pte

nough to know wh

in his chair, his eyes cool, a

uldn'

chair in front of his desk, my entire b

lk

e for this firm? After the

r as an intern working myself to the bone just to prove I deserved a

e y

damn

m. I had built a reputation for myself, sharp, relentless, undefeated. I had spent nights

d me through it all? The o

day, it wa

been lyi

ecause

what he as

s how he won his cases, pushing boundaries, finding loopholes

he'd expect me to c

slid a folder across his desk a

t. Not argue

troy

rporate fraud lawsuit against one of our firm's biggest clients. There were documents provin

should have s

at Nathaniel

oth, patient, like he was teaching me something valuable.

," I had shot back

his temples, as if I was

this harder than

e to commit obstr

hardened then, the mask slipping just for a seco

I was, I had still t

ce that day, my head held hig

. My office was emptied. My colleagues people I had trusted, peo

had al

choice. And he had made

he wor

knife to

Dan

office, ready to fight, only t

gh. That smug, victori

riend. The one person I ha

walked right

s willing to do

dy. He couldn't have it, so

s if she had won it made me want

sighed, like he wa

same unreadable expre

nough to know wh

I realized he h

wanted

tions. Getting too close to thin

ad cut m

o choice but

s packed, but I

, checked my bags, boarde

was dark, the streetlights flick

the airport, inh

rn until I was ready, ready to face th

, I had

pposed to be

of parked vehicles until the

I expect the company I ord

sted, and pulled

My blood tu

Sitting in th

waiting

aped over the seat, his long fingers

ace. That same haunt

er's life. 5 years ago and