there’s no competition.’
Veronica had Stefan all to herself for the time being, and while she had him, it was them versus us. She’d sympathise with him, shield him from the enquiries of the other solicitors, and provide a sympathetic ear. She had a sensitive side, after all.
She tilted her head. ‘Sounds like you needed a drink to deal with this lot.’
‘They mean well, or so I’ve been told, but they don’t seem to get it. Everyone I speak to thinks I should still be interested in this MRC Insurance case.’ Stefan shook his head. ‘The case means nothing to me.’
‘No, it probably wouldn’t now but it did once. You’ll get used to them. Like you said, they mean well.’
God, there was nothing Veronica loved more than a challenge and Stefan was all that and more. She’d always fancied him, and although he’d been married she wasn’t going to e let a small thing like that get in her way. But Stefan had stayed away. Even after dumping Claire, he’d still stuck to those ridiculous vows. Veronica could never work out why.
Now the tables had turned. Stefan might have lost his memory but had lost none of his charm, and the situation made him all the more intriguing.
She hated to admit it, but at work Stefan had always been a more highly skilled lawyer than she. He had such a brilliant analytical mind, and could cut to the core of any argument; He was a dynamo, always inspiring the junior staff to work to their utmost ability.
He wasn’t so far above her any more.
In fact, Veronica thought he was just within reach.
‘We’re all interested in the intricacies of the law and how it works,’ she said. ‘That’s the main tool of our trade but, don’t worry, I won’t bore you with it. I’m sure your life at the moment is much more exciting than mine. So, tell me what you’ve been up to.’
‘Do you really want to know?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘I went to see the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.’
The look on his face told Veronica that this was a test; he was waiting to see if she’d laugh at him. That was the one thing she would never do.
‘And what did you think?’ she asked.
Stefan nodded. ‘Amazing structures. Sydney harbour is too magnificent for words.’
Her lips curled. ‘You’re right. They’re spectacular.’ After a pause, Veronica added. ‘So, before that, you didn’t know what the harbour or the bridge looked like?’
‘No.’
‘It must’ve been fantastic seeing them again for the first time.’
‘It was.’
’How wonderful for you to experience it through fresh eyes. I think Sydney is a beautiful city, but it’s far too easy to take everything for granted when you live here. Maybe I should take a leaf out of your book and do the same thing.’
‘I wouldn’t recommend the being hit over the head part.’
‘I might skip that bit.’ Smiling, she added, ‘See, not all lawyers are so bad.’
Stefan’s gaze wandered. ‘I still don’t feel like I belong.’
‘The boardroom isn’t exactly meant to convey a pleasing atmosphere.’ Veronica shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. ‘We could always go somewhere else for a drink.’
Stefan’s expression changed, becoming rigid, as though his facial muscles had frozen in place.
Damn it, she’d jumped in too soon.
‘There are a few of us who often head to the Burgundy Bar for a cocktail,’ Veronica added, softening the invitation. ‘You’re welcome to join us.’
‘No, thanks.’ He looked down, then up again as though there was a question on the tip of his tongue.
‘Was there something you wanted to ask?’
‘I feel so out of place here that I find it hard to believe I once fitted in. Was I like these other people? Did I live and breathe work?’
She nodded. ‘Pretty much. You had another life as well, though, with Claire.’ Veronica added, ‘But that didn’t work out so well in the end.’
‘So I gathered.’
‘But you didn’t fall apart after. You got on with
Veronica had Stefan all to herself for the time being, and while she had him, it was them versus us. She’d sympathise with him, shield him from the enquiries of the other solicitors, and provide a sympathetic ear. She had a sensitive side, after all.
She tilted her head. ‘Sounds like you needed a drink to deal with this lot.’
‘They mean well, or so I’ve been told, but they don’t seem to get it. Everyone I speak to thinks I should still be interested in this MRC Insurance case.’ Stefan shook his head. ‘The case means nothing to me.’
‘No, it probably wouldn’t now but it did once. You’ll get used to them. Like you said, they mean well.’
God, there was nothing Veronica loved more than a challenge and Stefan was all that and more. She’d always fancied him, and although he’d been married she wasn’t going to e let a small thing like that get in her way. But Stefan had stayed away. Even after dumping Claire, he’d still stuck to those ridiculous vows. Veronica could never work out why.
Now the tables had turned. Stefan might have lost his memory but had lost none of his charm, and the situation made him all the more intriguing.
She hated to admit it, but at work Stefan had always been a more highly skilled lawyer than she. He had such a brilliant analytical mind, and could cut to the core of any argument; He was a dynamo, always inspiring the junior staff to work to their utmost ability.
He wasn’t so far above her any more.
In fact, Veronica thought he was just within reach.
‘We’re all interested in the intricacies of the law and how it works,’ she said. ‘That’s the main tool of our trade but, don’t worry, I won’t bore you with it. I’m sure your life at the moment is much more exciting than mine. So, tell me what you’ve been up to.’
‘Do you really want to know?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘I went to see the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.’
The look on his face told Veronica that this was a test; he was waiting to see if she’d laugh at him. That was the one thing she would never do.
‘And what did you think?’ she asked.
Stefan nodded. ‘Amazing structures. Sydney harbour is too magnificent for words.’
Her lips curled. ‘You’re right. They’re spectacular.’ After a pause, Veronica added. ‘So, before that, you didn’t know what the harbour or the bridge looked like?’
‘No.’
‘It must’ve been fantastic seeing them again for the first time.’
‘It was.’
’How wonderful for you to experience it through fresh eyes. I think Sydney is a beautiful city, but it’s far too easy to take everything for granted when you live here. Maybe I should take a leaf out of your book and do the same thing.’
‘I wouldn’t recommend the being hit over the head part.’
‘I might skip that bit.’ Smiling, she added, ‘See, not all lawyers are so bad.’
Stefan’s gaze wandered. ‘I still don’t feel like I belong.’
‘The boardroom isn’t exactly meant to convey a pleasing atmosphere.’ Veronica shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. ‘We could always go somewhere else for a drink.’
Stefan’s expression changed, becoming rigid, as though his facial muscles had frozen in place.
Damn it, she’d jumped in too soon.
‘There are a few of us who often head to the Burgundy Bar for a cocktail,’ Veronica added, softening the invitation. ‘You’re welcome to join us.’
‘No, thanks.’ He looked down, then up again as though there was a question on the tip of his tongue.
‘Was there something you wanted to ask?’
‘I feel so out of place here that I find it hard to believe I once fitted in. Was I like these other people? Did I live and breathe work?’
She nodded. ‘Pretty much. You had another life as well, though, with Claire.’ Veronica added, ‘But that didn’t work out so well in the end.’
‘So I gathered.’
‘But you didn’t fall apart after. You got on with
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