Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Mason
The next morning, I parked in my usual spot in the firm’s garage and killed the engine. Beau sat in the passenger seat, checking his phone.
My heart was hammering.
“Ready?” I asked.
Beau looked up, his expression questioning. “For what?”
“To walk in together.”
He blinked. “Mason, we usually—”
“I know. We usually park separately, walk in at different times, and make sure no one sees us arrive together.” I reached over and took his hand. “But I’m done with that. I want to walk into this building with you.”
A slow smile spread across Beau’s face. “Okay then. Let’s do this.”
We got out of the car, and I walked around to meet him. When I held out my hand, Beau took it without hesitation.
Together, we walked through the parking garage toward the elevator. My palm was sweating, and I was hyperaware of every person we passed—a paralegal getting out of her car who did a double-take, a senior associate heading to his vehicle who raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
“You’re shaking,” Beau murmured as we waited for the elevator.
“I’m nervous.”
“You don’t have to be.”
“I know. But this is...” I took a breath. “This is big for me.”
“It is.” Beau stepped closer, his shoulder brushing mine. “But we’re doing it together.”
When we entered the office, a voice rang out.
“Mason! Beau!”
Lisa appeared from around the corner, her face lighting up when she saw us. Her gaze dropped to our joined hands, and her smile grew impossibly wider.
“Merry Christmas,” she said, her voice warm with approval.
“Merry Christmas, Lisa,” Beau said.
“You two look...” She gestured at us, at our hands, at the way we were standing close together. “Happy.”
“We are,” I said, and meant it.
“Good. You deserve it.” Lisa pulled out her phone to check something. “Oh, heads up—Patsy and Carter want everyone in the conference room in twenty minutes. Some kind of holiday send-off meeting.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Beau said.
“Of course.” Lisa squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll see you in there. And guys?” She looked between us, her expression turning serious. “Whatever happens in that meeting, I’ve got your backs.”
She walked away, and Beau turned to me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Just...” I took a breath. “Twenty minutes.”
“Twenty minutes,” Beau agreed. “We can do this.”
“We can do this,” I repeated, trying to convince myself.
Beau pulled me toward his office, closing the door behind us once we were inside. Then he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me.
“Mason Price,” he said when we broke apart, “you just walked through this entire office holding my hand. That’s huge.”
“It’s terrifying.”
“It’s brave.” He kissed me again. “And I love you for it.”
“I love you too.” I rested my forehead against his. “Whatever happens in that conference room—”
“We handle it together,” Beau finished. “Just like you said.”
“Together,” I agreed.
* * *
The conference room was packed. Every associate, paralegal, and staff member crammed into the space, buzzing with that pre-holiday energy that comes from knowing you’re about to get two weeks off. Someone had brought cookies shaped like snowmen, and coffee cups littered every available surface.
I stood near the back with Beau beside me—not touching, but close enough that I could feel his warmth.
This was it. The moment I’d been planning since last night, lying awake in bed with Beau curled against my chest, his breathing soft and even while my mind raced.
I need to see it, he’d said. Actions, not just words.
Carter stood at the head of the table, Patsy beside him, both of them looking remarkably cheerful for people who’d just closed out one of the firm’s most profitable years on record.
“All right, everyone!” Carter called out, and the room quieted.
“I’ll keep this brief because I know you’re all eager to get out of here and start your holidays.
First, I want to say thank you. This year has been extraordinary.
The cases we’ve won, the clients we’ve brought in, the reputation we’ve built—that’s because of each and every one of you. ”
Polite applause rippled through the room.
“Second,” Patsy said, holding up a stack of envelopes, “bonuses. You’ll each receive a card with our thanks and a little something extra to show our appreciation. Don’t spend it all in one place.”
Laughter. More applause.
“And third,” Carter continued, his expression warm, “I want to give special recognition to a few people who’ve gone above and beyond this year.
Lisa Morales, for her incredible work on the Riverside Development case.
Marcus Webb, for bringing in three new corporate clients.
And—” He paused, his gaze landing on Beau. “Beau Thatcher.”
Beau tensed beside me.
“Beau joined us just a few weeks ago,” Carter said, “leaving a successful practice in San Francisco to take a chance on us here in Richmond. And in that short time, he’s proven himself to be not just an exceptional attorney, but an invaluable member of this team.
