Chapter 1 #2
Charli looked to Mr. Stewart who refused to meet her gaze. She leaned forward. “Mr. Stewart, please. We need to discuss this.”
He ignored her and stood, shaking hands with Evan and Mr. Davis.
“Shall we, gentlemen?” he asked to everyone except Charli, stretching his arm toward the door.
The trio seemed to congratulate themselves on a mission well-accomplished as they left the room together in a jovial mood, leaving her sitting at the table, dejected and bewildered.
Charli sat at the table staring at the closed door, her mind numb and wondering if she had just been fired.
She closed her eyes and put her head in her hands, taking another deep breath, and trying to give herself a mental pep talk.
But beneath the shock, she could feel rage rapidly building like the molten lava at the center of a volcano.
It was simply a matter of time before the pressure overwhelmed her self-control and she exploded.
Pull it together, Charlotte Dorothea. This is just a small setback. Nobody said that you’re fired. In fact, they acknowledged that your work was exemplary. You’ll figure this out somehow.
After several more deep breaths, Charli stood and made her way down to her office, shoulders back and head held high.
The gossip mill in the firm was brutal and the last thing she wanted was any whispers of an emotional breakdown, her probable demotion, or even a potential termination floating around.
When she reached her office, she found Annette scrambling around the room, gathering files and boxes. Charli stopped cold in the doorway and snorted derisively. “Well, that didn’t take long.”
Annette jumped at the sound of Charli’s voice, a frazzled look on her face. “Oh my god, Charli. You scared the crap out of me.” She rushed up to Charli and pulled her into the office, closing the door behind them. “Get in here. We need to talk.”
Charli’s lips compressed into a line. “Yes, we do. I have news.”
Annette scoffed, clearly unperturbed at Charli’s sour mood. “No, I have news.” She turned and stared at Charli, hands on her hips. “You need to sit down for this.”
Charli grimaced and her mouth twitched with something approaching disgust. “Annette, I really don’t need more drama after the meeting I just had. If you can even call that a meeting, that is.”
She sat down at her desk and closed her eyes, sighing. The mask of anger and bitterness melted away, leaving only exhaustion and bewilderment in its place. “It was more like an ambush.”
“Uh huh,” Annette agreed. “That’s what I need to tell you.
” She quieted for a moment and Charli could hear her settling onto the leather couch set against the wall.
“Right after you left for your meeting, Evan Blake’s assistant—you know, that guy Percival?
God, he’s such a prick, I can’t stand him.
I mean, what respectable man goes by that name?
Why wouldn’t he just go by Percy? So much more attractive. ”
“Is this going anywhere?” Charli asked as she gently rubbed her temples, trying to ward off the impending headache.
Annette hummed. “Well, Percival walked over and told me to pack up all these files and that Evan was taking over your cases, including the Parker suit.”
“It’s true.” Charli replied dully. “They gave Evan everything.”
“Yeah well, what you don’t know is why,” Annette added cryptically.
Charli glanced up quickly, her brow furrowed and eyes narrowed, a question on her lips.
She froze when she saw Annette lounging comfortably, her eyes gleaming with what long experience had taught Charli could only be barely-contained first-rate gossip.
Charli was suddenly alert, adrenaline pumping through her body. “What’s going on?”
Annette’s mouth twitched at the corners in a small, satisfied grin as she casually inspected her nails, clearly determined to deliver the story in her own sweet time.
“Spill it, Annette.” Charli ordered, with something less than polite patience.
“Well,” Annette started, “it seems that Evan just got engaged.” She paused again to brush a piece of fuzz from her skirt. She glanced up and met Charli’s gaze. “To Mr. Davis’s daughter, Genevieve.”
Charli’s lips parted, her heart sinking, knowing exactly where the story was going. “Well, that son-of-a-bitch. That’s why Mr. Davis called him son.”
“And because of that, the board,” Annette continued, nodding, “felt that Evan should have a more high-profile caseload that befits a man of his stature,” she said, using air-quote marks on that last word. “Your clients and cases all fit that bill.”
“Huh.” Suddenly, Charli felt nothing. Literally nothing.
