Page 110
“Why not? What happened? I thought we were—”
“Yeah, so did I,” I interrupt, then wince that I let the admission slip. He doesn’t need to know I fell for his bullshit. “But then I overheard you agreeing to fuck a woman for some contract.”
His eyes widen in understanding. And then it’s not hurt coloring his expression, but shame and panic.
“Wait, no, that’s not what you think it was—”
“I heard you say yes, Lucas!”
He winces. “I… Okay, yes, but—”
“But nothing. You said yes to your boss.” I scoff. “You always say yes to your boss.”
Another wince, and this time, his gaze drops to the floor as he rubs the back of his neck. He should be ashamed.
Hurt seeps back into my body. I trusted him. I believed him.
“Lucas…” I swallow roughly when my voice gives too much away. “What do you want out of life? What do you want to accomplish?”
His eyes lift to meet mine. “I… I don’t know.”
I don’t let him look away. “Yes, you do. Answer me. Give me an answer.”
He clears his throat, his feet shuffling awkwardly. “I want to solve problems. To help people.”
“And you think fucking a signature out of a woman for a shit deal is helping anyone other than your boss and your paycheck?”
“Jesus,” he winces. “I wasn’t going to do it.”
And maybe if I hadn’t witnessed my father tell this same lie over and over again, I might believe him. But as it stands, I’m too lost in the parallels and too hurt by Lucas’s answer to really consider if I think he would actually go through with it.
“But he asked you to!” I explode instead. “Which means he expected a yes! Because you’ve always given him yeses!”
“I don’t always—”
I snort. “Yes, you do. Don’t act like every argument we’ve had hasn’t been about the shitty morals of this place.”
He knows I’m right. I can see it in his face.
“Lucas, why are you here?” I ask. I beg. Because I want to understand. I was so close to understanding, and now I just feel lost. “Tell me why you’re still at this firm. Because I don’t get it.”
He doesn’t answer. He just looks away, wringing his hands in front of him.
I huff a humorless laugh. “Yeah, it’s probably better not to answer.”
A huge exhale gusts out of him. “Charli, just…give me a minute. I can explain everything. Will you let me explain? Can we go home and talk?”
I’m shaking my head before he finishes. “I can’t fathom a reason that would excuse all of this. I’m not really interested in talking.” I grab my bag and throw it over my shoulder. “I’ll finish the case. Because I’m a woman of my word, and I actually believe in Randall. But I never want to see this firm’s name on another one of my cases again.”
His eyes go wide. “Wait, what does that—”
There’s a quick knock on the door, and Samantha pokes her head in without waiting for an answer.
“Bryan wants you in his office.”
“Samantha, I need a minute to—”
“No, you don’t understand. He needs to see you now.”
