Chapter 63 Callisto
Chapter sixty-three
Callisto
I head straight from the prison to my office, my mood growing more serious as I follow the familiar hallways to my office, a path I’ve faithfully traversed for years.
I pause at the end of the corridor opening into Hale’s workspace.
The paralegal leans way back in his chair with his feet up on his desk, highlighter pen in his mouth as he skims a dossier.
He flips pages way faster than I could read, pausing occasionally to highlight a line before zipping on with dogged focus.
A sinking feeling tugs at my stomach. Now I’ve reached this turning point, it’s Hale I’m going to miss the most. I couldn’t have made it this far without him, and his brusque care and attention to detail made my ambitious career goals possible.
It feels like I’m letting him down now, but I can’t stay.
“You’ll burn a hole in my head,” the paralegal says without looking up.
“You can’t even see me from here,” I say with a scoff.
He swivels to eye me. “True, but I can feel all your alpha focus. Need something?”
I cross the room and set a gift bag on his desk.
“A bribe?” he asks, lifting his brows.
“A thank you and an apology.”
“Must be my lucky day. I hope it’s expensive.”
I snort. “Would I give any other kind of gift?”
He grins. “So, are you apologizing for something you’ve done, or something that’s about to happen?”
“What’s about to happen. I’m on my way up to see Aden.”
“Ah!” He pulls his leather shoes off his desk and straightens. “Word on the street is Aden’s already cleared a partner’s office for you on his floor.”
I roll my eyes. “You sure get around, don’t you?”
He shrugs and grins. “That’s what you pay me for.” We both know I’m not the one paying him, but it doesn’t matter.
I lean on the countertop and hold his gaze. “Well, I’m not taking it, Hale, and I wanted you to be the first to know.”
His brows rise, but he hums and nods. “Had a feeling.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” He tilts his head. “Ever since you got struck by omega lightning, your focus shifted.”
I laugh, amused by his statement’s accuracy. “Red would love that description.”
He scoots his chair close to the desk and throws his document and pen down. “Say, do you think I can come with you to visit the boss? I’d pay good money to see the look on Aden’s face.”
I study him. His long, frizzy hair fights his topknot, the auburn color similar to Zack’s. He wears a suit jacket over a plain white tee with colorful, baggy pants. “In another life, you should open a fashion store with Rickon,” I mutter.
He chuckles. “Hey, not a bad idea. So, was that a yes?”
“Sure.” I wave for him to get up. “We can call it my parting gift. I wouldn’t have got this far without you.”
“Ew, gross!” He holds up one hand to stop me. “Enough. Let your gift do the talking.”
I chuckle and check my inner coat pocket a third time for the resignation letters tucked inside. “Come if you’re coming.”
“One sec!” He dives onto his computer and prints something.
I turn and head for the elevator, slowing my steps so he can catch up.
“Is today the last day?” he asks quietly.
“Yeah. I’ve already applied for leave, and thanks to you, my cases were reassigned. The leave covers my required notification period.” I catch him grinning in the mirrored walls, but he keeps his thoughts to himself.
Butterflies swoop in my stomach as we get off on the top floor and cross the marble floor.
On the partner level chandeliers stand in for lights and gold gilding for cornices.
Fresh floral arrangements grace the receptionist’s desk, flooding the air with the sickly-sweet aroma of pink liliums. I’m no stranger to such grandeur, but today it feels suffocating.
“Congratulations, Mr Wren,” the woman says, beaming at me. “Mr Parker’s waiting for you in the first counsel room.”
I nod and veer down the wide corridor. Aden won’t be happy with me.
He’ll see my choice as a betrayal, a dud investment for the firm.
But that’s not my problem anymore. Perhaps if he’d recognized me sooner and promoted me, I’d feel duty-bound to continue with the company. But thankfully, that’s not the case.
“Callisto!” Aden crows as I throw open the door. He pops a cork and fills two glasses with bubbly champagne. “Oh, and Hale’s here too. Grab another glass from the kitchen if you’re joining us.”
Hale shoots me a glare that tells me he’ll kill me if I break the news while he’s gone, and I nod, hiding a smile.
