“It was great. Didn’t even want to come back.”
“So, now that Josie knows how you feel about her, is she giving the name change more thought?” Skye asked.
“Haven’t discussed it.”
Tess laughed, drumming her fingers on the desk. “Told you he didn’t bring it up. I think he’s afraid Josie will stick to her guns.”
Skye shrugged.
“My money’s still on Hunter convincing her,” Ryker said.
“You’ve talked about this?” I asked, perplexed.
“Just... exchanged opinions,” Skye said.
I couldn’t help but notice that Cole wasn’t his usual self. He was quiet, not joining in on the fun. I didn’t want to ask him if anything was wrong in front of my cousins, not wanting to put him on the spot in case he had any kind of troubles.
After everyone left, I asked, “Cole, is anything wrong?”
“I didn’t want to bring this up during your first day back, but your case worker was here in the building last Friday, asking questions.”
I felt as if someone had just thrown cold water in my face.
“What kind of questions?”
“About you and Josie... your marriage, your life before. The days before you announced the engagement. Things like that.”
“What did everyone tell her?”
“I wasn’t there to hear what they answered, but I hope she was satisfied.”
Fucking hell. What was going on? Had she gone to Josie’s office too?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Josie
After the trip, I came into the office with a big grin. Regular vacations, I’d decided, were definitely going to be a part of my life from now on. I mean, what was better than spending hours relaxing? It didn’t hurt that I had a sexy man at my side to fill all those hours with.
I felt reborn and ready to take on the world. I had an appointment with my boss first thing. He’d emailed yesterday evening and asked me to come by his office today.
Hunter and I had made a bet what it would be about. He said it would be about the promotion. While I loved his confidence in me, promotions were not usually awarded this time of the year. I was sure this was about a new case.
My good mood plummeted when I entered his office. I immediately sensed something was wrong. Craig wasn’t his usual self. His shoulders were tense, his eyes pinned to the desk instead of me. Shit, what if Hunter was right and this was about the promotion after all? Only I wasn’t the one getting it?
“Josie, take a seat,” he said.
I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, taking my notepad and pen out the way I always did during my meetings with Craig, using the familiar routine to calm myself down.
“What is this about?” I finally asked.
“It was brought to my attention that you’ve had a run-in with the immigration services.”
I gripped the pen so tight that my fingers went numb. My mind worked frantically, but I couldn’t come up with a good enough solution except to say the truth and work from there.
“Yes.”
“I would have appreciated to hear that from you.”
“It’s a personal matter. It didn’t interfere with my work at all.”
“It’s a legal matter. Personal or not, you should have told me.”
I doodled with the pen to keep myself from tapping my foot against the floor.
“I can tell you now that everything will be cleared.”
We hadn’t heard anything from the case worker after sending the pictures, which was reassuring.
“I’m afraid this isn’t so simple.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that your case worker was here, asking questions. She spoke to me and a few of your colleagues. I can’t have that.”
Breathe in. Breathe out. Keep calm. Breathe in.
No, no, no. This couldn’t happen. I had no idea how I kept on talking.
“But this is a personal matter.”
“That is, I am afraid, of little consequence. Josie, it pains me to do this, but I have to let you go. Word will spread, and I can’t allow people to associate these kinds of subterfuge with us. It wouldn’t reflect well on me.”
“This is not fair.”
I kept my gaze fixed on Craig now. I was so angry that I could barely control the tone of my voice.
“The case worker was just asking questions. You can’t fire me because of this.”
Craig’s eyes flashed. “You know I can.”
Unfortunately, he was right. Legally, there was nothing stopping him.
“After this, you would have no chance of making partner here anyway.”
I stood up. “Really? I have done exemplary work since I started as an intern here. You haven’t had one single complaint about me, ever.”
“Don’t make this even more difficult for yourself. And a word of warning, when anyone calls to ask for references, I will have to be frank about this. I can’t afford anyone suing me for withholding information further down the road.”
“Your legal obligation is to report on my work.”
It dawned on me slowly what this all meant. No one would hire me right away. Craig telling them this would give the impression he thought I was guilty, not just caught up in a bureaucratic process.
“You’re young and smart. You’ll figure everything out.”
I’d worked my whole life only for my entire career to just be taken away from me?
I’d sacrificed so much, dedicated everything to this. I blinked rapidly, because my eyes were burning and I wouldn’t give anyone the satisfaction of seeing me cry.
“My decision is final.”
“We’ll see what HR has to say about it.”
“They’ve already been informed.”
“What?”
“As of today, you no longer work for Marks & Partners.”
I was stunned. For the first time ever, I had no comeback. Nothing to say in my defense. I felt so utterly defeated that I wasn’t sure I would be able to make it out of the building without having a good cry first. What would I tell my parents?
They’d sacrificed so much to help me through law school, and I’d just trampled on all of their hard work.
I went through the motions for the next hour. Down to HR, signing papers. Up again, packing my belongings in the box they gave me. It all took no time at all. No one gave two shits that I was leaving.
I had such difficulties breathing when I walked out of the building, I thought I was going to suffocate. The October chill wrapped around me like an icy blanket. It was raining too.
New York had never looked more depressing to me. But I was going to get through this—I’d always managed to see the positive part. But for the life of me, I couldn’t be upbeat now. I hadn’t just lost my job. My entire career as a lawyer was in danger. For the first time in years, all I wanted to do was wallow.
Once at home, I read for a few hours, then took the panna cotta Amelia had brought yesterday as a welcome-home treat, filled the Jacuzzi with water and bubbles, slid inside it, and shut out the outside world. I’d break the news to my parents later... and to Hunter.
Now, I simply wanted to focus on the warm water and the delicious sweet treat. What was it about sugar that made any situation a little better?