we will all have to wait and see if the other shoe falls.”

Chapter 3

“Marissa, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me,” a young woman said as they walked out of the courtroom.

Smiling, she responded, “You’re welcome, Rita.”

The twenty-year-old had pleaded no contest in a drunken-driving case. Marissa had suggested Rita plead to the charge of driving while visibly impaired.

“I’ve learned my lesson and I’ll be relieved to be able to put this behind me.”

“Will this charge be on my daughter’s record forever?” the older woman with them asked. “I want her to have a chance to get a good job or become that doctor.”

“If Rita stays out of trouble while she is on probation, then her record will be expunged. She will be able to do whatever she wants with her life.” Marissa glanced over at the young girl. “It’s all up to you, Rita.”

“Lord knows, I pray so.”

When her clients left, Marissa noticed a man standing near the exit doors of the courthouse. A smile tugged at her lips.

“Daddy, what are you doing here?” Marissa was surprised to see him. She had not noticed him in the courtroom, but then, she had been focused on helping her client.

“I came to watch my baby girl in action,” he responded.

His words brought tears to her eyes. No other man would ever replace Jacob Hamilton Jr. as her father.

“You handled yourself well in there.”

“It was an easy case,” Marissa responded.

“And you did a good job,” her father insisted as he wrapped an arm around her. “Just remember this feeling on those days when the case is a difficult one.”

“Thanks, Daddy.”

They walked out to their cars.

“Why don’t I call your mother and have her meet us for lunch?” Jacob suggested.

“I have a better idea,” Marissa countered. “Why don’t you and Mother have lunch together? I need to get back to the office.” She could not stomach being around her mother right now.

He scanned her face as if he was trying to read her expression. “Is there something going on between you and your mom?”

Jacob’s question surprised Marissa. “No, things are fine. I’ve just been really busy, Daddy.”

“You’re too busy to grab a bite to eat?”

“I’ll get something on the way back to the office.”

“Okay,” Jacob said. “I’ll see you later, baby girl.”

She walked away briskly and headed to the nearest exit door.

Within minutes, Marissa was inside her car and on the way back to the office. She was in a great mood after her victory in court—it was a small one, but a victory nonetheless.

Jillian and her brothers were all waiting for Marissa when she arrived.

“So, how did it go?” Jake asked. “Did she plead no contest?”

Marissa nodded. “Rita was given probation. I believe she has learned her lesson from this experience.”

“Her mother is really sweet,” Jake stated. He and Rita’s older brother had gone to college together and were in the same fraternity.

“Please tell me that you all are not going to be sitting here in my office like this every time I go to court.”

Jillian laughed. “You might as well get used to the idea, Marissa. They treated me the same way when I started.”

“Me, too,” Marcus interjected. “And I bet Dad was at the courthouse, wasn’t he?”

“Yes, he was there,” Marissa confirmed. “Every case so far.”

“He still comes to see me in action,” Jillian stated.

“He comes to mine, too,” Anthony interjected.

Marissa looked over at Jake. “When did Dad stop coming to yours?”

Jake laughed. “When you started working here.”

Smiling, Marissa shooed everyone out of her office. “I need to get back to work and I’m sure you all need to do the same. Leave.”

Her first year at the law firm had been a success, as far as Marissa was concerned. She never thought she could work any harder than she did in law school, but Hamilton, Hamilton and Clark was a real pressure cooker at times.

There had been days when Marissa thought she would crack under the strain of it all, but she would never share this with any of her family members. It would just confirm for them that she was not able to handle the pressures of being an attorney.

The only person with whom she could be completely honest about her feelings was Griffin. He understood how she felt and never once judged her. She recalled a conversation they had had when she first started working at the firm. They were in his office going over a case.

“Griffin, can I ask you something?” Marissa had asked him.

“Sure.”

“Do you think I have it easier than the other associates because I am a Hamilton? I want you to be honest with me.”

He met her gaze and responded, “I believe you didn’t have to work hard to become an associate here after graduating from law school, but I know that your father treats all of his associates equally. It’s one of the things I respect most about him.”

“I wish everyone was as open-minded and observant as you.”

“Don’t let office rumors get into your head,” Griffin advised. “You can’t stop others from talking, but you do not have to give their words power. Stay focused on what’s important, and that’s proving yourself.”