The MediCorp case, Henderson Technologies—these were victories that wouldn’t have happened without Beau’s skill, dedication, and frankly, his brilliance. ”
More applause, genuine this time. I saw Lisa clapping enthusiastically, with several associates nodding in agreement.
“So thank you, Beau,” Carter finished. “We’re lucky to have you.”
Beau’s face had gone slightly red. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.”
“Though I have to say,” Paul Cramer’s voice cut through the room, loud and pointed, “it doesn’t hurt when you’re sleeping with the managing partner’s golden boy, does it?”
The room went silent.
Every head turned toward Paul, who stood near the window with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face that made my blood boil.
“Excuse me?” Carter’s voice was ice.
“Come on.” Paul gestured at Beau, then at me.
“We all know what’s going on here. Beau gets the best cases, the best assignments, all the credit—and it’s pretty convenient that he and Mason are practically joined at the hip.
Makes you wonder if his ‘brilliance’ is really about his legal skills or his skills in other areas. ”
Beau had gone white. I felt rage—pure, incandescent rage—flood through my veins.
“Paul—” Patsy started, her voice sharp.
But I was already moving.
I stepped forward, positioning myself between Paul and Beau, my hands clenched at my sides. When I spoke, my voice was deadly calm.
“You want to talk about what’s convenient, Paul? Let’s talk about it.”
“Mason, don’t—” Beau said quietly behind me.
I didn’t take my eyes off Paul. “He wants to air this out in front of everyone, so let’s air it out.”
Paul’s smirk faltered slightly.
“Yes, Beau and I are together,” I said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “We’re in a relationship. And you know what? That has absolutely nothing to do with his work, his cases, or his success.”
The room was so quiet I could hear my heartbeat.
“Beau Thatcher is the best attorney I’ve ever worked with,” I continued, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. “He’s brilliant, dedicated, and works his ass off. Every one of his victories—every single one—was earned through his skill and his effort.”
“Mason—” Carter tried to interject.
“I’m not finished.” I took a step closer to Paul, who actually backed up slightly.
“You want to know what’s really going on here, Paul?
Pure, spiteful jealousy. You’re bitter because Beau is everything you’re not—talented, hardworking, respected.
And instead of dealing with your own inadequacy, you’re trying to tear him down with baseless insinuations and homophobic bullshit. ”
Paul’s face had gone red. “I didn’t—”
“Yes, you did.” My voice rose. “You stood there in front of our entire firm and suggested that Beau slept his way to success. Also, you implied that his achievements aren’t legitimate. You tried to humiliate Beau because you can’t stand that he’s a better lawyer than you.”
“That’s not—”
“It is exactly what you did.” I was shaking now, but my voice remained steady.
“And you know what the really pathetic part is? Even if you somehow managed to discredit Beau, it wouldn’t change the fact that you’re mediocre at best. You’ll never be partner material, Paul.
Not because of favoritism or office politics, but because you’re not good enough.
You don’t work hard enough. And you don’t have the integrity this firm demands. ”
Paul’s mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.
“So here’s what’s going to happen,” I said, my voice dropping back to that deadly calm. “You’re going to apologize to Beau. Right now. In front of everyone. And then you’re going to seriously reconsider whether you belong at this firm, because this kind of behavior? It’s beneath us.”
Paul looked around the room—at Carter, at Patsy, at the sea of faces watching him with varying expressions of shock and disgust. His face was the color of a tomato.
“I...” He swallowed hard. “I apologize. That was inappropriate.”
“Not to me,” I said coldly. “To Beau.”
Paul’s jaw clenched, but he turned to face Beau. “I apologize. That was out of line.”
Beau stood there, his expression carefully neutral, and said nothing. Just gave the smallest nod.
I turned back to face the room, my heart still racing.
“For anyone else who has questions or concerns about my relationship with Beau,” I said, addressing everyone now, “I’m happy to discuss them. We have nothing to hide. We’re in love. And if anyone has a problem with that, they can take it up with me directly.”
I felt Beau move closer, his hand finding mine and gripping it tight.
Carter cleared his throat. “Well. That was... unexpected.” He exchanged a glance with Patsy. “Mason, Beau—my office. Ten minutes. Everyone else—” He held up the envelopes again. “Get your bonuses and get out of here. Merry Christmas.”