Page 17 of Cass

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CASSANDRA

EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO

The managing partner pokes his head into my office. “Cassandra, are you free for lunch today? We’d like to talk with you about a few things. It’s really important.”

I look up at him from my desk. “I have my ten-year-old niece here with me for her career day. She’s shadowing me as part of her school project.” I smile over at her. He looks at my sofa and notices Harley for the first time.

“Hello little girl. What’s your name?”

She stands up and sticks out her hand. “Hello. I’m Harley Madison Lawrence. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. You have a very impressive law firm.”

He laughs as he shakes her hand. “Aren’t you polite.” He pinches her cheek. “You’re a very pretty little girl.”

I smile as I see Harley roll her eyes. She hates being called pretty. “Steven, she happens to be highly intelligent too. She wants to be a surgeon. She’s just slumming it here with me today. Right, Harley?” I wink at her.

“Being a lawyer is an honorable profession too, Aunt Cass.” She turns back to Steven. “My mother is studying for the bar exam now. She takes the test tomorrow. She’s very smart like Aunt Cass. She’s going to be a lawyer too. She had to go to law school at night because she had me very young. I also have two little sisters.”

He laughs again. “You’re a very chatty, little lady. Well, good luck to your mother.”

He looks at me. “Cassandra, can I get a quick moment with you in my office? Is it okay to leave a little kid?”

“She’s ten, not two. She’ll be fine.” I approach Harley and hand her the biggest book from my bookshelf. “Harley, cure cancer before I get back.”

“I’m on it, Aunt Cass. Consider it done.” I smile. I love this kid.

I walk with Steven to his office. He grabs a few of the other partners on the way. They join us as we head toward his office.

I look down at my phone and see I have several missed calls from my financial advisor, but I ignore them. I have more pressing matters to attend to right now. Like, why have I been summoned to the managing partner’s office? Why are there several partners that also need to attend this meeting?

We enter his office, and he closes the door behind us. “Cassandra, please have a seat.” I’m definitely a little nervous. I don’t think I’ve ever been summoned like this before.

He leans against his desk. “We wanted to take you out to lunch to do this properly, but you have some company today.” I take a breath and brace myself for the worst. “We’ve spent a lot of time discussing this, and we’d like to offer you a partnership here.” He grins at me.

A huge smile crosses my face. “Really? That’s great news. Thank you so much for the opportunity. I promise, you won’t regret it.”

He nods at me. “I know we won’t. Can we do a celebratory lunch tomorrow?”

“I would love that.”

“You should head out early today. I’m sure Roman will want to take you out for dinner.” I seriously doubt that, but I give my best fake smile in agreement nonetheless.

All of the partners shake my hand in congratulations.

I eventually leave to head back to my office. I should be excited, and on some level, I definitely am, but I don’t think this is going to go over well at home.

Roman was fired from his job last year, and hasn’t been able to find another suitable job. For some unknown reason, he takes my success as a slight on him. I think he actually begrudges me my success.

I thought I finally found the right guy. I thought I found my “Scott.” Our first year together was amazing, but after we got married, things changed drastically. He was struggling at work, and taking it out on me at home. He yells at me, and he belittles me. In general, he makes me feel like shit. There’s no real physical intimacy anymore. I don’t remember the last time we had sex.

It’s been like this for nearly two years now. I’m miserable. I don’t know what to do. I want the old Roman back. The one I fell madly in love with. I desperately want to make little Harleys. I know the clock’s ticking for me on that.

I walk back into my office and see the light of my life. Being with Harley always puts a smile on my face. She’s so incredibly special to me.

I’ve adored her since the minute she was born. Darian even let me be in the delivery room. I was the first person after Darian and Scott to get to hold her. I love her so much. I love my special relationship with her.

“Guess what, Harley?” She looks up from her book. “I just made partner. Only the second female in this firm’s history.”

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