Page 39

Chapter 39

Annie

MARCH | Balance: $45,397

“Annie, could you meet me in my office in five?”

Bill, the founding partner of Athlore, poked his head in my office door.

“Sure! Do I need to bring anything?”

“Just yourself. I’m going to grab a drink and meet you in there.”

My gut swam with nerves. Bill hardly ever talked to me. I did most of my work with the younger partners. I’d hardly heard more than a grunt out of him.

This was it. Dev must have ratted me out. Not that I could blame him. He’d almost caught me getting railed by Nick in my office, and he’d seen us out to dinner. We couldn’t be more obvious.

On shaky legs, I wobbled to his office door.

“Close the door and have a seat.”

I worked hard to fix on the Markham Smile. It had gotten me out of many-a bind over the years. He was an older white man; surely it would work this time.

“Why don’t you tell me why Paxton Marshall signed with SportsGlobe?”

My eyes widened and I breathed a soft cuss. That’s why the little punk didn’t return my calls.

“Language, young lady. It’s unseemly.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I’m genuinely surprised. I’ve been following up since his visit. Everything seemed to go well, though he was a little shaken up when I said goodbye. The guys I know on the team said everything was fine.”

“I’m glad the guys on the team seem to think everything was fine,” he said thickly. “I got a hold of Marshall’s mother, and she said they bullied him.”

That didn’t sound like Nick or Romelski or any of the guys that I knew. “What?”

“She said they bullied him about you. Made him say filthy things about you to haze him. He said it was so disgusting that he had trouble looking you in the eye when he left.”

“Oh my God, Bill. I’m at a loss here. That really doesn’t sound like the guys at all.”

“Just you wait, there’s more.”

My chest heaved and a wave of dizziness passed through me. “M-more?”

“He said that Nick Oberbeck was exchanging text messages with you, and that the text chain was full of things like ‘XO’ and ‘angel’ and ‘baby.’”

My mouth was suddenly full of cotton. I willed my cheeks not to turn pink. Be an attorney, Annie. You are one. Now’s the time to turn it on.

“As you know, we expect a certain level of professionalism at Athlore.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t—”

He held up a hand. “Spare me, Miss Markham. Don’t make this any harder than it already is. We expect that you’re not having deep interpersonal relationships with the clients.”

My eyes absently scanned the top of his desk, searching for something that made sense. “How was Marshall so sure the texts were mine?”

Bill took a breath, considering that.

“Does he have proof of this?”

“He does not.”

We sat there, our gazes locked as I worked hard not to betray any emotion. All my fears were coming true, but I was barely in my body, levitating somewhere below the ceiling.

“I was going to fire you right now, but I know Marcie chose you for a reason. You’re a very talented attorney, and I’m sure you could find more holes in my concerns. Frankly, I’d invite it, because this is the last thing I want to be dealing with.”

I gave a short nod, not sure where he was going with his statement. I wasn’t sure he knew either.

His eyes were softer moving over me. “I’m sorry it’s come to this. We can’t lose clients like Marshall. It’s sloppy. We only like to keep people who are headed for a partner track, and unfortunately what you’ve done is a career-limiting move.”

“I haven’t done—”

He looked at me over the tops of his glasses frames, silencing me.

“I’m going to put you on a two-week administrative leave while we investigate this.”

I nodded. “I understand. Anything else?”

“Just watch your email for the administrative leave paperwork. And please do not attend to any other Athlore business while we’re investigating. It’ll only muddy the waters.”

* * *

I was supposed to go to Nick’s house after work. We were going to celebrate his upcoming birthday, since I couldn’t go to the team celebration. He’d bought me some cute lingerie to wear, some with thigh highs and a garter. And a riding crop. He said he was ready to try me being in charge.

I wasn’t in much of a mood to celebrate Nick. He had sabotaged my career. And I had been a willing accomplice.

True, it didn’t sound like him to haze somebody. But maybe I didn’t really know him like I thought I did. Hockey hazing rituals could be brutal, especially in the lower leagues. Nick had bypassed the lower leagues. Maybe he hadn’t gotten that brutish behavior out of his system, so he did it to Paxton.

I headed for the place that had always been my safe haven: Kitty’s. It wasn’t the same as when I used to go to her parents’ house, her mom waiting with hugs and her dad leaving a couple of beers where we could get to them on purpose. But it was our new adult reality, and my ride-or-die best friend would be there to pick up the broken, rotten parts of myself.

I texted her to let her know I was coming over and to apologize to Guy for stealing her in advance.

I was a numb shell of a human by the time I rang her doorbell. Kitty opened the door and hugged me on sight.

“I’m suspended at work,” I said. “I lost a big deal and they found out about me and Nick.”

Kitty listened as I explained the whole meeting: the hazing allegations, the texts. All the while, my phone blew up with messages from Nick.

“Why would Nick make this kid say gross things about you? Or anyone on the team for that matter. Everybody respects you. That just doesn’t sound right,” Kitty said. “You want me to ask Guy? I told him to disappear upstairs, but I can get him.”

“Does it even matter? They know about us, Kitty.”

“Without any proof. You said that yourself.”

“But it’s true. I’ve been doing what I’m not supposed to do.”

Kitty rested her head back on the couch. “You might think you have to follow every rule given to you, Annie, but I can promise you as a frequent offender, most rules are made to be broken.”

My phone rang, and I answered. May as well get it out of the way. “Hi, Nick.”

“Hey, Annie. You still at work? I’m ready for you over here.”

“I’m not coming, Nick.” Kitty gripped my hand.

Nick went quiet, sensing that something was off. “What happened, baby?”

I drew a long breath. “I’m about to get fired. They know about us. Paxton Marshall snitched. And he didn’t sign with me.”

“What? What do you mean, he snitched? How would he know?”

Tears filled my eyes again as my greatest fear hit me. “You did something to screw up my deal, didn’t you?”

“Annie, I can explain.”

“Nick, you knew I needed money,” I said, getting fired up. “You said you’d do anything to get me paid!”

“Angel, I didn’t mean to screw it up. Please, let me explain.”

I pinched my eyes shut. “Tomorrow. I’m too mad to hear it right now.”

There was a long pause on the other end. “Okay. I respect that.”

“Are you free anytime tomorrow? My schedule’s apparently wide open. I’m suspended.”

“Shit,” he whispered. “I can pick you up after I have morning practice. We can go get coffee.”

“That works. See you then.” I moved to hang up, but he spoke again.

“Whatever this is, Annie, I promise I’ll fix it.”

I clenched my jaw and spoke through gritted teeth. “You’ve done enough. Please let me handle my own life. Text me what time you’ll pick me up.”

His voice was soft when he spoke next. “Are you alone?”

“I’m at Kitty’s.”

“Good. I don’t want you to be alone.”

Tears filled my eyes again. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I’ll see you then. Goodnight, angel. XO.”