“One hundred and three cases!” Aden passes me a glass, the bubbles popping faintly in the air. “I really can’t believe it.” He pumps one fist in the air. “Now, Shiloh asked me to call him when you came in, so let me get him on the phone.”
He dials up the conference phone and puts the big boss on loudspeaker.
I accept Shiloh Laurance’s congratulations, the words deeply meaningful coming from the respected lawyer whose record I just broke.
One hundred and three back-to-back court wins.
The record likely won’t be beaten in a long time.
I sip the champagne and share case details with the firm’s founder while Aden beams at me like I’m his son.
For just a moment, I soak in the pride of my accomplishment. I really gave this job my life. In fact, I almost sacrificed everything in the process. But I’m also proud of myself for recognizing and finding another path, even if it comes a little late.
Hale returns, and we toast to me, and to Harkman and Laurance.
“I’ll fly down for the party,” Shiloh promises before saying he’s got to run to a client meeting. I wonder if they’ll still throw a party when they hear what I’m about to say.
The line clicks off, and Aden sets his glass down.
“Now we can get down to details. As I’m sure you’ve been expecting, the firm’s thrilled to offer you a partner position.
” He slaps a folder down on the table. “As you’re aware, a partner needs to invest in the firm.
All the buy-in costs are here, but I’m sure that won’t be a problem for you.
” He grins, looking the least fierce I’ve ever seen him as he slides the paperwork toward me.
“I’ve already picked out a corner office for you, and we can make the official announcement at your party. ”
I straighten and pull the envelope from my pocket. “As honored as I am, I’m afraid I have to decline.”
“Oh, we can announce it right away, if that’s what you prefer,” Aden says without missing a beat.
“That’s not what I meant.” I pass him the letter.
“Then what?” His brows furrow as he rips the envelope open and unfolds the sheet within.
He reads it aloud, skipping a few words as he goes.
“Dear . . . announce my resignation . . . effective . . .” The bottom of the letter flutters loose from his fingers as he looks up, his gentleman’s expression turning ugly. “This is a bad fucking joke, Callisto.”
“It’s not a joke,” I tell him, planting my feet firm and holding his gaze. Aden’s always made me nervous, but knowing my freedom is one conversation away gives me courage. “I’m quitting the firm. But I want to thank you for all the mentorship over the years. It’s been invaluable.”
“Mentorship? Fuck you,” he cries, red rage creeping up his neck as he rips the page into pieces. “Is it another firm? Tell me what they’re offering, and I’m sure we can match it.”
I shake my head. “No. Actually, I’m leaving corporate law and opening my own office. I’m going into advocacy.”
Aden laughs bitterly. “You? The great Callisto Wren doing common advocacy? I think all these OCB cases melted your brain.” He folds his arms, tapping one foot with agitation. “How about you use your vacation time to think it over? You love this job more than life itself.”
Yeah, I used to. “Thank you, but no. I’ve made up my mind and I won’t be looking back.”
He sneers at me. “Every law firm in the country will hound you the minute they hear you’re leaving.”
I grin, my nerves finally easing now I’ve said my piece. “And some overseas. Already had offers.”
He quivers with rage. “You’re an arrogant prick, right to the end.”
I shrug. “Thank you.”
“Don’t expect any goodwill from us after pulling shit like this!”
Wasn’t really expecting any, but I think he’s wrong. I’ve made enemies, yeah, but I’ve also made extensive networks in the country’s legal circles. I pull a second copy of my resignation letter from my pocket and slide it over the desk.
Aden hisses at me, baring teeth and alpha authority together. The challenge barely registers on my radar—getting close and personal with an alpha like Zack really changes your classification system.
“Get the fuck out of my face then,” he says, snapping up the letter while radiating fury. “And don’t expect us to throw a party on your behalf.”
I raise my hands and back away. “Sure. Pleasure working with you, Aden.” Pretty sure he’s mostly pissed that the firm can’t capitalize on my new record.
Aden ignores me and clicks his fingers at Hale. “You too,” he tells the beta, pointing toward the door. From the flush on his neck and the way his hands quiver, it seems like he wants to break things.
“Of course. Just one thing.” Hale digs a folded page out of his pants pocket and drops it into Hale’s hand. “I’m with him.” He salutes, and my jaw drops.
