Rivals In Law

By Lois Edmonds

The O’Connor and Keller legal dynasties have been arch rivals for many years. When Kat O’Connor learns that the owner of her rented cottage is the son of her father’s sworn enemy, she conceals her true identity.

Anton Keller is intrigued by the mystery woman in his cottage running from a broken marriage. As they fall headlong for each other, they embark on a rollercoaster ride of desire, deception, and heartbreak. Will their love be strong enough to end the family feud – or will it tear them apart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lois Edmonds
• Release date: Oct 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466138711

Lois Edmonds

The author has two loves:writing and painting pet portraits. After many years in the UK as a professional charity fundraiser and marketer, Lois now lives in Brisbane Australia, where she divides her time between writing, painting, and charity work.

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Rivals in Law

Lois Edmonds

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011 Lois Edmonds

Discover other titles by Lois Edmonds at Smashwords.com.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Chapter One

Kat…are you really sure about this?

Pam's brow creased in concern as she leaned over the kitchen table and put a supportive hand on the arm of her best friend.

After all your hard work to qualify – can you really give up law completely?

Although Kat's eyes glinted with pent up emotion, her voice was clear and steady.

I have given this a lot of thought, Pam. I admitted to myself long ago that the main reason I went into law in the first place was to please my father. Even when Tim and I were happy together, my heart was never fully committed to practising law. And now…

All of her life, Kat had known she was expected to follow her father and become a lawyer. John O'Connor was a big man - by all accounts. Big in stature, big in personality and big in the legal world. His ruthlessness in and out of the courtroom was well known, and he was feared rather than respected by his peers.

You didn't want to cross John O'Connor.

Her father was a driving force in her life. And once - when she dared to show a spark of rebellion - he had totally quashed her plans to follow the career path she desperately wanted.

After that, law seemed as good as anything.

But legal studies didn't come naturally to her, and her years at university were spent focussed on work, leaving little time to socialise. Her striking looks attracted many hopeful young men and her cool manner only served to heighten their interest. Dating Kat O’Connor became a ‘challenge’ and many tried their hand, but they quickly learned she wasn’t interested in having a good time and they soon moved on to easier marks. By the time she graduated with honours, she may have been highly qualified, but she was also still very naïve in the ways of love.

Kathleen O'Connor's unusual violet eyes dropped to hide the hurt that coursed through her. She was still raw and bleeding from the break-up of her five-year marriage to Tim. She had been a freshly qualified lawyer in her father's prestigious firm when Tim Sawyer joined the company six years ago.

Tim was charming, good-looking, very bright, and a rising star in the legal world. The young, impressionable Kat had been swept off her feet, and they were married within a year. It helped that her father heartily approved.

Kat moved into his fashionable loft apartment, and they lived the carefree life of two young professionals in a vibrant city. Tim didn't adjust his life much to accommodate a wife – it was Kat who had to fit in with his way of life. She joined his gym, entertained the few friends he brought home, accompanied him to social events when he asked her to - which wasn't very often.

It seemed to Kat a large part of his life was off-limits to her.

He played poker every Monday night with anonymous male friends, and she soon learned not to question where he was or what he was doing. Yet, he could be charming and attentive when he was in the mood, and their lives were happy enough on the surface.

When John O'Connor made his son-in-law a Senior Partner, things started to change.

Increasingly, Kat found herself leaving alone after work, and there were times when Tim didn't some home at all, with endless excuses of working late on one case or another.

And then - just a few days ago - she returned to the office one evening to retrieve her forgotten dry-cleaning. The deserted rooms were in darkness, but as she walked along the corridor, she heard giggles and moans coming from Tim's corner suite. With the blood pounding in her ears, and a sick feeling in her stomach, she flicked on his office light. The scene before her would have been comical… if only her whole world hadn’t been crashing down around her.

Jane, a young law graduate who had recently joined the firm, was sprawled backwards on the big leather sofa with her blouse open and her skirt hitched up around her waist. Her panties and tights were thrown carelessly on the floor. Tim, with his trousers around his ankles, was lying between her outstretched legs, clearly caught in the act of entering her as the light flooded the room.

Kat was devastated, Jane was embarrassed, but Tim was unrepentant and rather smug about the whole thing. Not without reason as it turned out, as to make matters worse, her father considered Tim too valuable an asset to lose over a 'trivial' personal matter, even when it concerned the happiness of his daughter.

Kat felt betrayed by her father's disloyalty. She tried to carry on working in the same offices as Tim and his lover, but the constant reminder of his betrayal was impossible to bear. Like all workplaces, the news spread like wildfire, and between the pitying looks and the snide remarks, Kat made her decision.

It was the catalyst she needed to leave the family firm – and to leave the profession completely. Her heart really wasn’t in it. She lacked the killer instinct, preferring to take the underdog cases. The ones that would never make her name in the tight legal community. She was a good lawyer, but she would never be a great one.

Whereas, there was something she believed she would be very good at – and this was her chance to find out.

What will you do? Pam's frown increased as she studied Kat's sad countenance with an old friend's concern.

Kat's eyes cleared, and she managed a small smile. Something I have always wanted to do – paint!

Pam looked at her incredulously. Paint? What – houses?

Kat grinned at her friend's words. No, silly – canvasses, works of art!

Pam was still shaking her head in wonder. I didn't know you were an artist – and I've known you since that first year at uni…!

Kat sobered. 'No, well, I haven't exactly had time paint since I went to university. When I was sixteen I desperately wanted to go to art school, and even won a scholarship without my parents knowing. But – Dad wouldn't allow it. He insisted the art school withdraw their offer on some legal pretext or other. I would be letting him down, he said. He had such high hopes I would carry on the O'Connor firm…so I studied law instead. I couldn’t just dabble at my art. I knew if I tried to keep on painting, my studies would suffer, so I gave it up completely."

