Page 6 of Bidding War

In that respect, I am guilty of their deaths.

It weighs on me. A lot. But I can’t do anything to fix it, and I can fix whatever is wrong between me and June. I have to. I love her.

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4

JUNE

Wallace takes a deep breath and blows it out quickly. “I am afraid I have to let you go, June.”

“You what?” I can hardly believe my ears. I certainly don’t want to.

“It’s nothing personal. A business decision?—"

“What the hell kind of business decision starts with letting go of one of your top attorneys?” I can’t keep my outburst in. I’m pissed.

“You are a top attorney. That’s why this is so hard for me?—

“For you? It’s hard for you?”

He sighs and rubs his bald spot the way he does when he’s uncomfortable. “I know this is hard on you, too, June. I hate letting you go, but this is financial. We are cutting costs, and to do that, we have to let some of our people go.”

“Why not Madi? Or?—"

“If I had a choice in the matter, you would not be my pick.”

“If? Are you saying you don’t have a choice?”

His lips bunch up. “I don’t make all the calls here. You know that.”

“Yes, you do … ” But he has bosses he answers to, too. And those bosses are friends with Elliot West. West Media often sends their clients to us for their taxes. That’s the only way this makes any sense. He’s angry we tricked him, and now, he’s getting me fired because he’s a giant prick who wants everything his way.

Fuck me.

“… so you see, it’s just a matter of numbers, and?—

“I am worth more than you pay me, Wallace. You know I am. How much have I saved our clients? How much money have I made for the firm? I caught the error Madi made on the Ventriss account. They would have left us if I hadn’t caught that, and you know it. You need me here.”

“The decision is final, and you cannot argue your way out of it. I know that’s hard for a lawyer to hear?—"

“Does Elliot West have anything to do with this?”

He freezes up like someone rebooted him. He blinks rapidly, and his cheeks flush. “I, um … I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who is that?”

“Do yourself a favor and never play poker, Wallace.” I get up and head for the door.

“I will write you a letter of recommendation, June. A glowing one. Your severance package will be generous, as well. If you need?—"

I whip around. “I needed a job, Wallace.”

He winces at that. “I know. I’m sorry.”

Stomping to my desk, I force myself to keep it all inside. The hurt, the anger. The betrayal. This was a financial decision, I’m sure of it. Elliot West threatened to withhold his clients from us. Their billing runs in the millions every year. What could I possibly say or do to argue my way over Elliot’s favor?

Not a damn thing.

Garrett sees me, and I will not break down in front of him. Not here. Not now. He gently asks, “Hey, what’s going on?”

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