“Evan and I were—” I have no idea how to end that sentence. It’s quite obvious what we were doing. There’s no sense in lying about it.
“You were kissing,” she says, pointing a shaking finger at us. “Don’t deny it. I saw you kissing. You and Evan. You’re his boss. And he’s dating Finley!”
All of these are obvious statements. “Yes, thank you for the summary.”
“This is unacceptable, Christopher!” She plants her hands on her hips and glowers at us.
“I’m not sure what you want me to say. Or do,” I tell her calmly. I resist looking at Evan. I’m sure he is upset, and God knows how I’m going to fix this.
“Well, something must be done,” Mary Grace says.
“There’s nothing you can do,” I tell her, still keeping my voice calm. “I am a partner. I was a partner before you were. Even with your father here, you don’t really have any say in what I do.”
“That isn’t true. We have rules about fraternization. And it’s an ethical issue, Christopher.”
“You can’t fire me, Mary Grace,” I tell her.
“No.” Her eyes narrow and she focuses on Evan. “But I can fire him.”
I keep my expression passive. She can’t fire him unilaterally, but it won’t be hard to get her father on her side. Not to mention, Greg is still an acting partner in the firm, even though he’s not practicing. I have no idea what he’ll do with this information, especially considering that he believes Evan is dating his daughter.
“Perhaps,” I say. “But it would be a sincerely stupid move to fire our best associate.”
“I don’t know that he’s the best,” Mary Grace says. “He does well on cases, yes, but he’s causing a lot of trouble in the office. He’s dating a paralegal, which is borderline problematic, and now he’s cheating on her with one of the partners. These are ethical concerns that I can’t look past. He might be good on paper, but he’s only been here a little over a year and he’s obviously making very questionable ethical and personal decisions.”
I clench my fist. I desperately want to go off on this woman. And that is completely out of character for me. I would never do something like that. Not to any woman, certainly not to a coworker. But God, Mary Grace is such a smug bitch.
“She’s right.”
I swing to my left to look at Evan. “What?”
He shoves a hand through his hair. “There’s no explanation for what she just witnessed except for what it is.” His expression is pained. He looks at Mary Grace. “Nothing has happened between Christopher and me except for what you just witnessed. But yes, I have feelings for him. And yes, I am dating Finley. Obviously, this is extremely complicated.”
“Evan,” I say through gritted teeth. “Stop talking.” That is always the first and best advice a lawyer will give any client. Or friend. The less they say, the better.
“He doesn’t need to say anything else,” Mary Grace says. “I’ve seen and heard enough. Personal relationships in the office are a bad idea. Relationships between superiors and subordinates are forbidden for a reason. I know that you were going to put forward his name for partner. Now that makes sense.”
“Mary Grace—” I start.
She looks at Evan. “And now that is never going to happen. You can pack up your desk. I’ll have security come up to escort you out.” She looks at me again. “I’ll inform my father and Greg.”
“May I be given the option of resigning?” Evan asks.
Mary Grace hesitates, but then she nods. “I think that would be best all the way around for the firm, if that’s what we call it on paper. But make no mistake—you’ve been fired.”
She turns and leaves, not bothering to shut my door behind her.
I look at Evan. “You shouldn’t have said anything.”
He frowned at me. “Seriously? The only other option was letting you take the fall for somehow seducing me or manipulating me or exploiting me. First of all, that wasn’t true and second of all, that would’ve ruined your career and partnership here at the firm. Worst-case scenario, I go work somewhere else and eventually work my way up to partner there.”
“But you should be working here! Not only do I want you around, but this is my firm. I want the best attorneys here.”
He blows out a breath. “Then I guess we should have kept our feelings under wraps.”
Then he turns and also leaves my office. But he at least shuts the door behind him.
Which is a good thing because I swear loudly and throw a paperweight against the wall.