She was neither hot nor cold, neither calm nor angry, but she existed in a state that could only be described as numb and her brain felt like mush.
She stared down at her desk, unconsciously gripping it until her knuckles turned white—this scenario was absolutely unbelievable.
When she had walked in this morning, she had a promising career and a stellar reputation at one of Boston’s best firms with a fast-track to making partnership within the year.
Now, suddenly, the rug had been ripped out from beneath her and it all seemed to be circling the drain because of the Good Old Boys Club.
How had this happened? What could I have done? How did I not seen this coming?
“You know he’ll lose all those cases, right?”
Charli shook her head coming out of her reverie and looked up at Annette. “What?”
“Evan. He’ll screw it all up and leave your clients in the lurch,” Annette repeated.
Charli scoffed. “Well, apparently they’re not my clients anymore, and at this moment, I really don’t give a shit.” She took a deep breath and looked out the window at the Boston skyline, playing over her response in her mind.
That isn’t completely true, Charli. Your clients are unwitting pawns in this shuffling game to make Evan look good. It isn’t their fault, and you aren’t okay with any of this.
Annette grunted. “You should be breathing fire right now, Charli Harris.” She paused, her head dropping to the side and eyes narrowing, as she studied Charli closely. “Where’s the that I work for?”
“I was just wondering the same thing, but I don’t feel anything right now.” Charli shrugged. She leaned forward and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“You’re burned out. I’ve noticed it for a while now,” Annette commented, her tone soft. “Maybe deep down you needed something like this to happen.”
“I needed this to happen?” Charli asked incredulously, her voice rising with each successive word. “My career was just flushed down the toilet. A decade of school and work were just washed away, and I needed it to happen? Are you serious?”
Annette’s mouth flattened, and she shrugged. “Well, maybe needed is the wrong word,” she conceded, and then sighed. “What do you want me to do?”
Charli glanced around the room. “Well, it looks like you already have all the files together. Tell Percival that he can come pick them up.” She gave Annette a hard look.
“I don’t want you moving anything for those assholes.
And if he asks you any questions about the cases, tell him it’s all in the files and he can find it himself. ”
Annette grinned. “You got it, Boss.” Her look sobered. “So, do we still have jobs?”
Charli released a huge sigh. “I’m not sure if I do.
” She gave Annette a reassuring look. “But I’m certain they’ll transfer you to another desk if I don’t.
They can’t afford to lose your experience.
Besides, if they did cut you loose, I’d make sure you had another job the very next day.
” Charli dropped her head to the desk. “God, I need a drink.”
A warm hand dropped onto hers. Charli looked up to see Annette leaning over the desk, compassion in her eyes.
“You’ll get through this, Charlotte Dorothea.
Right now, you’re in shock. But after a good night’s sleep, you’ll wake up and the anger will set in.
That’s when we’ll figure out how we’re gonna burn this firm to the ground. ”
Charli chuckled bitterly, feeling suddenly exhausted and overwhelmed. “I just want to go home.”
“Oh! Before I forget...” Annette held up a finger then ran from the office. She returned seconds later, a large brown packet in her hands. “This is that package from Key West. It looks important.” She placed it on the desk, then turned and left the office, closing the door behind her.
Charli stared down at the packet blankly. It was from a law firm in Key West.
She thought back to the last time she had been to the island and the corners of her mouth tilted up. It had been well over a decade ago, the summer before she started college.
It seemed like a lifetime ago. She had spent two glorious months with her Great Aunt Dottie, a memorable time that she wished had never ended before her life had become consumed with work and the desire to make partner before thirty-five.
She sighed as she remembered that summer. She had fallen in love with everything about the island—the quirkiness, the freedom, the weather, and, most of all, her aunt who seemed to understand her in a way no one else ever had.
Charli pursed her lips as she opened the large envelope, pulling out a half-full accordion file with an official cover letter.
Her heart froze as she read the first sentence.
Dear Miss Harris,
It is my sad duty to inform you that your aunt, Dorothea Campbell, passed away on December 10th.
She was a beloved member of our community and a champion of Key West. I can assure you that everyone on the island will miss her entertaining personality and overwhelming generosity for many years to come.