Tricking Astrid (Ch 4.1)

 

Chapter 4- part 1

Sunday Remy didn't answer a single phone call she gave him. The significance of it, she tried not to dwell over. The horrible thoughts she had as the day turned to night were too much. She ate dinner while watching TV for distraction.

Astrid felt Remy may have been more upset than she'd realized. She'd slammed out of his car yelling at him after all. She'd acted like an immature bitch after he'd acted totally sweet.

All Remy ever told her was how pretty, smart, funny and incredible she was. Then she'd been a horny little whore who'd thrown his compliments back with spitefulness.

Monday morning she tried to phone him on her way to work. She lived four city blocks from the building of her employers.

The 3 C's. The Law Brothers Inc.

Their little commercials always added that bit of 3 C's. Brothers who were all law and no-nonsense. What COULDN'T one do for you?

Remy would not answer his phone.

She shoved her cell phone into her handbag when she entered the building. At the security desk, she showed Drew her ID. He winked at her as usual, waving as she flew past.

Her attitude was so dark she didn't notice Florence, the sixty-year-old who worked with her until they both stepped into the elevator. Florence had a quiet way whereas Mallory, the forty-nine-year-old they also worked with, was a busy-body. Flo, as she called her, gave a nod as they stood in the tiny space.

"Sorry," Astrid meekly smiled, "I'm a bit frazzled."

"It's only Monday," Flo softly kidded, "Wait until Friday to be so distracted."

The building in which she worked had fifteen floors. The lift stopped on the third. Chris Lewis, the eldest of all the brothers she worked for stepped inside.

He was tall, as they all were, with stylishly slicked back raven hair and green eyes behind reading glasses. His business suit was always impeccable. The attitude Astrid had did not compare to the dark one Chris appeared to have. He curtly acknowledged the ladies, stepping as far back as he could, impatiently looking up at the glowing floor numbers.

"Good morning," Flo cheerily greeted him, ignoring his obvious mood, "Third floor? Isn't that the Hockan Firm?"

Chris glanced at Astrid instead of Flo. "Yes. It seems Calder finally passed the bar."

Astrid gave the other women a puzzled look.

"Oh, how wonderful!" Flo beamed, "Jr. must join you three then? Yes?"

Astrid was lost. Who the hell was Calder? She knew the 3 C's father's name was Calder. Was there a fourth C? How frickin' lame.

"Yeah." Chris grumbled, once more looking at Astrid, which was beginning to unnerve her, "Florence," he looked at the other women at last, "You were my father's secretary, right?"

She nodded sharply. "For thirty years."

"Jr. is beginning today," he didn't sound at all happy, "Our father insisted on it, even though he's just returned from Harvard. I have an important hearing this afternoon as does Cody. If you could humor Calder until I return?"

Flo shrugged, "Chris, he's young. So were you once and now look? You and your brothers make fine lawyers. Calder will not disrupt the flow."

Chris gazed at Astrid. "Calder is twenty-five. How old are you again, um, Astrid?"

She looked down at her low-slung heels, "Twenty-three."

"Hmm," he replied, ending the conversation.

The 9th floor was at last achieved and they filed out. Librarians to the left, lawyer to the right. Marla, the nineteen-year-old secretary was on her headset already taking messages as Astrid stopped to wave hello down the hallway. Marla acknowledged her before Chris snapped at her.

Astrid resumed her walk down the carpeted hall until entering the large library. There were four different law firms in the building. All used the reference material. The 3 C's each had a librarian clerk. The other three firms only had a single clerk.

Flo, Mallory, and Astrid each had a glassed offices, which faced the many bookshelves. Astrid unlocked her small office, turned on the overhead then looked at the mess Cameron Lewis had made of the many books he'd piled haphazardly onto a cart. Cameron Lewis was 37 and a pig.

The 3 C's were actually 4, she mused, beginning her routine of checking files, notes, and cataloging. Chris, 45, Cameron 37, Cody 32 and now Calder 25. Calder Sr's wife had died fifteen years ago. The boys grew up in boarding school anyhow. All beautiful, intelligent boys.

Chris had married 15 years ago to Julia, who also had his stuck up, superior outlook. Their two children Sarah, 9, and Sam 8, were also raised by boarding school officials. Those poor kids. Chris's demeanor was often rude, callous and unwavering charming in the courtroom. He was the major player for the family fortune of winning cases.

Cameron was less abrasive, but still a man, who would snap at Astrid for absolutely no reason. She had been trying to talk Flo into taking more of his reference items to him because she hated his attitude. Flo had always worked for Chris who had more needs and Astrid was constantly told a big No.

Cody was the half lazy, half overachiever. He and Chris made more wins than Cameron, which probably pissed Cameron off. Yet, Cody only tried when the minutes were sparse, causing Mallory panic attacks trying to find what he needed at the very last second. Cody was always thankful at least, unlike Cameron who always asked Astrid what took her so long.

Astrid was very warm once she began the re-shelving process. The black turtleneck she wore was sleeveless, but it covered the nasty hickey Remy had given her neck. The reminder of it made her body heat up even more. It was spring, the weather nearly seventy degrees. The air conditioning wasn't even on yet in the building. The knee length black skirt she wore did little to cool her. Black on black. By lunchtime, she was ready for her hour break.

Mallory waddled over to the area Astrid was in. She was a heavy-set lady who ate much more than she ever told people she did. Her on-going list of foods that weren't eaten were lies as she plainly ate it in front of you. Yet, she was a sweet and compassionate although really noisy at times.

"Astrid!" Mallory grinned up to where she was on the third rung of a ladder, "Lunch time! I'm NOT going to eat that awful tuna they had on Friday. I may have the roast beef, but it may make me tired. Or, an apple sounds good."

Flo and Mallory usually ate across the street at an outdoor cafe. It was a nice day to go, but Astrid was already sweating and behind on her shelving. Flo was calling for Mallory to hurry. Astrid was never formally asked to go with them. If she did, she did. If she stayed they left her in the dust.

"Have an apple," Astrid smiled down at the plump lady, "It's too hot for roast beef. I'm going to keep shelving these damn books until I'm done. I swear Cameron didn't even need these!"

Mallory shrugged, turning on her fat little feet, "Maybe he just wanted you to get them. He had a fight with Hope and always calls on you when he wants to boss a girl around."

Astrid laughed at her retreating figure. Maybe Cameron had. She usually did whatever the boss demanded. It WAS her job. Luckily Cameron didn't have a case at the moment, so she could catch up. Slow times were precious to her.