Page 64 of Honorable Convictions
“There’s no reason why you can’t continue to function as a liaison. I know you’ve enjoyed that, and its impact is growing daily. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that this has enhanced the entire Order of the Fallen Knights,” Conley responded.
“You want me to continue to handle that full-time?”
“That’s a question for you, Pierson. We’d like to assign you cases, but we need to figure out what a good balance is right now.”
“I have no objection to being assigned cases. I miss everything about them. I don’t know that I can return to the level I had before while there’s such a large demand for training.”
“That’s understandable,” Drystan commented. “Give me a percentage of your previous caseload that you believe would allow you to continue to work as a liaison.”
“Perhaps start at fifty percent and re-evaluate in a few weeks?” Pierson suggested.
“I believe that’s a reasonable compromise. We need to discuss the location of your office. We gave away your old one, and the fallen knights have taken the opportunity to reorganize so that their various teams are in clusters. You’re a Juris Knight and you belong with the rest of your peers.”
“I anticipated that I wouldn’t find my way to securing a space outside of the JK area again.”
“It’s imperative to us that we make sure you’re okay, Pierson. We certainly have no argument with your work or how you’ve handled any of your clients or this new role as liaison, but you’ve separated yourself from the other JKs in the past. It’s not ideal for you to be at odds with them, and I hope that the skills you’ve developed in making connections around the continent will enable you to create those same bonds in Vegas,” Conley said.
“While I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to do it with the speed of building bridges with JKs that aren’t as familiar with me, I’d like to have a less hostile working environment.”
“We’re going to expect the same attitude from the other Vegas JKs,” Drystan assured him. “We plan to speak with them this week and lay out our goals for everyone.”
“Pierson, we know you’re going to need time to find a new home and get settled. We’re going to demand that you take this entire week off. No training, no cases, and no one to worry about but yourself. We’ll check in with you on Friday to see if we should extend it or if you’re ready to return.”
“An entire week off?” Pierson asked, dumbfounded and frightened at the idea of having zero to do besides unpack boxes, which Mitchell was probably already working on while he was visiting the RKs.
“Yes, that is not negotiable.”
“We’re also going to speak with JK Brooks. In order to have harmony, the two of you need to set aside your differences. I know you’ve been reluctant in the past to consider working with a counselor, but it’s an idea worth revisiting.”
Curling his fingers into his thighs so that his nails bit into his skin, he used the sharp pain to curb his impulse to laugh. Hours ago, he’d confessed his love for JK Brooks, and their only tense moments were limited to Mitchell’s decision to torture Pierson for fun by forcing him to wait far too long for his climax. Setting aside that delicious memory, Pierson focused on the RKs and the concern on their faces.
“I’d welcome a conversation with JK Brooks to find out if we’re both at a point where we can put our contentious past behind us or if we’ll require external help to produce a fresh start.”
“Excellent. We’ll let you know if he’s on the same page or if he’s convinced it’ll take outside assistance,” Drystan promised.
“Thank you for allowing me to have some say about my return and for caring about my well-being. I appreciate it and will do my part to give you insight into my mental health.”
“It’s our pleasure, and we’re going to find a way to make sure you’re happy here in Vegas,” Conley vowed. Pierson smiled, and though he was frightened of the future, it’d be good for him to stay focused on the positive. Things with Mitchell had evolved out of a place he thought forever broken, so perhaps the situation with the other JKs in Vegas was less impossible than he believed.
Chapter 32
Mitchell opened a box and it was a second one full of Pierson’s awards, which pleased him. A display wall had to be planned and to do that, he needed to know what there was to work with. It was something he’d been looking forward to, but it was a trifle difficult to concentrate while Pierson paced and scowled.
“How am I supposed to survive an entire week without any fucking thing to do?”
“Well, Blondie, you’re already dead, so I wouldn’t worry about your life expectancy,” Mitchell murmured, digging out plaques and awards that required him to hang shelves. A trip to the store was going to be necessary, he decided.
“I don’t think you’re taking this shit seriously. Seven fucking days, Brooks.”
“Eight if you include next Sunday, and this can’t be the last box of awards.”
With a huff, Pierson stalked out of the room. Mitchell had more on his side, and Pierson was collecting them while he’d still been trying to work his way up to headquarters. The entire surface of Pierson’s empty desk was cluttered with them, and he was wondering if he should shove aside papers on his own when Pierson marched in with two bins. “This should be all of it. I don’t think you need to hang up every single one.”
“We might not have enough space, but we’ll see,” Mitchell responded, happily yanking off the top of the load Pierson brought in.
“Can you focus for a fucking minute on my problem?”
Glancing up, Mitchell cocked his head and smiled. “You know, there are worse things in life than having a vacation.”
