Reinvention of Chastity (3 page)

“Dugan is such an ass. He probably told his clients they could win. I bet he’s trying to drag this out for as long as he can to pad his wallet. I’m just surprised he hasn’t been brought before the ethics committee yet.”

Jeremy nodded in agreement. “I hear you. It’s attorneys like him who give the rest of us a bad name.”

Nothing disgusted Sebastian more than a crooked attorney. There were lots of slimy lawyer jokes and Irwin Dugan epitomized most of them.

It had been a shady lawyer who was indirectly responsible for Sebastian’s chosen profession. His parents were both second generation Italian-American, both raised to believe in the American dream.

Franco and Marina Rossi instilled in their children the value of hard work and family. Though they’d not been wealthy in terms of money, in love and unity they lacked for nothing. There was no one Sebastian had loved more than his father and no one he wanted to be like more.

Franco encouraged his son’s dream of becoming a professional basketball player. At fifteen, Sebastian had been the star of his high school basketball team. His dream came to a screeching halt however, when he’d come home one day to find his mother in hysterics. He’d never forget that day as long as he lived.

“What’s wrong, Mama? What’s going on?” he’d asked. Before she could respond, Sebastian instinctively knew something had happened to his father. It was just the type of connection he and his father had.

It turned out that Franco had been fatally injured on the job while working with faulty machinery. To add insult to injury, the company he’d work at for nearly twenty years, refused to pay the death benefit. At the urging of family, Marina consulted an attorney who not only promised to get them what the family was owed, but much more. When all was said and done, the charlatan’s fee was greater than the piddling amount the company grudgingly paid in the end, leaving the family in debt.

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Sebastian wrote several letters to the Bar Association, to no avail. To make matters worse, with his father’s death there was no health insurance, which was devastating because Marina had three children to support, including a daughter with special needs. It had been a humbling experience for all of them to live off of their relatives’ charity.

What the lawyer had done left a lasting impression on Sebastian.

It gave him an interest in the law. Winning a basketball scholarship at Temple University, he chose pre-law as his major. After graduating summa cum laude he was accepted into law school at the University of Pennsylvania where he decided to specialize in personal injury law.

Not long after passing the bar on his first try, Sebastian soon secured a position in one of Philadelphia’s top firms, where he made a name for himself. It was also where he met Jeremy. He worked at that particular firm for five years, when he and his friend decided to start their own law firm. His success enabled him to move his mother into her own home, equipped things that would make life easier for his sister as well.

Sebastian also helped his brother through medical school.

Because of what happened to his family, Sebastian took on several pro bono cases and he never led his clients on. If he felt there was a case he fought hard for them, but if he thought there wasn’t, he said so. He prided himself on his stellar reputation in the law community and no amount of money was worth selling out his integrity.

“Earth to Sebastian.” Jeremy leaned over the large desk waving a hand in Sebastian’s face, breaking him out of silent musings.

“Huh?”

“Where were you, man?”

“Oh, I was just thinking.”

“What about?”

“It isn’t important. What’s up with you bursting into my office like a lunatic?”

Jeremy’s lips twisted sardonically. “I didn’t think I needed to make an appointment to see you.”

“Of course you don’t. So, what’s got you all excited?”

“You’d know if you saw Chastity walk into the building this morning.”

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The Reinvention of Chastity

Sebastian frowned. What the hell was his friend talking about? He couldn’t think of a single thing that would cause excitement about his frumpy paralegal. “Chastity Bryant? What about her?”

“She doesn’t look like the same person. It’s like the extreme makeover team got their hands on her. I swear, I didn’t recognize her when she walked by me.”

Jeremy wasn’t prone to exaggeration, but Sebastian had a hard time picturing Chastity with any type of makeover. “It’s about time she decided to do something with herself, but how different can she look?”

“Sebastian, she’s hot.”

“Now I know you’re pulling my leg, especially when I know the type of bimbos you date.”

“Yeah, like you’re one to talk. You get more ass than a toilet seat.”

Sebastian shrugged. “I’ve worked hard to get where I am today.

