Collateral Damage

Chapter One

"Kendra, sweetheart, I am going to have to ask you to stay with me for about three seconds here, okay? A man named Christopher Hanson from Nealed Corp. is coming to review the final draft of their contract, I need you to stay here at the desk and walk them to the big conference hall. Okay? Can you do that?"

Michelle sighed as she turned away from the desk and walked to her office. She couldn't stand people who couldn't take the heat of being a woman in corporate. Yes, Kendra was just a temp for her usual secretary out on maternity leave, but she should really be thanking Michelle. After all, the experience she was giving her was priceless. Not only was Pere & Partners the top law firm in Massachusetts, one of the top law firms in the country, but it was a dog-eat-dog world out there and the sooner you understand that the better off you would be... If she could just ever get that blank look out of her eyes...

Satisfied, Michelle turned into her office and closed the door. Nealed Corp. would be here within half an hour and she didn't have time to hold anyone's hand this morning.

As she sat behind her desk, she scanned the spacious room. Large windows stook up one wall, directly in front was a functional sitting area for when she needed a less formal area than her desk. It was rarely used. On the other side of the office was the door to the private en suite. Her large Mahogany desk was the clear focal point of the room, designed to intimidate and impress. At least that is what she told the little Italian man when she custom ordered it. She'd had no complaints when it arrived. The deep rich color of the wood seemed to evelope whoever was sitting in it, not that there were any others who were allowed to sit in it. It all together gave the impression of a throne. No, no complaints at all.

Her eyes came to rest on the corner of her desk, in front of a stack of papers, and to the right of a vase of flowers, changed daily by the staff of course, the 6"x 3" plaque stood proudly; Michelle Holden, it read, Attorney at Law. She had worked long hours and sacrificed a lot to become a Partner and done much more to stay there. Being a Partner here at Pere was hard work, being the only woman Partner within the last ten years was harder. But she had never let that stop her and certainly did not plan on it. Sometimes you had to get your hands dirty to prove you can play with the big boys, and if you made enemies on the way, well, that was collateral damage.

"U-uh, Ms. Holden, there are the men from the Nealed Corporation here to see you, they are here fo-" The soft nasally voice interrupted her thoughts. Just as well, Christopher was 3 minutes late and she planned on charging him for it.

"Kendra, I know what they are here for. Did you take them to the conference room like I asked?" The ever present blank look was her answer, Michelle rolled her eyes, "Never mind, don't hurt yourself, I will take care of it. Get someone in here to dust this place, and please for the love of God, don't touch anything."