Chapter 6 Feeling A Bit Jealous, Are We

Jillian was representing an insurance company this time around. The plaintiff, a clothing factory owner whose warehouse had recently burned down, was claiming compensation that the insurance company had denied.

"But-" Her assistant seemed to think her approach was too harsh.

"If we were to empathize with every unfortunate soul who resorted to dubious methods to secure funds, where would we draw the line? Keep quiet. I need to focus on the documents." Jillian cut off the conversation abruptly.

Her assistant, a newbie just out of law school, clearly still had much to learn.

Returning from the court, Jillian dialed Liam and made a beeline for the restaurant where Bryan was dining.

Maintaining Bryan's attention was crucial, especially to keep him from making any covert legal moves against her interests.

As she entered the private dining area, she walked straight over to Bryan and effortlessly took a seat on his lap, draping her arms around his neck.

"Good afternoon, Bryan. Miss me today?"

"Get up," Bryan said, his brow furrowing as he tried to disengage her embrace, but she tightened her grip once more.

The entire table watched the scene unfold with astonishment!

"Talking all morning left me parched."

Ignoring their gawking, Jillian reached for Bryan's drink and gulped it down.

"Why isn't this fresh? Next time, make sure to order fresh juice. It's healthier."

As she spoke, Jillian slyly pinched Bryan under the table, casting him a seductive glance.

Bryan tensed at the unexpected pinch, swiftly capturing her hand in a firm grip.

Jillian surveyed the room, noting the familiar faces, then leaned in close to his ear, her voice sultry.

"You naughty boy... take it easy..."

Bryan's ears flushed pink, yet his face betrayed no emotion. He tightened his hold on her wrist, his tone low and controlled.

"Are you going to move, or must I force you?"

"I'll move!" Jillian winced at the pressure.

Relinquishing her wrist, Bryan watched as Jillian shifted to the chair next to him, only for her to retaliate with a sharp kick to his shin!

He merely gave her a look, opting not to respond.

The entire table observed their interaction, perplexed. Was this their strange way of flirting?

"Jillian, is this your version of a greeting? I wouldn't mind one," Liam joked.

"Ask Bryan. I belong to him now. It's up to him if he wants to pass me to someone else-"

"When did you become my girl?" Bryan interjected sharply.

"Who undressed me back in the office? Was it just for show?" she queried, arching an eyebrow.

Bryan's face tightened slightly.

"Bryan, I wouldn't have pegged you for such actions. Is it true?"

"Wasn't there talk that Bryan had no interest in women? What's changed?"

Bryan ignored the jibes, maintaining his composure as he poured himself a glass from a bottle.

Without a word of explanation or denial, he took a sip, fully aware that he needed to stay sober for a court appearance later in the afternoon.

His colleagues watched him, admiring his ability to remain unruffled under their intense scrutiny.

Liam, redirecting the conversation towards Jillian, asked with a hint of curiosity, "Did you secure another victory in court today, Jillian? What was the fee?"

Jillian casually speared a bite with her fork and replied nonchalantly, "Nothing major, just a couple of villas."

Bryan's eyebrows lifted subtly.

The rest of the table, except him, buzzed with envy.

Handling such high-stake cases was no small feat. Their jealousy at her multimillion earnings was palpable.

"You're a veritable cash generator! Shouldn't you be treating your old classmates to a night out?" Liam pressed, half-jokingly.

"That wouldn't be wise. I'm with Maple and you're with Apex. Our firms are rivals. If I openly socialize with you, my boss might suspect I'm leaking secrets," she explained, her eyebrow arched as she continued eating.

"Why not switch to our firm?" Liam, a partner at Apex, quickly proposed.

"If I switched over, you might regret it. I'd take over everything," Jillian retorted confidently, crossing her legs and throwing a challenging look their way.

She was a senior partner at Maple, well-respected and valued by her boss, leaving her no reason to consider a move.

Moreover, she preferred to keep her distance from Bryan, wary of losing her composure over lingering feelings.

It was better to maintain a relationship without emotional complications.

Liam fell silent at her response.

Indeed, having Bryan, a powerhouse in the field, was competition enough.

Adding Jillian to the mix would indeed leave little room for anyone else!

Later that evening, Bryan had just stepped out of the shower when he received a video clip from a friend.

He played it to see Jillian in a private dining room, laughing and chatting with a man. She casually placed her hand on his back and playfully fed him fruit.

The video, apparently shot covertly from outside, captured no sound.

He recognized the man as Joseph Vance, the head of Maple.

Bryan moved to the bedside table and retrieved a pack of cigarettes. He lit one and took a deep inhale, releasing a cloud of smoke into the air.

After a brief silence, he dialed Liam.

As soon as the call connected, he demanded, "Address."

"Feeling a bit jealous, are we?" Liam's laughter echoed from the other end.

"Enough, just give me the address." Could Jillian really think she could flirt with him by day and another man by night?

"Skytop, Room 615."

Bryan ended the call, dropped his towel revealing sculpted abs, and walked over to his wardrobe.

Meanwhile, Jillian and Joseph were exiting the nightclub, taking a leisurely walk down the street.

"Feeling any better?" Joseph inquired with a note of concern.

"Much, thanks to the fresh air. You should head back, Joseph. I'll be leaving soon too." Jillian's head was slightly spinning after the rounds of toasts with her colleagues.

Joseph lingered a moment longer. "Speaking of which, how's the divorce case progressing? I hear Bryan Michaels is on the opposing side. Should we consider assigning a different lawyer to your client?"

"Are you suggesting I might lose to him?" Jillian smiled, her tone light yet confident.

"You need to keep winning to continue landing major cases. You've become the face of our firm, and everyone's eyes are on your battle with Bryan Michaels."

"With all eyes on us, backing down isn't an option. Don't worry, I'll handle it." Jillian reassured him, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat.

As they talked, a sleek black luxury car drew near, Bryan immediately noticing the two illuminated by the streetlamp.

As he observed Jillian's hand on the man's shoulder, which seemed intimate, a frost seemed to form over Bryan's usually composed expression.

With a sudden screech, the car halted abruptly beside the two!

Startled, Jillian turned just in time to see-was it Bryan's car?

The rear window lowered slowly, unveiling half of Bryan's stark, handsome face. The chill air from within the car spilled out, adding a tangible coolness to the night.

"Get in," he commanded.