Nathan's penthouse shown above

I was about to leave for work when someone knocked on my door. Rushing for the gun on my nightstand walking slowly towards my hotel room door.

"Julian," I breathed out opening my door wider for him as I uncocked my gun. "whatever happened to calling? Or just appearing in my closet?" I asked as I walked back into the room with him behind me. "I'm going to be late for work." I continued as I threw my phone and computer in my bag. "You realize that isn't your real job. This is." Julian motioned to my guns and weapons spread out on my dresser that I had cleaned the night before.

"Yeah, I know." I replied not sounding very convincing. I looked away from him hating the fact I actually had begun to enjoy working with Nathan. It was nice to feel like a normal person working in society. To think this might've been my real life if I had only had a wealthy family and parents. "What's up?" I sighed making him shove his hands in his pockets.

"You haven't told boss your plan for the next two weeks you have left." He said making me roll my eyes as I crossed my arms. "Actually, I-I do have a plan. There is someone Nathan works with who doesn't get along with him. Nathan takes all of his biggest cases because of his job title. They have gotten into arguments in front of the office." I said making him nod.

"Nathan, huh? You're on a first name basis with this guy?" He asked slightly amused making me roll my eyes. "I'm going to do it one night where Mr. Winslow was the last one to see him or at another party where there are other possible suspects." I explained making him hum in reply. "That's good. I'll tell boss. Don't forget you have two weeks to get this done." Julian said before leaving and closing the door behind him.

I knew he was right, and I was determined to hurry and complete this mission as soon as possible. I could not let my judgement be clouded by how good looking he is. It had to be completed before these two weeks and I will finally be recognized for my talents by everyone I work with.

"Just in time for the holidays." I sighed heavily remembering I made plans with my brother to visit him for Christmas.

Rushing through the main floor of the building with each of our coffees in hand. "Come on, come on." I pressed the elevator button repeatedly with my elbow making me groan as it took forever. After what felt like an eternity the door finally opened as a few people come out making me move out of the way. pressing the tenth-floor multiple times hoping no one else would come in.

Throwing my purse on my chair and tossing my jacket on my desk before opening his door with my back. "You're late." Nathan said not looking up from his work making me place his cup on his desk. "I know I'm sorry. There was traffic." I lied. I began to walk away to leave when he spoke making me stop in place.

"Leave earlier next time. I expect it to not happen again." Nathan said making me tense my jaw in annoyance before scoffing as I closed the door behind me. Sitting down at my desk to begin working for the day when Eve walked up to my desk.

"You're never late. I hope everything is okay." She said making me smile weakly. Everything's dandy I was just conspiring to kill my boss is all. "Yeah, there was just some traffic. I should've woken up earlier." I replied making her chuckle.

"How could you have known?" Eve replied making me smile at how genuinely nice she was. "Mr. Gallagher seems to be in a bad mood as well." Eve said making me scoff again. "When isn't he? Everyone here has a stick up their ass." I said making her laugh as she looked around hoping no one overheard.

"What made you want to become a lawyer? You look like someone who should be modeling or just anywhere but here." Eve said smiling nervously making me hesitant to reply. "I don't know about modeling-" I replied looking away not used to someone genuinely being nice to me with no motive.

"You're too modest. It's crazy to think about any guy here actually getting any work done." She said making me chuckle. "You're not too bad yourself, Eve." I replied making her roll her eyes not believing me.

"I've worked here long enough to know that Nathan's favorite color is blue. Wear it and he might take it easy on you." Eve said with a smirk before walking away.

The day was almost over as the sun began to set and people left to go home. Sitting at my desk for most of the day working on my notes I've taken with Nathan's clients and typing them into the laptop when I heard him walk up beside me.

"I just finished these. Put them away tomorrow morning." He said as he placed a stack of documents on my desk making me nod looking back down at my notes. A few seconds had passed as I noticed he was still there not hearing his footsteps depart. I looked up at him making him clear his throat. "What are your plans for Christmas?" Nathan asked shoving his hands in his pockets.

I frowned slightly confused knowing he didn't care about me and my personal life. And the last thing he did was start small talk conversation with anyone. "Probably just see my brother and sister-in-law." I replied looking away to finish my notes not thinking as I grew more and more tired.

"Aren't your parents in town also?" Nathan asked making me tense but quickly ignored it.

"Yeah. Yeah, o-of course. I just haven't seen my brother in a long time." I answered honestly making him hum. "I'm sure you're looking forward to seeing your family." I replied sarcastically through a smile trying to take the topic away from my nonexistent family. "It's family. Does anyone actually look forward to seeing them?" Nathan replied making me look away not knowing how to reply.

I've never had a family to celebrate holidays with. Nick would always do his best to buy me gifts and decorations as a kid, but it was difficult knowing how broke we were back then. Our gifts to one another were usually homemade or stolen. Once I moved out, I celebrated on my own by ignoring it as much as I could and taking shifts at work. And now I have the money but not the time.