There’s nothing wrong with dating around, as long as I’m safe.”

Jeremy wiggled dark blond brows at him. “It’s a little more than dating, don’t you think?”

“Go to hell.”

“We’re going together, remember? Anyway, as I was saying, you have to check her out.”

“Uh, maybe later. I just can’t picture Chastity looking any better than she usually does,” Sebastian sighed. The very thought was laughable.

“Okay, but remember, I saw her first.”

In the middle of taking a sip from his coffee mug, Sebastian spit out the hot liquid at his partner’s words. “Are you kidding me?” he asked, grabbing some napkins from inside his desk and started to blot up the mess he’d made.

“I’m as serious as a heart attack.”

“What happened to that reporter you were dating? I thought things were getting pretty hot and heavy with the two of you.”

“Justine? She dropped the M-bomb so you know what that means.”

“Perhaps if you were more upfront with your women in the beginning of the relationship, you wouldn’t go through this over and over again.”

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Jeremy chuckled with his usual air of nonchalance. “We can’t all be Casanova, with women throwing themselves at us like we’re super studs.”

“Cut it out. You have no room to talk, pretty boy.”

Rolling his eyes heavenward, Jeremy shook his head. “I wish you wouldn’t call me that. Anyway, I just thought I’d stop by with the office buzz.”

“Really? The entire office is talking about her transformation?”

“I’m telling you, it’s dramatic.”

“Okay, I’ll walk by her desk later, but I have to get through these briefs, so I’ll talk to you later.”

Jeremy stood up. “Sure. Just to let you know, I have a ten o’ clock consultation, so I’ll be indisposed for the rest of the morning.”

“Okay.” Sebastian waved his friend out of his office before turning his attention back to the paperwork on his desk. Alone again, yet he couldn’t concentrate. Damn Jeremy, for making him think about someone he normally didn’t give much thought to beyond the work she produced for him.

“How different can she be?” he muttered.

Sebastian tried his best to focus on the work before him, but after several failed attempts, he gave up. “Shit.” He stood and walked out of his office. Curiosity had gotten the better of him. When he made it to Chastity’s desk, she wasn’t there.

“Hiya, boss,” Pearl Addison, another paralegal, greeted him with a brief salute before turning back to her computer.

“Good morning, Pearl. Um, have you seen Chastity?”

“She said something about getting some files. I guess she’ll be back in a few minutes. I’ll tell her that you came by.” The woman gave him a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Pearl looked old enough to be his grandmother. She was an efficient worker and that was all that mattered to him. He sometimes got the distinct impression that she didn’t really approve of him for some reason.

“If she won’t be long, I think I’ll wait for her. Did you have a good weekend?”

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The Reinvention of Chastity

Pearl looked slightly annoyed by the question, but answered pleasantly enough. “My weekend was just fine, thank you. Me and the hubby went to visit my daughter in New York. Poor Carl grumbled the entire way there about the price of gas, but what can you do?”

“Yes, the prices are getting out of hand, aren’t they?”

Faded blue eyes narrowed slightly. “I’m sure you’re really feeling it with that big Escalade you drive.” Her voice dripped with scorn.

“Yes. I’ve been driving my other car lately.”

“Oh…the Mercedes?” she spat the words out with borderline contempt. Sebastian would be damned if he apologized for his wealth and didn’t feel the need to explain to Pearl how he supported his family and gave to charity on a regular basis. He worked very hard to be in the position he was in now and to have someone look at him as though he didn’t have the right to spend his money as he pleased, annoyed him.

“Yes, I’ve been driving the Mercedes lately. With all the nice spring weather we’ve had lately, I’ve been able to drive with the top down,” he answered with a smile.
Take that old lady.

Pearl’s lips pressed together in a tight line of disapproval, but she wisely said nothing. He hadn’t realized how unpleasant she was. Jeremy had been the one to hire her.

“Mr. Rossi, is there something I can help you with?” a familiar feminine voice asked from behind him.

Sebastian whirled around and nearly fell backwards at the sight that greeted him. His eyes widened in surprise. No. It couldn’t be. Could it?

