Page 5 of Tiny's Law

“I think you made the right decision to give us your notice. There is no tolerance for soliciting one's body for a promotion within this practice.”

My brows fly to my hairline, and I stumble backward. “Soliciting one's body?”

“The fact that you offered up sexual favors to Matthew to persuade him into pushing you for promotion will not be tolerated. And frankly, word of this will put a very large damper on you practicing law within the Phoenix area. Don’t expect words of recommendation from any of us, that's for sure.” Stan blows my fucking mind with every single word uttered out of his beard-covered mouth.

Red-hot dread pools low in my belly. The floor feels as if it’s being swept out from under me. I’m in the twilight zone as the words he says register in my brain.

“This is bullshit!” is the only thing I’m able to get out of my mouth. I turn to Emma who has tears tracking down her cheeks as if she is the one being blamed for doing this. “I didn’t do that! He did.” I point to Matthew, who, for the briefest second, loses his Cheshire smile before hardening his features once again into a timid smile.

“This type of behavior is unacceptable. You’re lucky Matthew isn’t going to HR and starting his own sexual assault case against you.”

“What!” I scream. I turn to my desk and quickly fumble to grab whatever items I want to take with me. Fuck the rest. I stomp over to the bookshelf and rip my framed degree out of the hutch. “Fuck you, Stan. And fuck you, Gary.” I turn to Matthew and level my gaze at him. “And fuck you right too, Matthew. You will get what’s coming to you in the face of fucking karma for thinking that it’s okay to offer a promotion to a woman if she has sex with you like blackmail. Now, I know I’m not a ‘partner’, but even a little lawyer like me knows that it’s fucking illegal.”

I turn back to a slack-jawed Stan and Gary and shake my head. “And shame on you two for believing every word this sexist pig says. Why the fuck would I offer to sleep with him? If I wanted to sleep with someone to ensure a promotion, don’t you think I’d come to, oh, I don’t know, you, Stan? God, men are fucking stupid.”

I’m blinded by rage as I flip the chair that sits opposite my desk in anger. “When you realize that Matthew, not me, is the sleazy one in this situation, don’t fucking call me. And also, have fun finding someone that will put in as many hours and take on as many cases as I did.”

I don’t turn back as I stomp out of the office, Emma hot on my heels. She quickly grabs her purse from under her desk. As I get to the elevator, I turn on my heels to face everyone, lifting both middle fingers as a parting gesture. All I see as the elevator doors close is an entire office of wide eyes and gaping jaws.

As soon as the elevator doors close, I start to panic. “Holy shit. I shouldn’t have done that.”

In the smallest voice possible, Emma whispers, “I think I’m in love with you.”

Her comment causes me to crack up laughing. She giggles with me and then takes a deep breath. “For real, though. I don’t believe a word they said.”

I turn to her and see the sincerity in her eyes. “Thank you.”

“They called an emergency meeting this morning and went on and on about how sexual solicitation for anything in the workplace is not tolerated and will get you blacklisted from practicing law. They ruined your name.”

“How far has it reached?” I ask quietly.

“You know how big of a pull Mr. Moore has.”

Fuck. She’s right. Stan’s brother is the most respected judge in the Phoenix area. I’m totally screwed.

Once we reach the underground lot, I turn to Emma. “You didn’t have to walk out with me. You most likely can’t go back there.”

“Like you said yesterday, fuck this place.” My eyes widen at Emma’s language. This girl never curses.

I reach out and hug her. “Thank you.”

“My dad always taught me to stand up for the things I believe in. I believe in you.”

The corner of my mouth lifts in a grin. “Can I buy you breakfast as a thank you?”

She shakes her head. “No, that’s okay. Just give me a job whenever you get on your feet.”

“Deal.” I give her one more hug before heading towards my Range Rover.

As soon as I’m closed in the safety of my SUV, I let the tears that have been threatening to fall loose. Once they start, I can’t seem to make them stop.

My phone blares out through the empty cab as a call comes in.

The screen on my center console displays Reggie’s name, and I answer it with Bluetooth.

“Hello?” I answer shakily.

“Why are you crying?” he replies, his defensive tone spikes immediately.

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