The downtown Chicago law offices of Saunders & Graves occupied the top ten floors of the forty-five story office building at Wacker and Lake. It was a glittering gem that was at once beautiful in its clean design yet garish in its complete lack of history or spirit. The environment fit the practice of law like a glove.
On the 40th floor, the heart of the litigation department slowly pumped fees into the coffers of S&G. Brooke Strauss' office abutted the southwestern corner office of the floor. On the best days, Brooke caught glimpses of Lake Michigan through the patchwork of buildings. A fair amount of firm money and a great deal of her own personality ensured that her office exuded both taste and professionalism. Most law offices suffered from a bland atmosphere infused with sports metaphors and an adolescent longing for a day of golf. Brooke's office featured actual art work from local artists and more organization than should have been expected from such a busy lawyer.
Her assistant, Michelle, always remarked on how gracefully Brooke had decorated her space. The two young women made a good team. Michelle could have been a lawyer herself had she desired it, but she passed on the opportunity. A fairly well off uncle provided a sizable amount of money which presently sat in trust for her. Every month on the 12th, the trust worked to pay off most of her expenses. As such, she worked really just to occupy her time, and to get her blood pumping from the drama of a law office. Given Michelle's Irish background, she loved emotional intensity and it didn't take too much to get her dander up. Her heritage had left her with deep auburn hair and a fiery temper. It made for an interesting contrast to Brooke's calm and collected manner. More than a few of the office staff took to calling them fire and ice. Many thought they would hate each other or that Michelle would follow through on her persistent threat to "quit and live off her trusts." In fact, the two had forged a good working relationship and a decent friendship.
Michelle was currently leaning up against Brooke's desk. Her pert behind sat perched on the edge of the desk. Her legs were held tight together and drew sinuous lines down to high-heels that stabbed into the floor in front of her. Michelle's torso was bent forward at 45 degree angle and her hands clutched to the desk. Despite S&G's allowance of a casual dress code, Michelle still loved her skirt and blouse combos. Her hair was cut to just below her chin in a modified page-boy. A sloppy red lock had brushed down over her forehead as she placed the Carter file on Brooke's ever hectic desk.
"Do you need anything else today B?"
Brooke responded without looking up, the crown of her head a thick mass of wavy, black hair pointed towards Michelle. Brooke's coal black eyes were still fixed downwards at the final assignment of the day as she answered.
"No...I think twelve hours is quite enough isn't it Michelle?"
Michelle shook her head to herself and traced slow circles in the carpet with the toe of her tan pump.
"You know B, I get that this is an important job for you. I get that you're talented, but is this really all worth it? You know my take on this, but I just think there's more to life than just work"
Brooke slowly raised her head to meet Michelle's green eyes.
"To me it really is worth it. I've wanted to be a lawyer ever since I watched L.A. Law."
Michelle cocked her head back in a barking laugh. "Yeah but didn't they all get a lot more action than you?"
Brooke's face turned into a frown. Michelle realized her mistake. "Oh no B, I didn't mean....." Brooke's stretched back into her chair and looked up at Michelle. Brooke's suit coat had long been hung on the hook behind her office door. She still looked very professional in an off-white blouse and a navy pin stripe suit. Her pantyhose clad legs ended in a pair of sensible but well-heeled pumps. She pulled back her shoulders, drew her arms upward, threw her head back slowly and let loose a long yawn.
"No it's ok 'chelle. It's just been hard lately."
It had been hard. Brooke spent the greater part of her adult life fighting to overcome quite a bit in order to get where she now sat. Nine months ago she made partner at S&G at the young age of 32. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she never had the great fortune of family money - or any family really. She moved in with her aunt at six years old after her mother had passed away from cancer. Brooke's father had never been part of her life. Apparently, a child never did fit into his plans. She had reached out to him twice in her life. Both times were meaningless. It felt better as a closed chapter in her life. Her aunt did what she could to raise Brooke, though it was hard for her. That effort meant the world to Brooke. Most associates splurge on a new car or a vacation upon making partner. Brooke made sure her Aunt Lynn would be set up for the remainder of her life.
Maybe that was what drew her to law. She always had a sense of justice. Lots of lawyers could say they became lawyers because they wanted to "help people" or because it was "in the family." Not in the case of Brooke. She liked justice. So she worked two jobs while getting her high school degree. She needed the money, but it drew time and energy from her studies. Despite that, she earned enough to get a full scholarship to U of I. That's when the magic happened. She had enough free time to dominate her classes, and eventually power her way through to Harvard Law. That's just how she was. When her mind latched on to the idea of being a big city lawyer, she did what any powerful woman does - she willed it true.
The work world was a bit of a disappointment though. Despite her credentials, she still could sense the inherent sexism of the legal field. On some level, it didn't hurt that she was an attractive young women. On the other hand, many of the partners who interviewed her saw her as a piece of ass. At 5'8", she had a long and lean frame with generous B-cup breasts. Her hair fell in wavy dark locks to her shoulders. She had dark eyes, and her face was more sexy than it was cute. A smile never looked quite right, but she had a half smirk that could instantly grab the attention of admirers. Her legs, however, were her not so secret weapons.
Since high school, Brooke ran track. She even spent a year on the Illinois track team. Working out and running appealed to her Type-A nature. Given her already lithe frame, the constant training produced lovely results. In college, her legs were heavily muscled. Once she starting interviewing after law school, her workout regime diminished but did not disappear. Accordingly, her leg muscles smoothed into long, toned limbs that ended in graceful feet. On interviews, she would dress in business suits that accentuated her legs. Her goal was style. The effect, however, could bring leers and men twice her age stumbling over her words.
In the end, her skills would not be denied. A prestigious 250 lawyer firm in Chicago offered her a job and she leapt at it. For seven years, she toiled as an associate. Her firm became her family. It became her escape. Sadly, there wasn't very much else cluttering her life.
"Honestly B, you should relax tonight."
Brooke's assistant still felt bad about highlighting Brooke's lack of a social life. Michelle didn't have such problems. Her frame reached to only 5'5", but it carried pert C-cup breasts that Michelle had no compunction about displaying in all sorts of appealing clothes. Freckles slightly covered her cheeks and reached down to her chest. She had a "thicker" build than Brooke, with a round ass and soft curves all over her form. She worked out and was clearly in shape, but she had no interest in trying to get a six pack. That meant a flat belly with just a soft curve to it and firm, full thighs. Her workouts had also given her a sturdy back to support her breasts. Her nipples were very pink, and when erect would grow to be quite long. Those lucky enough to explore her nude body found her pussy to be quite tight with delicate lips. She also kept her mound completely hairless. In short, her entire body oozed sensuality.
Michelle loved life and drank it in deep. That meant great dinners, good wine, the occasional recreational drug when it tempted her, and her fair share of sexual exploits. She had spent many a night after work relaying detailed stories of her adventures to Brooke over wine. When men - and a handful of women - caught Michelle's eye one could almost hear her libido click into a higher gear. You could see a glint in her suddenly heavy lidded green eyes when that happened and her freckled nose twitched slightly.
"You should think about Mark," Michelle smiled broadly.
