Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Ariana
I shut the door and let out a deep breath. Now I could fall apart. I walked over to the couch, laid down, and brought my knees to my chest. The hurt and anger I felt was unbearable. What did I do to make him feel that way? When we parted ways on Sunday, everything was perfect. The job, the dinners, the furniture, the bar, the study material, the sex. All of it was for what? Maybe that was what he did. Olivia told me he was never with the same woman for more than a week. My time was up. Bastard. I didn’t think it would be possible to work for him. There was no way I could see him every day and pretend that I hadn’t fallen for him. It would be too painful. I’d ride it out until I found another job. With my credentials, I’d have no problem finding another firm to work for. He used me, and now it was my turn to use him.
Taking a deep breath, I walked down the hallway of the firm and sat in my cubicle. Olivia sent me a text message early this morning telling me she was sick with the flu. Of all times for her to be sick, and of all days. This was the day I needed her here the most. Just as I put my purse away, I heard Luca’s voice call my name, and instantly, a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach settled in.
“Ariana. I need to see you in my office.”
I got up from my seat and nervously stepped inside.
“Since Olivia won’t be in today, I need you to fill in for her.” He handed me a few files.
“Okay,” I softly spoke.
“We go to court tomorrow morning for the Michaels’ case, and since you were the one who found out about the bartender, I want you there. Court starts at eight. So just go straight there from home.”
“I’ll be there.” I nodded.
He wouldn’t look at me. He just kept looking down at the file he was studying.
“Is that all?” I nervously asked.
“Yes.”
As the morning passed, I finished up what Luca had asked of me and stepped away to use the restroom. When I returned, I saw Luca standing in the doorway of his office.
“Ariana. Please come into my office.”
I sighed, and when I stepped inside, I saw David Hildenberg sitting across from Luca’s desk.
“Hello, Ariana.” He smiled.
“Mr. Hildenberg. What are you doing here?”
“Have a seat.” He motioned for me to sit down.
Shit. Was this good or bad?
As soon as I took a seat, David opened up the file he had in his hands.
“I have the results of your exam.”
“Already?” I asked.
“I didn’t plan on finishing it up until tomorrow, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. On a scoring system of 400 points, you need at least 265 to pass the bar. You, my dear, scored a perfect 400. In all my years of grading these exams, I have never encountered something like this.” He grinned.
“Congratulations, Ariana,” Luca spoke from behind his desk.
“Thank you.” I looked at Luca and then turned to David. “Thank you, Mr. Hildenberg, for coming all the way here to tell me.”
“You’re welcome, Ariana. You are a very bright woman who will excel as a lawyer.”
“How soon can you get her sworn in?” Luca asked.
“Well,” he spoke as he reached into his briefcase, “I happen to have an admissions application and other related documents right here.” He handed them to me. “Take it to your desk and fill it out now. I’ll wait. Once I get back to the office, I’ll have these expedited. Should only take a couple of days, and then you can come down and be sworn in and take the oath on Friday.”
“Really?” I asked with a smile.
“Really, Miss Williams. Now go start that paperwork. Perhaps Luca and I can go to lunch while I wait.”
“We certainly can, David.” He smiled.
I took the paperwork back to my desk and started to fill it out. I knew I’d pass the bar but didn’t know I’d get a perfect score. This was a cause for celebration. But with whom? Certainly not my family or Luca. Olivia was sick, so I guessed it was just me. Another milestone in my life and one of the most important days of my life, and once again, it was shit.
I finished the paperwork just as Luca and David arrived back from lunch.
“All set, Mr. Hildenberg.” I smiled.
“Thank you, my dear. Luca, it was a pleasure having lunch with you. Call your grandfather and set something up for the three of us.”
“Will do, David,” Luca spoke.
David walked away, and Luca stood in front of my desk.
“I think a celebration is in order for the outstanding job you did on the bar exam,” he spoke.
“I agree.” I smiled. “And that celebration will consist of me and a bottle of wine in the comfort of my own home.”
“Despite the conversation we had last night, I still would like to help you celebrate. This is a really big deal, Ariana.”
“Just like graduating from law school was a big deal, we saw how that turned out. Celebrations for me don’t mean anything anymore. It’s just how I feel.”
“So, you’re throwing yourself a pity party?” he asked.
“No. I’m just not setting myself up for any more disappointments.”
He glared down at me, his eyes burning a hole through my very existence.
“Have fun,” he spoke with irritation as he walked away and returned to his office.
Luca
I angrily shut my office door and threw my phone across my desk. Was she insinuating that I was a disappointment? I did everything to help her out, and if she saw me as a disappointment because of what I said, then that was her problem. She didn’t get it, and I wasn’t about to tell her either. From here on out, it will be strictly professional. She was right. We couldn’t even be friends. But I was still her boss, and her passing the bar was a big deal. Picking up the phone, I ordered some flowers to be sent to her home with a card that read:
Congratulations on passing the bar exam.
From your associates at Russo, Greggs, & Butler.