I just gave him a weak smile before finally finishing my notes I took over the past few days. "I'll see you tomorrow." I said placing the laptop in my desk and turning my lamp light off. "Hopefully on time." I joked lightly as I grabbed my coat and purse to leave.

Nathan's POV

Carmen was unlike any woman I had ever met before. She was assertive and headstrong and wasn't intimidated by me and my position. She stood her ground around all the men who tried making advances towards her. Unlike Hannah who appreciates any sort of attention towards her. I enjoyed how Carmen reacted to Hannah's attitude towards her at the fundraiser. It was amusing watching how much Carmen's words affected her.

Carmen intrigued me for reasons I don't know and that's why I had to hire her for my firm. I couldn't get her out of my mind. And it was convenient that she happened to actually be better at the job than my previous secretary. Although I wasn't expecting her to be such a distraction to not only me but the other men in the office. Like Declan. He was a player and only saw her as another conquest in the building.

But I knew I couldn't get attached to anyone especially right now in my career and all of the pressure I was under. No woman would ever mean more to me than my family's business and legacy. Nothing meant more to me than keeping our business afloat.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Hopefully on time." Carmen said through her usual gorgeous smile before leaving. I watched her disappear into the elevator running my fingers through my hair. I returned back into my office to finish my work for the night.

Work was the only thing I had ever been taught to be good at other than football which gave me a full ride scholarship. My brother and I were meant to be partners in my family law firm until he suddenly changed his mind recently in the last few months. When my own brother told me how unhappy he was, and it made me think about my own happiness. But I couldn't get caught up in my emotions needing to shove those thoughts deep down knowing there was no point. I needed to step up and take control over my father's hard work and legacy he has passed down onto me.

Hannah was only a point to prove to my mother that I was capable of having a relationship and have a family while also being head of the company by myself. And I knew she was only using me for my status and money, so I think that's a pretty fair negotiation. Although I did wish she would be a little less annoying and clingy, but I guess that's how women are.

After a few more hours I was the only one left on the floor just like every other night. Grabbing my things to leave once I was finished, locking my office door.

Walking through the lobby of my apartment before getting inside the empty elevator. I looked up from my phone to see an attractive young woman follow me inside giving me a small smirk. She was brunette wearing an elegant outfit for the winter: a white long sleeve shirt and black pants with a brown overcoat and matching heeled boots. As I looked at her from behind, I couldn't help but picture Carmen.

How attractive she was and how her clothes always hugged her curves beautifully. I knew this young woman was nowhere near as attractive as Carmen. Now I couldn't help but compare every woman I saw to Carmen no longer interested in having one-night stands with anyone else. I silently scolded my unwanted thoughts as the elevator opened to my floor. Quickly moving past her sighing heavily as I opened my door, I tossed my keys on the table next to my front door. Walking through my penthouse into my bedroom getting undressed to take a shower.

Once I was finished, I changed into a more comfortable tee shirt and sweatpants before walking into my kitchen to start dinner. Unable to keep Carmen out of my mind and knowing she would continue to be on my mind when I fell asleep and woke up the next morning. Just like how it has been ever since I met her. Filling with annoyance and frustration at this simple woman suddenly clouding my mind like any other woman has before.

Deciding to work on one of my cases that I've decided not to tell anyone about uncertain if there was anything worth conviction. A detective that I am often in contact with brought it to my attention. He gave me all of the evidence he had on Mikhail Ivanov which wasn't much.

It was clear he wasn't up to anything good and was corrupt but there wasn't anything specific to pin on him to give him time in prison. It was easy for him to find loopholes around the law and to prevent himself from getting caught by anyone. It was all hearsay and his work against theirs if anyone who worked for him was brave enough to come forward. Which no one ever has. He was untouchable.

There were rumors that he had criminals working under him and paid them to do his dirty work. He was seen bribing police departments across the country and spent most of his time at his hometown in Russia. He was sometimes seen at houses or business days or weeks before the person he visited died in mysterious ways. Robbery gone wrongs, home intrusions, random murders, or seemingly natural causes.

But there wasn't much I could do without evidence besides track down the few witnesses that placed him at the scene of the crimes beforehand or after the fact.

The only light in my home office was the lamp on my desk as I worked in complete silence quickly growing tired. Deciding to get a few hours of shut eye before going back into work. Locking up my desk and office door in case of a break in before shuffling my way into my dark and empty bedroom.

I couldn't deny that I often felt lonely on nights like these. Which was probably why I often lied to myself about needing to work as often as I do. To keep my mind off of what I might've been missing out on like the loving wife and children that my brother and sister had and clearly enjoyed. But I knew that kind of life wasn't for me.

I couldn't put a woman and children through this kind of life of me having always needing to be in the office away from them. Having children grow up with a nonexistent father who seemed too busy, and self-involved to take time away from work to spend time with them. Missing birthdays and holidays to finish my heavy workloads and schedule important meetings with large companies and wealthy families. Spending almost every night at the office. Constantly letting my family down.

So, I've decided to deprive myself of a personal and social life and focus on my job that I've just recently inherited. The last thing I wanted was to end up being like my father.