Chapter 63
Rain took a deep breath before entering the building. She walked directly to the office of Chief Prosecutor John Hart, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and anticipation. She had heard a lot about him, and Brandon had reassured her that Chief Prosecutor Hart was a just and hardworking patriot of the state. His secretary immediately escorted her inside his office.
“You’re finally here!” he exclaimed with a wide smile as she entered. Rain bowed her head slightly and greeted him politely, “Good morning, Chief Prosecutor Hart p>
The older man, who was in his fifties, extended his hand for a handshake. “I’m delighted that you accepted the position in the Major Crimes Unit p>
“It’s my pleasure, Sir,” Rain replied, shaking his hand firmly. Although it wasn’t her first time seeing the Chief Prosecutor, it was her first formal meeting with him. She felt relieved that their interaction was off to a positive start.
They briefly discussed her upcoming responsibilities and what to expect in her new role. She would be the lead Prosecutor of Team 3 Organized Crime Unit under the Major Crimes Unit focused on cases involving organized crime syndicates, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
The more they talked, the more excited Rain felt about the challenges ahead. She was grateful that Chief Prosecutor Hart didn’t ask why she had initially turned down the position to join Smith Law Firm.
As Brandon had informed her, Hart was indeed a dedicated man, focused on making sure she understood how demanding their work could be.
“Come, let me introduce you to the others,” Hart said as he stood up. “I’m sorry that I’ll have to put you straight to work on your first day, but we’re short on Deputy Prosecutors at the moment p>
Rain nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and readiness as she followed Chief Prosecutor Hart through the building. After introducing her to various parts of the office, he finally stopped at her assigned workspace and began the introductions.
“This is Jane Cruz, your office security,” John said, gesturing to a young woman who looked about Rain’s age. Rain extended her hand with a polite smile, and Jane shook it warmly.
Next, the Chief Prosecutor pointed to a man in his thirties. “He’s Matt Brown, the investigator.” Rain offered her hand again, and Matt shook it with a firm grip.
“And this is Marlon Jones, the paralegal,” Hart continued. Marlon greeted her with a handshake and a friendly grin.
“Well, I’ll leave you to settle in,” Chief Prosecutor John said before turning to leave. “If you have any questions, feel free to come to my office p>
As soon as he left, Jane looked at Rain with curiosity. “How old are you, Attorney Clayton p>
“I’m twenty-three,” Rain replied with a smile.
“Wow, so young! I heard you topped the recent board exam. We’re looking forward to working with you!” Marlon commented enthusiastically.
“Come on, let’s give our new prosecutor some time to settle in. We’ve got plenty of work ahead,” Matt said with a serious expression.
Jane then escorted Rain to her small office, giving her some privacy to get acquainted with her new surroundings. The office was modest, especially compared to the one she had at Smith Law Firm, and it was already piled high with paperwork on pending cases.
Rain gulped as she took in the sight. She needed to wrap things up quickly today, as she still had one final task for the evening. Madame Beck had already informed her that she would have another exclusive performance at the Gentleman’s Club—this time for her loyal client, Alexander Lancaster.
Hours passed quickly as Rain worked diligently, determined to make a strong start on her first day. When she finally finished as much as she could, she prepared to leave.
“Attorney Clayton, how about we have a team dinner to formally welcome you tonight?” Jane suggested as Rain stepped out of her office.
Rain smiled apologetically. “How about tomorrow night instead? I’m sorry, but I have a prior appointment today p>
“Oh, no worries, Attorney Clayton. Please go ahead,” Marlon quickly interjected, allowing Rain to nod and leave with a grateful smile.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Marlon turned to Jane and Matt with a sly grin. “So, how long do you think she’ll last here p>
“I’m betting on a month,” Jane replied with a smirk.
Marlon nodded and pulled out his phone, scrolling through a group chat. “Bets are already coming in from other units. Someone from the Juvenile Division bet she’ll last only three days!” he laughed.
Jane looked over at Matt. “What about you, Detective Matt? How long do you think Prosecutor Clayton will last p>
“Years, perhaps,” Matt answered calmly. “I heard from a reliable source that Attorney Clayton is extremely dedicated to her work p>
Jane shrugged, unconvinced. “All I’ve heard is that she came from Smith Law Firm and that she’s a bit petty. Rumor has it she resigned after the Director, who she was involved with, chose to marry her half-sister instead of her p>
Matt shot her a stern look. “You’d do well not to spread baseless rumors p>
Their conversation was abruptly cut off as the door swung open, revealing Prosecutor Anna Miller from Team 2 White-Collar Crime Unit which specialized in cases involving fraud, embezzlement, corruption, and other financial crimes.
She crossed her arms and frowned. “I heard your new prosecutor already left.” She clicked her tongue and crossed her arms as she added, “Tsk, it’s her first day, and she’s already slacking p>
Jane and Marlon exchanged a glance, but before either could respond, Matt spoke up. “She had a prior engagement. It’s not slacking if she’s handling her responsibilities p>
Anna raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, but she didn’t push further. “Well, let’s hope she’s as dedicated as you say,” she muttered before walking out, leaving the team to their thoughts.
“Why do I have a feeling that everything will be chaotic soon?” Jane mumbled with a gulp. She knew all too well that Prosecutor Anna had a knack for getting rid of prosecutors she didn’t like, often pushing them out of the office with subtle but relentless pressure.
Marlon nodded in agreement. “Yeah, it’s not going to be easy for Attorney Clayton. If Anna’s already got her eye on her, things could get rough p>
Matt glanced at the two, his expression unreadable. “Let’s see how things play out p>