But, what about since? Surely once you were working you could've picked it up again?

The edges of Kat's mouth lifted in a sad half smile. I tried – but Tim didn't think it was a suitably 'cool' pastime for an up-and-coming lawyer – specially one that was also the wife of a Senior Partner...

Pam was indignant. 'Oh! that man! He was a real control freak! You are well rid of him… She stopped as the hurt look descended on her friend's face, and took her hand in apology. Sorry, love. But, take my word for it - one of these days you will meet a man who puts Tim in the shade. A man who will give you the love you deserve."

Thanks, Pam. I know you mean well, but it is too soon to think of that. It will take a long time before I will be able to love anyone – let alone trust a man again.

Pam endeavoured to take Kat's mind off her self-pity. "So, you are going to paint. Become a famous artist. Wow! That's great!'

The distraction worked, and Kat brightened up. Well, I have to find somewhere to live first. You have been a real brick having me here, but I can't stay with you forever! As for my parents – once I tell Dad I'm leaving the firm, I'm sure I won't be welcome at home either. I need somewhere peaceful and quiet, and with beautiful scenery to inspire me.

Hmmm… Pam looked thoughtful. Actually, I may be able to help with that. There is an advertisement on our notice board in the office, for a holiday cottage for rent on the South Devon coast. I think it belongs to a lawyer from another firm, a friend of one of the Senior Partners. It looks very quaint, and from the photo it seems isolated and right on the top of a cliff. It should be available - I'm sure there aren't people queuing to spend the winter months on a windswept bluff!

Kat looked across at her friend eagerly. It sounds exactly what I'm looking for! Somewhere I can be alone with the sea, and cliffs, and stormy weather! Please, send me the details, I'll get on to it right away.

So, when are you going to tell your father he's losing the heir to the business?

Kat's eagerness faded. As soon as I've organised the cottage. There is no point in delaying the inevitable. He will be angry and hurt, I know , but – She hesitated, but the words came out stronger and determined. not as angry and hurt as I would be if I stayed. Besides, it was his choice to retain Tim in the firm. Dad knows that he has made my life in the office intolerable. I'm going to follow my heart, my passion - for the first time in my life I'm going to do something for me!

Pam grinned her approval. Good for you! I'll email the details as soon as I get to work tomorrow!

True to her word, the email from Pam arrived as soon as Kat fired up her computer the next morning, and within minutes Kat had contacted the agent and leased the cottage for six months.

All that remained was to go and see her father.

On her way to his office, she passed the tearoom. Tim and his new love Jane were sharing a small table in the corner, laughing and joking over cups of steaming coffee. She glanced away from the cosy scene but it stiffened her resolve. She couldn't wait to put this place and its bad memories behind her.

Her determination never weakened under the fierce tirade that washed over her after she told John O'Connor her news.

Her father was incensed.

What on earth are you thinking of, my girl! You can't possibly walk away from this firm, the law! This place is your future – your inheritance! For goodness sake - don't throw your life away because of Tim's one silly digression! For goodness sake, he doesn't love the girl, it’s just a fling. I'm sure if you give him another chance, he will toe the line in future -

Kat struggled to remain calm. You would ask me to forgive him and forget about it? I wouldn't have him back now if he crawled to me on all fours!

John O'Connor tried all his considerable legal persuasive skills and formidable personality to sway the argument. Listen to me, Kat - marriage is not something to give up at the first hurdle! You have to work at it, be accommodating, and forgiving. You - young people these days have it too easy…Goodness, if your mother had left me when I strayed the first time, you would have never been born –

Kat looked at him in disgust. Is that supposed to persuade me to accept his betrayal? Because that's what he did – he betrayed my love, and there is no going back for me. You say Mother forgave you for your dalliances? I ask you…back then, what choice did she have? She had no way of supporting herself. Well – I do have a choice. Tim's infidelity has ended any chance of us staying together, and it has given me the opportunity to finally do something for myself – not what everyone else expects of me!

"Now you listen to me, my girl! Painting is just a hobby. You can do it in your spare time if you must, but you are not giving up on the chance of a great career for a stupid obsession with dabbing paint on a blank canvas! You could become a powerful lawyer in the City, a woman to be reckoned with -"

Kat's eyes held his fast with a steely determination. She wasn't her father's daughter for nothing. Oh, I will become a woman to be reckoned with all right – but on my own terms! I have always wanted to paint, you know that! I will prove you wrong, Dad. I will make a success of it because my heart will be in it. Her tone softened. I'm really sorry, Dad. I can't be what you want me to be. But, I hope that one day you will be proud of me – for making a success of something I love to do.

She held his gaze for a long moment, but he didn't respond. She dropped her eyes and turned to leave, steadfastly refusing to give in to tears. There wasn't anything more to say, he would come round in time – or not. She had to think of herself now.

Kat felt drained and emotionally exhausted as she packed her things. She had just experienced a second round of painful truths, this time with her mother.

Kat had gone to say goodbye to her. Maureen O'Connor was a quiet, unassuming woman whose whole life centred on her husband and daughter. She couldn't bear the thought of the two people in her life at odds with one another.

She tried to appease her daughter.

Kat, love…you know your father only wants what's best for you -

Mum, is that was the case, he would be pleased for me! He wouldn't ask me to carry on with a career I don't enjoy – and to stay married to a cad like Tim!

Maureen sighed. If only I had been able to give him a son, then he would have been content to let you follow your own path. But, it wasn't to be…after you were born, he was away so much, it just never happened.

As Kat looked at her mother, her father's words came back to her and she bristled. "Mum, that is not your fault! He should've been around a lot more – and from what he tells me, he could've been a lot more attentive to you. Can you believe he asked me to forgive Tim and take him back? Just because he