Give and Take

Give and Take
Kira Stone
Second Edition
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2006, 2014 Kira Stone
An Authorized Excerpt

Give and take, baby. You gotta know how to give and take in this game, or you're going to lose every time.

Stomping back to her office in Earth Prime's Legal Counsel Complex, the arrogant words of opposing counsel's lead defender echoing in her ears, Hannah Baird fumed. Who the hell did Dennis Rafferty think he was offering her advice?

So she'd blown her best shot at getting a plea bargain by refusing to budge on the deal she'd offered his client. Why should the bastard get off easy for sexual misconduct, just because he happened to be one of the most famous sports stars in Galactic Prime history? And they'd only touched the tip of the comet when it came to tax evasion. The guy was major bad news, and he deserved every punishment she now had to fight for in Earth Prime High Court.

Give and take, baby.

Oh yeah, there was something she'd like to give that Rafferty. A punch to the ego.

The few beings she encountered in the halls darted out of her way, perhaps warned to steer clear of her by the way her Old Earth style stiletto heels pounded the shock absorbent floor. Despite the cushion, each step jarred her whole body. She was tense as hell and felt another migraine brewing at the base of her skull, courtesy of Dennis Rafferty.

The egocentric prick.

She breezed past her secretary and entered her office, closing the door behind her. Platinum blonde curls -- natural, thank you very much -- fell from the tightly coiled arrangement atop her head to float about her shoulders as she pulled loose the band that had been holding them in place. She kicked off her shoes, planted her feet in the thick, soft carpeting and let loose with a primal scream. The soundproofed walls absorbed the sound, but nothing could absorb her anger.

Hannah was wound too tight. She knew that. She'd let the case get to her, let the outcome matter.

Give and take, baby.

Give and take, indeed. She was giving this case everything she had, and it was taking her soul in return. What she needed was some time off. And a man to get off with. Given her ball-busting reputation and her lack of a social life outside of the Halls of Galactic Justice, that had about zero chance of happening.

Might as well get to work then.

The athletic bastard's trial would start in less than a week, and she had a lot of material to organize, arguments to prepare, witnesses to contact. She might not have the slam-dunk of a plea bargain to seal this guy's fate, but she was determined to see him incarcerated. Permanently.

She'd barely gotten started on the pre-trial paperwork when her secretary buzzed her. "Yes? What is it?"

"A meeting just appeared on your calendar. You have three minutes to reach Chamber M."

It was a room Hannah had never heard of before, nor did she recall arranging to meet anyone else today. That didn't preclude a member of registered counsel from viewing her public calendar and adding to it. "Thank you. I'll check it out. And, Sandy? I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm sorry."

Her secretary chuckled. "I figured Rafferty had done something to rile you. It seems to be his trademark with all Galactic prosecutors. You'll beat him in the end, or at least give him hell trying."

Hannah repeated her thanks, and then brought up the details of the new meeting. The invite was for her only. No sender listed, other than an automated reminder. The subject read, "Negotiating Session."

Ah! So she'd worn down Rafferty and his morally challenged client after all. Or maybe the arrogant lawyer thought that by now his little message had sunk in, leaving her eager for another round of discussion. Well, it had. She'd give him hell and take no crap from the likes of him!

After getting the coordinates for the meeting location, Hannah slipped on her shoes. This time she took the short-range teleport instead of walking. Nano-seconds later, she arrived in a curiously comfortable area outfitted like a doctor's waiting room. She was still trying to get her bearings -- teleporting made her feel as if she'd been sucked up in a mini-tornado, which is why she often chose to walk instead -- when a very pleasant male voice behind her said, "May I help you?"

Whirling around so soon after arrival did bad things to her equilibrium. Off-balance, she pitched forward.

He caught her around the waist and steadied her. "Easy, now. Relax."

Honey had never flowed so thick and sweet from a man's tongue. Hannah could get happily drunk just by listening to his voice. If only she had the time…

Unfortunately, she had a meeting to attend.