Chastity raised one perfectly arched eyebrow, obviously waiting for his response. “Chastity?”

Her full, glossy, plum-colored lips curved into a smile. “If you don’t mind, could you move out of the way so I can put these files down?

They’re getting kind of heavy.”

He couldn’t move to save his life, even when he realized what an idiot he must have looked. She rolled her eyes and sidestepped him, then dropped the files on her desk. Sebastian looked her up and down, taking in every single detail, yet still not believing what he saw.

Jeremy had been wrong. She wasn’t hot—she was breathtaking. He found himself temporarily robbed of speech. Gone were the thick, 21

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unattractive glasses, revealing large, thickly lashed dark eyes. Why had he never noticed her sensually curved lips before? Or the small mole resting at the top corner, emphasizing their sexiness? They looked like they’d been made for kissing. He had the sudden urge to capture those skillfully painted lips with his until she begged for air.

Her smooth, dark brown skin glowed with health, barely hinting at the use of make-up, which he was sure she was wearing. Sebastian found it difficult to look away. Chastity’s normally pulled-back hair was now fashioned around her face in a riot of soft curls that cascaded to her shoulders. When his gaze slid over her outfit, his balls tightened and his cock stirred.

Small, round women had never been his cup of tea, but seeing the generous amount of cleavage displayed by her low-cut beige top made it difficult to tear his eyes away. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other, and it was apparent that she was growing impatient, but he couldn’t help it. The transformation was nothing short of miraculous.

Damn, she had nice legs too! Short women weren’t supposed to have well-shaped, curvy legs like that. She had the cutest dimpled knees he’d ever seen. He liked what he saw. A lot. Sebastian’s mouth watered. His tongue snaked out to dampen his now dry lips as he imagined wrapping his arms around the ample armful in front of him and—wait a minute.

What in the world was he thinking?

This was Chastity Bryant for God’s sake, his employee. Even if he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, she wasn’t his type. Right? Chastity was the one to finally break the silence, an indiscernible expression in her dark eyes. “If you don’t need me for anything, I have a lot of work to do,” she said, turning her back to him, her round bottom taunting him.

Sebastian’s hands covered the front of his pants when his cock grew uncomfortably hard. What the hell? Only minutes ago, he couldn’t give a flying fuck about her, but now he was standing in the middle of his firm, rock hard and dying to pull that juicy backside against him. If he made any sudden movements, he’d draw attention to his…problem. Not to mention, he was extremely annoyed at being dismissed so offhandedly.

His pride was stung. Who was this body snatcher and where was she hiding the pod with the real Chastity? First, the strange behavior of last 22

The Reinvention of Chastity

week and now the stunning transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, what was next?

“Oh, actually there are a few things I’d like to go over with you, but it will be lengthy. Maybe we can discuss it over lunch.” The minute the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them. He’d never once invited her for lunch for work or otherwise, so where did that come from?

Her eyes widened with apparent surprise. “I’m sorry Mr. Rossi, but I have plans for lunch. Is it possible to have this meeting later in the day?”

Was she kidding? If he weren’t so damn horny right now he’d point out that she worked for him and not the other way around. “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “Come to my office in half an hour with notepad and pen.” Sebastian turned around abruptly and strode off before he further embarrassed himself.

He wasted no time getting back into his office and closing the door firmly behind him. Once seated, he unzipped his pants and eased his cock out. He curled his fingers around the base of his throbbing erection and slid them along his hard length. Sighing in relief, he couldn’t believe he was masturbating in his office like some untamed schoolboy. How was it possible that a woman, who he wouldn’t have given a second thought to before this metamorphosis, could bring him to this point? And so suddenly?

God, he ached.

No woman had ever made him feel this sexual pull so instantly.

Sebastian squeezed his eyes tight as he remembered the tangy scent of her perfume and how he’d wanted to bury his face against her delectable chocolate neck. He imagined what she’d look like naked under his gaze, her large breasts overflowing in his hands. Would she have large nipples?