“You can’t be serious. You can’t legally force me to marry this man. At the very least, I have to sign the marriage certificate, and I can promise you, I willneverdo that.” I stare at them for another minute before I turn and walk away.
This time, when my father calls after me, I ignore him.
one
AVA
Two Weeks Later
I knockon the open door in front of me, nervous about this conversation with my boss. Things have been off for the last two weeks. They’ve been bringing on additional staff to help with coverage on some of my cases and removing me from others.
I have a good idea of what’s about to happen, and if I’m being honest with myself, I don’t think I’m that upset about it.
My boss glances up and waves me into the office as soon as he sees me. “Ava, come on in. Thanks for staying late to meet with me. I know it’s not news to you that when a judge calls you in you go without question.”
“It’s no problem.” I sit in the chair Mr. Henry gestures to as I walk into his office.
I know small talk is the appropriate response, but I don’t have it in me to pretend I’m not about to be fired. Brian Wellsleyis the son of one of the partners at this firm and is set to become a partner within the next six months.
When I rejected him and then told my parents about what he tried to do as a result of that rejection, I have no doubt he ran to his parents. Add to the fact that his parents have a contract with mine to ensure we would marry—which I refused—and it’s no surprise I’m about to get fired. But I'll be damned if I let my parents force me into "fulfilling my purpose" by marrying that man.
Mr. Henry sits behind his desk, studying me for a few minutes before finally speaking. “You’ve always been a smart woman. I don’t think it will shock you why I asked for this meeting.”
“No, Mr. Henry. I feel confident I know what this is about.”
“I wish we lived in a different world. The fact you’re about to be punished for rejecting a man is…” Mr. Henry sighs, clearly at a loss for words, but I don’t step in to help him. I understand where he’s trying to take this conversation, but at the end of the day, he’s not wrong. If anyone should be fired in this situation, itshouldbe Brian.
When he doesn’t continue, I break the silence. “Just say it, Mr. Henry.” I may understand what he’s trying to say, but I won’t help him. He’s part of the problem.
“I’m afraid we’re going to have to let you go. Immediately.” He pauses again, taking a breath before continuing. “You’ve been a valuable member of the team for the last five years. Iamsorry to see you go.” I see him swallow as if preparing to lay another blow. “Unfortunately, this will be a for-cause termination, meaning there’s no severance package, and you’ll need to leave the premises as soon as we’re done here. Someone from HR will pack your personal belongings, and you can either pick them up or we can mail them to you.”
“I don’t have any personal items at my desk, just my purse, which I can’t leave without.” I may have been here for five years, but putting a personal touch on my space never felt right. Maybe that should have been a sign I wasn’t meant to be here long before now.
“Of course. I’ll escort you out as soon as we’re done.” He pauses again, studying me.
I don’t know what he expects, but I’ve never been an overly emotional person. My parents never would have accepted that. It was instilled in me from an early age that you do not express any intense emotions in the presence of others.
“Do you have any questions for me?” His voice is quiet, a little hesitant, as if he’s waiting for me to argue with him about my termination.
Even with Massachusetts being an employee-at-will state, it’s clear I’m being fired due to everything that happened with Brian. Without a single negative mark on my employment record at this firm, it would be quite easy to prove wrongful termination in this case. But I don’t have it in me to fight.
I don’t want to work at this firm—in this building—knowing that Brian will always be around the corner. Even if I prove wrongful termination and keep my job, Brian will never be fired—not with his father being one of the founding partners.
I didn’t report what happened to anyone. The only people I told were my parents and I don’t think they would corroborate my story, not when they want me to marry the man.
And recently I’ve realized—I hate my job.
Part of it could be working for this particular firm. Henry, Wellsley, & Ford is a prestigious firm that only takes on the wealthiest of clients and only takes on cases they know they can win. I’d been content going into law because I thought I would be helping people. But most of the time, I don’t feel like I’m doinganything worthwhile here. I don’t want to spend my life working in this kind of environment. It’s not who I am.
I see the shock in his eyes when I finally respond. “No, Mr. Henry, I don’t have any questions.”
“All right. Then I just need you to sign this stating you understand everything we’ve discussed.” Mr. Henry pushes a document toward me.
I don’t pick up the document. He might be telling me the truth, but I also suspect there is some fine print saying I forgo the right to sue them for wrongful termination. While I have no plans to move forward with that, I won’t take that chance away from myself, should I need it. “I won’t be signing anything.”
“Ms. Day?—”
“No, Mr. Henry. You can’t force me to sign that, and I won’t be doing it.” I give him a moment to see if he’ll say anything, and when he doesn’t, I continue. “If there’s nothing else, I’d like to go.”
