Page 41 of That Next Moment

“Even this embezzlement charge?”

Shit.

“I can explain that.” I leaned forward, feeling my soul leave my body.

“Mr. Nolan, we are a small practice. My partner and I just started the company three months ago, and we are still in the red. We are gaining clients every day, and we are focusing on us as a whole. During this time, we have found our finances somewhat harder to manage than we expected, so you could imagine our shock when Jackson and Rye’s head accountant applied for a job.” She placed her hands on her stomach and leaned back into her seat. I had no words, but thankfully she did. “You were all over the news, Mr. Nolan. You almost went to trial, if you hadn’t paid them off. So please, I’d love to hear you explain it.”

“It was a team member, right under my nose. Since I was in charge of him and his work, his actions fell on me, even though they could never find the exact person. I paid them a settlement so I could eventually find another career. I didn’t want it to be on my record forever,” I said honestly.

“You do realize that paying a settlement makes it look like you're guilty, right?”

“I do now. I never really thought of it that way before.”

Mrs. Karrs hummed again, her eyes giving me a complete once over before she sat back up in her chair. “Mr. Nolan, I think you understand why I can’t offer you this job right off the table.”

I broke her eye contact, looking down at my shoes.

“But. . .”

I looked back up at her.

“I am interested in you. I did something I normally wouldn’t do when I saw your name appear on my list. I contacted your lawyer.”

“Excuse me? Isn’t that illegal?”

“It’s a morally gray area.” She waved her palm over the table. “But I wanted to know what he thought of you. Let’s call it a character reference.”

“He’s not listed on my resume,” I argued.

“Mr. Nolan, your face was plastered all over CNN, MSN and FoxNews. Everyone knows who you are, and it wasn’t hard to figure out who your lawyer was. So, I called him.”

I heaved a sigh, suddenly wishing I had asked the blonde to bring me a bottle of water. “Okay. . . and?” I grumbled.

“He’s impressed by you. And not just in the ‘I’m the lawyer and he’s my client, so I have to talk good about him’ way. In the real sense. He told me he was trying to work a case with Jackson and Rye to clear your name.”

My eyes hit hers like arrows. I was dumbfounded. Is this what he was talking about? “I didn’t. . .”

“I know, he told me he hadn’t shared specifics with you, but it’s been almost a year since the settlement and he thinks he can strike this from your record, making you a free man again.”

“I’m sorry, but how is my lawyer sharing this information with you legal?” I asked again, screwing my face in a way that I didn’t even think was possible.

“Why don't you let me worry about what’s legal, and what’s not?” Mrs. Karrs laughed. “Do you want this job or not, Mr. Nolan?”

“Yes,” I said quicker than I could think to answer.

“I’m interested in you, but I can’t do anything unless this embezzlement charge is gone, do you understand?”

I nodded, ever so slightly.

“Good luck, Mr. Nolan. If and when this is ever erased, reach out to me and the job is yours.” Mrs. Karrs crossed her legs and leaned back into her chair once again. For just being a start-up law firm, this woman was no joke. “Kelly can show you out.” She nodded.

I cleared my throat and stood, noticing the blonde, Kelly, appear back in the doorway.

“We’ll be in touch, Mr. Nolan,” Mrs. Karrs called as I left the office.

What in the actual hell?

Never in a million years have I written an email as fast as I did when I got back to Milo’s apartment.

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