Page 23

And with the raise, I’ll finally be able to make the down payment on a house in the area I have wanted to move to.
My very ownfamilyhome.
A deep painful abyss lives inside of me. It’s like I am empty without my family—not me, not completely whole—and I loathe the Hart family because they have each other when I have no one.
For me there are no family dinners, celebrations or vacations.
Are my family resting in peace, or unsettled, restless even, like I am about their deaths?
Because that’s all I ever feel, and I plan on uncovering the truth surrounding their deaths. The unknown is burrowed under my skin, writhing like a parasite.
And I will find what I am looking for because the evidence I need is under the very roof of the building I am in, and I need to stop Nathan, and everyone, from distracting me.
Until I find what I am looking for, I will use him, play the dutiful secretary; I’ll smile, play the game and use my time here to get what I want.
Accountability, truth, and atonement.
Soon, Ari, soon.
I open the last email Nathan sent me and reread it to double-check the meetings he wants me to change. It’s to the point. Blunt. Zero airs and graces.
While Joseph’s nickname for Nathan is a bit tame, I much prefer Bosszilla. It fits him perfectly, but he’s nothing I can’t handle. After all, I worked as Nick Williams’ legal secretary for years, and if I have anything to thank him for, it’s the way he taught me how to deal with difficult people because he was one. When I questioned Nick about meetings with a few unmentionable characters, where he agreed to defend them, I began to suspect that he might be involved in some shady dealings with the local cartel. While I can’t prove it, the signs were there, and it left me uneasy. It’s the reason I knew it was time to leave Williams and Jones.
I used my time at Williams and Jones wisely, and once I had gained all the knowledge I needed to help aid me in uncovering the truth I’ve been searching for my entire life, I knew it was time to leave. I’m finally ready to act. It may take me longer than I first hoped now that my role has changed within the company and I find myself not having daily access to the archived records I thought I could get my hands on quickly and easily.
At least I’m inside the walls of Hart Law though, and no matter what obstacles arise, or how hard Nathan pushes me, I’m here to stay until I achieve my goal.
Breathe, Ari… Inhale patience… Exhale any hint of doubt.
I click save on another calendar appointment I have rearranged and skim read Nathan’s hectic schedule to see where I can squeeze in another client consultation. I have one spot left should we have an emergency.
This afternoon, one of Nathan’s clients decided to settle out of court, but part of the agreement is that it’s done face-to-face tomorrow. So for the last hour I’ve been shoehorning a day’s worth of meetings into any free time he has, which isn’t much. Williams and Jones was busy; Nathan is busier solo.
“Are you ready to go for a drink at The Golden Spirit?” Joseph asks, pulling my attention away from rearranging Nathan’s calendar.
“I’ll inform Mr. Hart I’m leaving,” I reply and pull a face.
He laughs at my reluctance to ask. “You can’t avoid him forever, sweetie.” Joseph points his head in the direction of Nathan’s office, implying thathe’s right there.
“Watch me,” I reply confidently.
Although I have done a very good job of avoiding Nathan as much as I could all day because he’s been in a level-ten super-tornado mood since lunch, I’m sure he’s trying to destroy my own good nature from its very foundations. I even made use of the times he left his office to sneak in and leave a coffee onhis desk, which means there has been a very limited amount of physical interaction between us today.
Which I hate.
And enjoy in equal amounts.
I’m still floating between heaven and hell; between worlds.
It’s a truly hellish place to be and I don’t know how long I can stand it.
Avoidance is something I am failing at daily. With each day that passes it’s becoming impossible because we seem to have more and more to discuss.
Or maybe that’s just my imagination.
It’s stupid of me to think I can avoid him, given that I’m his right-hand woman, but I think we’re both in shock that I’m still working for Hart Law after he challenged me that I wouldn’t last the week. Combine that with spending an unforgettable night of sex with him, then throw in the curve ball of me working directly for him, it’s probably best I try to stay out of his orbit as much as I can.
We’re both navigating how we work this close together.