Charli was suddenly alert, adrenaline pumping through her body. “What’s going on?”
Annette’s mouth twitched at the corners in a small, satisfied grin as she casually inspected her nails, clearly determined to deliver the story in her own sweet time.
“Spill it, Annette.” Charli ordered, with something less than polite patience.
“Well,” Annette started, “it seems that Evan just got engaged.” She paused again to brush a piece of fuzz from her skirt. She glanced up and met Charli’s gaze. “To Mr. Davis’s daughter, Genevieve.”
Charli’s lips parted, her heart sinking, knowing exactly where the story was going. “Well, that son-of-a-bitch. That’s why Mr. Davis called him son.”
“And because of that, the board,” Annette continued, nodding, “felt that Evan should have a more high-profile caseload that befits a man of his stature,” she said, using air-quote marks on that last word. “Your clients and cases all fit that bill.”
“Huh.” Suddenly, Charli felt nothing. Literally nothing. She was neither hot nor cold, neither calm nor angry, but she existed in a state that could only be described as numb and her brain felt like mush. She stared down at her desk, unconsciously gripping it until her knuckles turned white—this scenario was absolutely unbelievable.
When she had walked in this morning, she had a promising career and a stellar reputation at one of Boston’s best firms with a fast-track to making partnership within the year. Now, suddenly, the rug had been ripped out from beneath her and it all seemed to be circling the drain because of the Good Old Boys Club.
How had this happened? What could I have done? How did I not seen this coming?
“You know he’ll lose all those cases, right?”
Charli shook her head coming out of her reverie and looked up at Annette. “What?”
“Evan. He’ll screw it all up and leave your clients in the lurch,” Annette repeated.
Charli scoffed. “Well, apparently they’re not my clients anymore, and at this moment, I really don’t give a shit.” She took a deep breath and looked out the window at the Boston skyline, playing over her response in her mind.
That isn’t completely true, Charli. Your clients are unwitting pawns in this shuffling game to make Evan look good. It isn’t their fault, and you aren’t okay with any of this.
Annette grunted. “You should be breathing fire right now, Charli Harris.” She paused, her head dropping to the side and eyes narrowing, as she studied Charli closely. “Where’s the Amazon that I work for?”
“I was just wondering the same thing, but I don’t feel anything right now.” Charli shrugged. She leaned forward and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“You’re burned out. I’ve noticed it for a while now,” Annette commented, her tone soft. “Maybe deep down you needed something like this to happen.”
“I needed this to happen?” Charli asked incredulously, her voice rising with each successive word. “My career was just flushed down the toilet. A decade of school and work were just washed away, and I needed it to happen? Are you serious?”
Annette’s mouth flattened, and she shrugged. “Well, maybe needed is the wrong word,” she conceded, and then sighed. “What do you want me to do?”
Charli glanced around the room. “Well, it looks like you already have all the files together. Tell Percival that he can come pick them up.” She gave Annette a hard look. “I don’t want you moving anything for those assholes. And if he asks you any questions about the cases, tell him it’s all in the files and he can find it himself.”
Annette grinned. “You got it, Boss.” Her look sobered. “So, do we still have jobs?”
Charli released a huge sigh. “I’m not sure ifIdo.” She gave Annette a reassuring look. “But I’m certain they’ll transfer you to another desk if I don’t. They can’t afford to lose your experience. Besides, if they did cut you loose, I’d make sure you had another job the very next day.” Charli dropped her head to the desk. “God, I need a drink.”
A warm hand dropped onto hers. Charli looked up to see Annette leaning over the desk, compassion in her eyes. “You’ll get through this, Charlotte Dorothea. Right now, you’re in shock. But after a good night’s sleep, you’ll wake up and the anger will set in. That’s when we’ll figure out how we’re gonna burn this firm to the ground.”
Charli chuckled bitterly, feeling suddenly exhausted and overwhelmed. “I just want to go home.”
“Oh! Before I forget...” Annette held up a finger then ran from the office. She returned seconds later, a large brown packet in her hands. “This is that package from Key West. It looks important.” She placed it on the desk, then turned and left the office, closing the door behind her.
Charli stared down at the packet blankly. It was from a law firm in Key West.
She thought back to the last time she had been to the island and the corners of her mouth tilted up. It had been well over a decade ago, the summer before she started college.
It seemed like a lifetime ago. She had spent two glorious months with her Great Aunt Dottie, a memorable time that she wished had never ended before her life had become consumed with work and the desire to make partner before thirty-five.
She sighed as she remembered that summer. She had fallen in love with everything about the island—the quirkiness, the freedom, the weather, and, most of all, her aunt who seemed to understand her in a way no one else ever had.
Charli pursed her lips as she opened the large envelope, pulling out a half-full accordion file with an official cover letter.
