The Intern: Enemies To Lovers

Hannah looked at me, waiting for approval. When I gave it to her, she replied, “Sure, that’s always a possibility. But my gut tells me that if the neighboring owner had more documentation, he would have provided it. No one wants to go to court and incur the expense of hiring an attorney unless they absolutely have to.”

“She’s right,” I confirmed. “In addition, my team has scoured through all the available evidence, digging through fifty years’ worth of land ownership, deeds, and county records. I can’t imagine the neighboring owner has resources that are better than ours.”

Walter exhaled loudly. “You know how these small towns work. It’s all whom you know, who can do you favors, who has more cattle, who has a bigger horse-you get my drift.”

“Walter, Declan is going to do everything in his power to win this case.” She leaned her chest against the table. “Please don’t worry.”

She was confident without being overbearing. Patient and charming.

On top of it all, she’d done her research, and she knew what she was talking about.

“The only thing I can add to what Hannah said is that the neighboring owner might want a credit for any money or taxes that he’s invested into the property since you’ve taken ownership. But we’re talking thousands of dollars versus the millions he’s suing you for.”

“I can live with that,” he said to me. He then crossed his hands over the top of the folder, his eyes softening as he looked at Hannah. “I remember the last time I was at Jenner’s for dinner. We were all sitting around the dining room table, and you were telling us about law school and your hope to intern at The Dalton Group. Never then did I think we would be here, working together. Or, if the opportunity did arise, that you would be this impressive.” He reached across the table and rested his hand on hers. “I should have never doubted you. You remind me so much of my daughter, and like her, you’re going to have a bright future ahead of you, young lady. I can see it, I can feel it, and quite honestly, I’m blown away.”

“Take every word of that compliment and run with it,” Jenner said, smiling at his cousin. “Walter isn’t known for handing out praise.”

“He’s right,” Walter agreed. “But you’ve earned it, Hannah.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

The truth was, I was just as blown away as Walter.

At Hannah’s ambition, at the respect she had shown me before answering any of his questions, at how well she had processed the hundreds of pages of information in Walter’s case file.

I’d heard several of the other lawyers at the firm speak about their interns. Many were book smart, but didn’t know how to apply their knowledge. Some could barely handle more than pushing paperwork around their desk.

Hannah was the exception.

And I had no doubt that she was soon going to become a brilliant litigator.

“I’d like to take you to the property,” Walter said, pulling his hand back. “Give you a chance to see the land in person, take some of your own pictures.”

“I’d like that,” I replied.

“Then, we’re going to my second-favorite restaurant in Jackson Hole.”NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

“And why not your first favorite?” Jenner questioned.

“Come on, son. You know the best restaurant in this town will be the one that’s in my hotel.” He looked at Hannah and me. “The hotel that you two are going to ensure gets built.”

“You can count on it.” I chuckled.

“I’m going to grab us another round,” Hannah said, jumping down from the stool as we sat around the high-top in the corner of the bar, where we’d come after dinner. “Does everyone want the same drinks?”

Walter, Jenner, and I nodded.

As Hannah left the table, I watched her disappear into the crowd of dancers, a much different setup than the spots we frequented in LA. There was a bluegrass band on a small stage in the front, and people of all ages were line dancing. With all the cowboy hats and thick belt buckles and boots in this room, I felt extremely out of place in my navy suit and gold tie.

The Wild West wasn’t just in movies, but never had I visited a town quite like Jackson Hole.

And never had I seen so many cowboys outside the rodeo.

“You’ve got a firecracker on your hands,” Walter said to me.

“You think so?” I looked toward Hannah, and one of the cowboys was standing just a little too close to her, the two of them talking.

Goddamn it. It didn’t matter where she was; she attracted attention.

I didn’t fucking like it.

Not one bit.

“She’s so much like my Joanna,” Walter said to Jenner, referencing his daughter for the second time today. “Eager, energetic. A girl who goes after what she wants and doesn’t settle. You know, I wasn’t sold on hiring Joanna right out of college. She was too young; she had no experience. I wanted her to prove herself, get a few years under her belt. But she fought hard, and by God, she won a position at Spade Hotels.” He shook his head. “I saw the same fight in Hannah today.”

The cowboy was now turned toward Hannah, smiling. His fingers were running through his beard and around his lips. He was flirting. Eye-fucking the hell out of her.

Why was the bartender taking so long to make her drinks?

Why was she even giving that cowboy the time of day?

I looked at Walter and said, “I’m not denying the fact that she’s going to be good-we can all see that. But the courtroom is a lethal environment. A place that can destroy the weak.”

“You’re saying she’s weak?”

“No.” I drained the rest of my drink. “I’m saying, I want her as prepared as possible, so when it comes time to fight, she’ll be ready.”

Walter’s eyes narrowed as he gazed at me. “I’m old and wise, young man. I’ve seen it all in my day, and I’ve probably experienced it in some form or another. That’s why I’m confident in what I’m seeing right now.”