Chapter 39
PAIGE
It’s Monday morning, and even though my muscles are sore and my body aches all over from the bedroom gymnastics Max and I did over the weekend, I’m excited to jump back into work and catch up on everything I missed last week.
I also have a meeting with the chief legal officer later to inform her that I am dating Max Hart.
To put it mildly, I’m terrified. Having never dated another lawyer before, this is a first for me.
I don’t know how this will go or what they will suggest moving forward to prevent Max and me from crossing paths on a case again.
Because we’ve represented clients adverse to one another—not just several times, but dozens, so many I’ve lost count.
Elenor, our founding partner’s secretary, taps on my door with her knuckle. “Good morning, Paige, could you come with me please?” As usual there’s no smile from her; she’s all business and always has this air of uptight stiffness about her, and her perpetual expression is hard and stern.
I follow Elenor through the sea of desks and bustle of the office, down the long corridor that leads to Dalton Moore’s office.
“He’s waiting for you inside.” Elenor motions to the door for me to walk through.
Well, this is new.
Perhaps I’m finally being made a partner, as I’ve wanted for all these years.
“Please close the door and take a seat, Ms. Bradshaw.”
Feeling nervous for no apparent reason, I shut the door and take a seat on the opposite side of his desk.
Today, Dalton looks older than when I started here. Strong and confident still, yes, but he’s aged significantly over the years. Running a successful law firm is taking its toll, but I’m sure I heard a rumor that he was considering retiring next year.
With his elbows on his desk, he steeples his fingers in front of him and looks at me with suspicion. “I’m going to get straight to the point, Ms. Bradshaw. It has come to my attention that you have been fraternizing with the opposing counsel during an open case.”
My heart falls into the pit of my stomach, and I gaze at him in despair.
As my stomach twists into knots, he continues.
“Having romantic relations with someone you are working against is a significant conflict of interest as well as highly unethical, Ms. Bradshaw, and therefore I am sorry to be the one to inform you of this but we have decided to relieve you of your position here at Moore he withdrew.”
“But you were seeing him in an intimate way before he did.” Dalton turns his computer screen toward me and scrolls down through the folder of photos and CCTV footage of Max and me together.
I can’t deny any of it; they are all time-stamped and dated, revealing my truth.
“I’m so sorry.” I shake my head back and forth, feeling completely defeated.
I’ve never been fired from a job before, and suddenly, I feel dirty and seedy.
Our secret hotel hookups no longer feel exciting or fun; instead, they tarnish everything I thought Max and I had, turning memories into regrets and making me question if it was worth it.
It wasn’t worth the risk of losing my job.
“Ms. Bradshaw, as a way of keeping this to ourselves, I ask that you please sign this NDA to ensure your confidentiality.” Dalton slides the document across his desk in my direction.
He’s serious about not wanting to cause a scandal. I don’t blame him; I would do the same if it were my firm.
I take the pen he hands me and quickly sign it, not reading any of it, my tears blurring the words and ink across the parchment.
All I want to do is run and get as far away from here as possible. I’m so embarrassed.
Dalton continues in his monosyllabic tone.
“And in return, mainly as a goodwill gesture, because I know you now have a little one to take care of, I would like to give you six months’ pay upfront to help ease the transition.
That will give you plenty of time to find a new position at another firm.
” He takes the signed NDA and replaces it with what looks like a reference.
“To help you, Ms. Bradshaw.” He confirms my suspicions.
“You’re a great lawyer, Paige.” He addresses me by my first name, something he never does.
“One of the finest. And I am sure you won’t struggle to find another position. ”
I brush the tears off my cheeks, desperately trying to pull myself together, my throat aching in defeat, contracted with all the things I should have said months ago but didn’t.
Just when I think he’s done, he drives the knife deeper into my heart. “Just don’t screw your next position up or screw the opposition.”
I’m filled with humiliation, my cheeks turning hot and crimson. I can barely look at him. “I won’t.” My voice is small as I take the reference.
“You’re free to go. HR will be in touch to finalize the details.”
I’m on my feet and making my way to the door just as he finally twists the knife for the last time. “Be careful, Paige. Griffin Holmes is not a man to be messed with.”
I shake my head in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“Stay away from him, Paige. That’s all I’m saying.
” I didn’t speak to him at the wedding, and I’ve never had any contact with him, so what does he mean?
“And please tidy yourself up in the bathroom before clearing out your desk. Without a fuss, preferably. You know how the tongues like to wag. And don’t take what doesn’t belong to you, Ms. Bradshaw. We have security cameras everywhere.”
Heartfelt. Gee, thanks. As if I would.
I nod, and with nothing left to say, I leave, my head spinning at a hundred miles an hour and feeling utterly sick to my stomach.
Wiping away any mascara from under my eyes, I straighten my shoulders, donning a mask of confidence, and make my way to my office to pack up my belongings.
Fuck going to the bathroom to clean myself up; I want to get out of here as quickly as possible, my embarrassment transforming into simmering anger.
Griffin Holmes. What the fuck did Dalton mean?
I busy myself by putting the last of my things into a box, and just as I’m about to put on my jacket, an email zooms into my personal inbox on my phone from the adoption agency.
To: Paige Bradshaw
From: Helena Dexter
Subject: Update on your adoption process: upcoming home visit and additional information
Dear Ms. Bradshaw,
We hope this email finds you well. We wanted to update you on the next steps in your adoption process.
Following our last message, the adoption agency has changed their decision and will conduct a home visit as part of the ongoing assessment.
Please be aware that someone from our team will contact you to schedule this visit; however, it may be several months before it occurs, as scheduling and staffing issues can cause delays.
Additionally, we have recently received some new information relevant to your case.
Currently, we are reviewing the details, which may potentially impact the timeline of your adoption process.
We will keep you updated as we gather more information and work to move things forward as smoothly as possible.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Best regards,
Helena Dexter
I read the email again.
Months.
Months?
What living hell did I step into today?
My temples throb like a pulse as I’m overcome with despair, the shock of defeat immobilizing me. I can’t think or see straight.
A demon has it in for me today.
It’s then a name pops into my head.
Griffin Holmes. He’s the demon.
Typing fast, I forward Max the email from the adoption agency and a CliffsNotes version of why I’ve been fired, asking him to call me as soon as he receives my email, as I’m heading home.
I also include the code to my security gate so that he can easily enter my house in case he forgot it from last week and he decides to drop in.
Then I’m darting out of my door without saying goodbye to Edward, storming through the office, as Elenor, Dalton’s secretary, does her best to subtly escort me out of the building. But with my belongings stuffed into an archive box, it’s more than obvious I’ve been fired.
I lift my chin, refusing to let the burn of humiliation scorch my skin.
If Griffin Holmes wants to break me, he’ll have to try harder because as I step into the glaring sunlight outside, one thought thunders through my mind: this is not the end of me or my career.
Not by a long shot.