Chapter 169

Ella

The sun had barely begun its ascent into the morning sky as I made my way into the office. The familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted me as I stepped into the break room, and I couldn’t resist pouring myself a cup.

After the events of that weekend, I couldn’t get my churning thoughts out of my mind. Between the time I spent with Logan and the stranger known only as ‘Jet’, I had plenty to think about.

But today, I was determined to just have a regular day of work for once. No mysteries, no intrigue, just tackling the stack of papers on my desk.

Just as I was adding a splash of cream to my coffee, Sarah approached me with a warm smile.

“Morning, Ella,” she greeted me, her eyes bright with energy despite the early hour.

“Morning,” I replied, returning her smile. “How’s your day starting off?”

Sarah shrugged as she poured her own coffee. “Can’t complain. Just another day at the office, you know?:

I chuckled. "Tell me about it."

There was a brief silence as we sipped our coffee. But then, Sarah leaned in slightly, her tone conspiratorial. “Hey, have you heard any rumors about Mr. Henderson making any announcements soon?” she asked.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her question. “Announcements? What kind?”

Sarah’s expression turned hopeful. “I heard a rumor that he might be announcing promotions or raises for the year. You know, end-of-year bonuses and all that.”

I took a sip of my coffee, pondering the implications of such an announcement. “I haven’t heard anything about that, but it would be a pleasant surprise, wouldn’t it?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, definitely! I’ve been working really hard this year, and it would be great to see it pay off.”

I smiled at her dedication. “Well, I think you’ve been doing an excellent job, Sarah. If Mr. Henderson asks for input on promotions or raises, I’d be more than happy to vouch for you.”

Sarah’s eyes widened in surprise, and she blushed slightly. “Wow, Ella, that means a lot to me. Thanks.”

I waved off her gratitude, genuinely wanting to support my coworker and newfound friend. “No need to thank me. You deserve it.”

With the topic of promotions and raises settled, Sarah turned the conversation in my direction. “And how’s everything going with you, Ella? You’ve been getting a lot of attention lately, haven’t you? I’ve noticed all of the cases floating your way.”

I sighed a bit. While I had been receiving new cases left and right, it still felt like a bit much. Most of them were small cases, such as small claims court or divorce, but it was overwhelming. “Yeah, it’s been a bit overwhelming, to be honest,” I admitted. “I didn’t expect to have so many clients seeking my services all of a sudden.”

Sarah leaned closer, her expression supportive. “Well, you’ve been doing great work, especially on those big cases you handled recently. People are noticing, Ella.”

I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt at her words. Those three big cases she mentioned had been handed to me by Logan, and even though I had done my best, it felt as if they had been simply given to me on a silver platter.

“What’s wrong?” Sarah asked, sensing my trepidation.

I shrugged. “I don’t know, Sarah. It just feels like I don’t deserve it. Like I didn’t really earn those big cases that got me all of this attention.”

Sarah quirked an eyebrow, then shook her head. “Ella, you can’t control how opportunities come your way. You can only make the most of them when they do. And if people are noticing your work, it means you’re making an impact.”

Her words struck a chord with me, and I nodded in agreement. “I guess you’re right, Sarah. I should see it as a chance to prove myself and continue growing.”

Sarah’s face lit up with enthusiasm. “Exactly! And hey, if you ever want to partner up on some cases, you know where to find me. We could make a killer team.”

I chuckled at her eagerness. “That might not be a bad idea, Sarah. Let’s keep that in mind.”

With a final clink of our coffee cups, we both headed out of the break room, ready to face the workday ahead. It was comforting to finally have a friend like Sarah in the office, someone who understood the challenges and aspirations that came with our profession.

Once I was back in my office, I settled into my chair and began to delve into the pile of papers on my desk, but my concentration was short-lived.

Just as I was getting into my work, the door to my office burst open, and Logan entered, looking disheveled and haggard. His presence startled me, and I couldn’t help but jump in my chair.

“Logan, what’s going on?” I asked, my concern evident in my voice.

He tossed a folder onto my desk with a frustrated look on his face. “I got served with court documents this morning,” he said, his voice tense. “An old business associate is trying to take me to court. Can you fucking believe it?”

I furrowed my brow, picking up the folder and opening it. My eyes scanned the documents inside, and my confusion deepened. “Property damage? This doesn’t make any sense,” I muttered.

Logan let out a frustrated sigh and pulled out his phone. He showed me a series of photos, depicting a burned-down property.

“He’s an old friend and business associate of mine,” he explained. “One of his businesses burned down months ago. And now, all of a sudden, he’s accusing me of being the arsonist!”

I was taken aback. I knew that Logan would never do something like that. “Have you tried talking to him? This just seems so out of left field.”

Logan passed his hand over his weary face. “Trust me, I tried. But he won’t take my calls or anything. And I’m afraid to say something that could be used against me.”

“You’re right,” I said, taking a deep breath. “It’s best to just handle this, lawyer-to-lawyer. Just lay low and I’ll handle it, okay?”

Logan ran a hand through his hair, his expression a mix of exasperation and relief. “I just can’t believe he’d do something like this,” he sighed. “I mean, we worked together for years. He was an old family friend. Why turn on me out of nowhere?”

I offered him a reassuring smile, even though my mind was racing with a million different thoughts. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, Logan. Trust me.”

He nodded. “Thanks, Ella. I appreciate your help with this.”

With that, Logan turned and left my office, leaving me to contemplate the documents in the folder he just gave me. This whole situation felt strange and out of left field, and it made me wonder if there wasn’t more to it.

I leaned back in my chair, determined to start my investigation and clear Logan’s name. But just as I was about to dive into the case, my phone rang, breaking the silence of my office.

I glanced at the caller ID, but it was unknown.

And in that moment, I felt my heart begin to race.