"You are on the board of directors of Grayson enterprises, right, Tess?"
"Uh-huh. Doesn't this room look like a director's home office?" the girl asked smugly. "And might I say, it is second-best to Jake's, in case you get jealous."
"Director's office? It looks more like the inside of a spaceship."
Ashley and Tessa sat behind the latter's desk. It was not a regular piece of furniture. The desk was futuristic, with smart features like led panels, carbon fiber surfaces, and dimension change.
"Where did you get this from?" Ashley inquired, examining the marvel of technology. "Herman Miller? Steelcase?"
"Um, first of all, it is not a desk," Tessa said, narrowing her eyes and shaking her head. "It is a workstation. To answer your question- I had it custom-made. The alloy was imported from Germany's Sauerland, and the panels were crafted in Arizona. Engineers from Northwestern University worked for two weeks to craft it."
"It is pretty cool."
The workstation had a thick upper section, but there were no panels on the lower half. "However, I am not comfortable with a desk that displays your legs."
"If I had your legs, Ashley, I would show them anywhere and everywhere I could," Tessa teased. "Anyway, flip that underside switch, please."
Ashley found a button under the table's upper plank and switched it on. As soon as she did, a panel descended from the other side, covering the entire front of the desk."
"Damn, that is impressive!" Ashley observed.
"Isn't it? There are seven touch drawers," the girl demonstrated. "This is where I keep my chocolates. And in this secret pocket, I keep pills and condoms-"
There was a knock on the door, and Dmitri entered.
"Mr. Elijah Wood," he announced, holding out one of the double doors.
The girls sat alert in their chairs in anticipation. A man entered the office as soon as the secretary was done speaking.
About five feet eleven, lean and straight as an arrow, Elijah Wood walked in with a pace neither impetuous nor leisurely.
He had medium hair with a taper-fade quiff style. A Romanesque nose and dimples were set under electric blue eyes and a strong jaw.
Bottom line, he was damn good-looking. Tessa was practically drooling.
However, Ashley measured men less over their faces and more through their attire.
The lawyer was in a charcoal double-breasted Armani suit.
'Double-breasted, huh?' Ashley thought. 'That is a bit traditional. Hmm, and yet, it makes a statement. First of all, his V-shaped body helps him pull off the classic suit, and second, he intends to look overpowering and Wall Street-like. Not bad.'
Notched lapels. French cuffs at the bottom. Iron creases. Very subtle stripes.
'Guy wants to appear both professional and friendly. Mission accomplished, Guv'nor!'
There was a passing fad among young adults that year. Cutaway and seventies collars. Ashley had made sure to shun anyone who followed it. Their guest, fortunately, did not indulge in the fad.
Elijah Wood was thus a splat to the eye. Once you saw the goods, it was difficult not to be impressed.
'Shut up and take my money!' was what Ashley wanted to say aloud.
The hotshot lawyer shook hands with his hosts.
'Firm handshake,' Ashley told herself. 'Strong but soft hands. One that lifts dumbbells daily. Nevertheless, exfoliated and moisturized. He takes care of himself.'
"Miss Palmer. Miss Grayson," Elijah said in a crisp and engaging voice. "Pleased to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine," Tessa said, blushing and lingering on the handshake for a moment. "Call me Tessa."
Ashley looked at the girl with slanting eyes. 'Teenagers! Geez! He is probably ten years older than you."
Tessa raised an eyebrow at her partner as if saying, 'I don't care!'
"Please take a seat, Mr. Wood," Ashley began. "You come highly recommended from my acquaintance on Wall Street.".
"Thank you," Elijah replied, unbuttoning his suit and taking a seat. "By your 'acquaintance', you mean Kathryn Reed, Chief Legal Counsel for Goldman Sachs? You have friends in high places."
"We seem to have 'common friends' in high places. Lucky for us, they made today's meeting possible."
"I am just a common lawyer in the multitude, ma'am. I feel privileged that the Graysons and the Palmers want to do anything with me."
"A common lawyer, huh? Let me see," Ashley mused, sliding the morning issue of the Norwich Times towards him."
Elijah offered a cursory glance and shrugged with a smile.
"Hotshot corporate attorney Elijah Wood rescues billion-dollar company from hostile takeover," Ashley read aloud.
"It was an open and shut case," he asserted. "I merely presented the facts to the jury as they were."
"You are modest, Mr. Wood. The newspaper says, and I quote- 'there was no hope before Wood took over the matter.' The O'Brien family was about to lose their entire company to a tech-mogul until you stepped in."
"Newspapers. Media. They exaggerate."
"Fine. I shall put my praises to rest. Do you have any questions before we proceed?"
"I would like to listen to the case first."
"Of course," Ashley said, crossing her legs and leaning back. "However, our case is a bit personal and sensitive. Therefore, if you can indulge us, we wish to know you better first. The Elijah Wood we know is popular with the media. The poster boy of Norwich. Over and over, we have listened to the whitewashed version of him. Tell us who you really are. Are you a cat person or a dog person? Are you a Lakers fan?"
Elijah relaxed into his chair, and his lips bent into a weak smile.
"Very well."
He started talking. About his family. His hobbies. His favorite sport. And so on and so forth.
Elijah picked up the slightest cues and leaned into them. Whenever the girls intervened, his eyes did quick scans of both of them. It was as if he read and recorded their responses like a computer. The habit made conversation with him enjoyable.