“You’re not fucking going anywhere!” Aden roars.
“But I am.” Hale grins and folds his arms over his chest. “And that’s my resignation letter to prove it.”
Aden slams his hands down on the desk, and the beta jumps. When he speaks, he loads it up with an aggressive alpha order. “Take it back, Hale.” The alpha scent in the room thickens so much Hale coughs. He drops his gaze, instinctively shying away from the alpha domination.
Quickly, I step up behind my former paralegal and grip his shoulders.
Aden growls at me. “You can’t have him.”
“Hey, I didn’t know he was doing this,” I say, glaring back at him. “But he’ll be my next case if you force his hand with alpha speak in the workplace.”
Aden vibrates with rage but finally tears his gaze away and stalks over to the window. After a long moment of staring out into the city, he says, “You two really ruined my day, you know?”
A nervous laugh runs through Hale. “Sounds like one of our regular days then,” he mutters to me. Of course, Aden hears it and shoots an if-looks-could-kill glare our way.
“We’ll take our leave then,” I say, guiding Hale from the room before one of us really gets killed.
We rush down the hall, and the moment we get in the elevator, Hale squats down, heaving for breath. “Shit, I almost wet myself back there,” he declares.
“You could’ve given me a heads up,” I growl, still riled up by another alpha’s bark.
He chuckles, gripping the handrail to keep his balance. “I wanted to see the look on your face too. The way he got so mad, sounds like I’m more valuable than you are.” He shoots me such a cheeky grin that I roll my eyes and groan.
“Yeah, bet that made your day,” I say.
He chuckles and hauls himself upright. “Aden Parker, begging me to stay. Made my year.”
I shake my head as the elevator dings, ejecting us onto our own floor. “Do you have another job offer? Where are you going?”
Hale shoots me a look like I’m an idiot. “Wherever you’re going, Callisto.”
I jolt to a stop. “Hale, I told you I’m going into advocacy. I’m starting a housing system for feral alphas and attempting to get an entirely new justice division for rehabilitation. It’s going to be uphill all the way.”
He leans back on his counter and gives me a side-eye that makes me feel instantly guilty, although I don’t know why. “And who is the only paralegal in the country with experience on cases involving getting feral alphas out of prison?”
A laugh bursts out of me. He may as well polish his chest with his knuckles. “You, Hale Johanssen.”
“Exactly. You’re going to need me to write the new code of conduct and draft the facility’s operations standards. Do you even know how to format sub-subclauses in bullet form?”
Relief and joy burst through me like a geyser, stripping away the last of my nerves over stepping into the unknown. Tears burn behind my nose as I reach out and hug him. “I didn’t even ask,” I mutter into his collar.
“And I’m most offended,” he says, pushing me away. “Why would I work for any of these soulless pricks? Fuck. Just make sure you give me a pay rise, you hear?”
“I will,” I say through laughter.
“Good.” He smooths one hand over his hair. “I’ll see you in five weeks.”
“Five?” I ask.
“Yeah. Technically, I just gave my three-week notice. Then I’m gonna take two weeks of holidays.”
“Okay.” I flash him a grin. “I’ll have a desk ready for you by then.”
He nods. “Good. Now get out of here. Your alpha scent’s stinking up the room.”
I swing into my office—former office—with a light step to collect my belongings. It’s a relief to know I won’t be handling the legal mountain ahead on my own.
“Holy shit!” Hale crows from the next room. “Are these treasury bonds?”
I chuckle under my breath.
Hale swings in through my door, using the frame to pivot. “See? This is why I follow you anywhere.”
“Ha!” I cry. “You submitted your resignation before you even saw the gift.”
He pulls up shorts and crosses his arms. “It’s called trust.”
I laugh and shake my head. Shouldering my bag and picking up the box with my few possessions, I stride past him. “Well, I trust I’ll see you in five weeks, ready to work hard. We have a massive proposal to write to upend the entire justice system.”
“I expect nothing less.”
I smirk. “Text me immediately if Aden tries any more of that alpha shit.”
“Will do. Seeya soon, boss.”
I whistle as I walk out of the building that held my soul captive for the past six years, and I don’t look back. The future calls to me with its endless possibilities and the sweet promise of a pack to share it with.