Page 38 of Inadmissible
“It’s always a good time for you. Wassup?”
“I was calling to see if you wanted us to cook tonight or go out. Do you know when you’ll be leaving the office?”
“We can go out, bae. I already know I’m going to be tired when I leave.”
“I can cook. I have an earlier day than you, so I don’t mind.”
“Only if you’re sure?—”
“Taj, what’s this about you going on another trip at the end of the month?” Gregory stormed in my office asking. He didn’teven bother looking up from his iPad to see that I was on the phone.
“Yes, that’s correct,” I replied. “April is the start of a new quarter, so me taking three days off shouldn’t be a problem.”
We’d scheduled the trip for the end of the month to give the Collins case priority. Closing arguments would be next week unless the prosecution had some tricks up their sleeve. I specifically scheduled it so that my three days off would be Wednesday through Friday. We’d stay in Mexico until Sunday, and I was just going to take Monday off regardless. I had to rest after my vacation before returning to work, and I didn’t really care how Gregory felt about that.
“I didn’t approve this.”
“You don’t have to. As I said, it’s a new quarter, so I can take the three days without your approval.”
“Do you like working here, Sanders? As much as you’re traveling and racking up billable hours at MPWG, I’m starting to wonder if you’re dedicated to your job. Last I checked, you don’t have any cases open here, but you’re working a case with Kaos Montgomery? How does that work? What am I paying you for?”
The sound of Tristan’s laughter made me close my eyes. “I’m on my way up there.”
“Tris—ugh.”
He hung up before I could ask him to let me handle this. Massaging my temples, I shook my head.
“Tristan Pierce is on his way up here,” I said. “We can come to an agreement before he gets here to avoid this escalating.”
“What does this have to do with him?”
“We’re in a relationship, and he doesn’t like the way you talk to me.”
A grunt of laughter escaped him as he jutted his chin out. “Am I supposed to be scared of him?”
Shrugging, I rolled my thumbs around each other as my hands remained cupped on top of my desk. “I’d never tell you to fear any man, but my man don’t play about me.”
His laugh was cocky as he made his way out of my office. “I’ll be waiting for him.”
“Okayyy,” I almost sang, knowing there was nothing I could do to stop whatever Tristan was going to do when he arrived.
When Tristan did arrive, the frown on his face was absolutely sexy. He gave me a quick, tender kiss before looking around my office.
“Rodrick is on his way in here to help you pack your shit. I’m about to speak with Gregory.”
“Yes, sir,” I agreed as he walked out of my office. Quite frankly, he didn’t even give me time to agree before he was heading out.
Rodrick came into my office not long after wearing a smile. He had a few file boxes in his arms and told me there were more in the car. We packed the files I had here for the things I was working on at MPWG along with my computer and personal belongings. By the time we’d made the second and final trip out to the car, Gregory and Tristan were making their way into my office.
Gregory’s tie was wrinkled, his shirt was disheveled, and his expression was spooked. If I was crazy, I’d say there was a red mark on his face, but I refused to believe Tristan had hit this man.
“As of tomorrow morning, you are a full time employee at Montgomery, Pierce, Walker, and Gough,” he announced.
“The contract,” Tristan urged casually, looking down at his phone.
“Ah, yes. You don’t have to worry about the noncompete or no recruit clauses. Neither of those will affect you.”
“And since you’ve created a hostile working environment for her, thereby forcing her to leave prematurely, you will still give her the retention bonus she would have gotten for her upcoming anniversary here,” Tristan added, shoving his phone into his pocket.
