“You need a break,” the voice on the phone said, as Riley sank into her couch, feeling her scalp tense and throb.

It was nearly midnight, she had only just gotten home, and there had been no time for dinner. Her lunch had been eaten in her car, hurriedly and with little enjoyment. And it was only when she had stepped into her apartment and checked her phone, did she remember that she had promised to return Addison’s call. Two days ago.

Better late than never?

“I don’t have time for a break,” Riley sighed. “You know how it is. Or you used to, before you disappeared off the face of the Earth.”

“I moved to Utah, not to the Moon,” Addison laughed.

“What’s the difference again?” Riley asked.

“Utah’s a lot easier to visit, for one thing,” Addison replied.

As hints went, it wasn’t very subtle. Then again, her friend had never been shy about saying what she meant. Riley kicked up her feet, sore from a day of running around in heels. You would think lawyers just sat at their desks all day.

Not the case, unfortunately.

“I know, I know, I promised I’d come see you,” Riley said. “But right now I’m in the middle of this deposition…”

“You’ll never have time unless you make it,” Addison cut her off.

Riley could easily picture the furrow between her friend’s brow as she said it. Auburn-haired, with green eyes and a smattering of freckles she most always covered up with make-up, Addison had been in the same boat as she was not so long ago – trying to make a name for herself in the legal world of Chicago.

She had quickly risen through the ranks at Reid Atherton’s law office, mirroring Riley’s own trajectory at Latham & Ellis. That was before Addison had shacked up with her boss’ brother in a town she hadn’t even heard of before – Black Oak.

“You know, I’d be more inclined to take your vaguely Zen advice if you hadn’t been the one busting your ass as hard as me no more than a year ago,” Riley replied.

“God, have I really become that person?” Addison laughed on the other end. “If I promise not to start talking about how much fresher the air is here or how I’m woken up by birdsong, will you come? I know you must have a ton of vacation days stacked up.”

Now that was true. She hadn’t taken a vacation or even a sick day since… Well, she couldn’t remember. It must have been before she even started at Latham & Ellis. It’s not like she had a lot going on in her social life at the moment, so she didn’t really mind burying herself in her work.

The dull throb at her temples and the blisters on her feet begged to differ, but she ignored it.

Riley shook her head, despite knowing Addison couldn’t see it. Smoothing a hand down her dark, frizzing hair, she let her head fall back, knowing she only had five or six precious hours of sleep waiting for her until she had to get up, shower, and do it all over again.

“Shannon is already breathing down my neck with these depositions, which she dumped on me at the last second, as usual,” Riley said, rolling her eyes at the thought of her boss. “I can only imagine the face she’d pull if I asked for time off. I’d never hear the end of it.”

“Shannon is not more important than your well-being,” Addison gently, yet firmly, reminded her.

The note of concern in her voice told Riley that she must be sounding as exhausted and worn-down as she felt. Yet another reason to crawl into bed as fast as she could. The last thing she needed was Shannon looking at her with that mock sympathy she had perfected, asking if she was feeling well.

As if Riley couldn’t see the bags under her eyes herself, thank you very much.

“I know she’s not,” she replied, stifling a yawn. “Look, I’ll think about it. No promises. But right now, I’ve got to go to bed before I pass out on my couch.”

“Oh, of course,” Addison quickly replied. “Good night. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Good night,” Riley replied, heaving herself off her sofa.

And here’s to a better morning.

* * *

By the time it was three o’clock, Riley was on her last nerve, and on her third cup of coffee. Shannon has been even more demanding than usual, and with many of their staff out with the flu, everyone was working double-duty.

The last straw came when Shannon popped her head into Riley’s office, an insincere smile on her thin, garishly pink lips. The pantsuit the woman wore hung off her thin frame, with her expensive perfume now filling Riley’s office.

As if I didn’t have a headache already.

“Riley, dear,” Shannon started, her gaunt face barely angled her way as she glanced back at the open office. “The machine in the kitchen has stopped working and we need someone to go on a coffee run. You don’t mind, do you?”

Riley blinked at the woman, feeling her temper starting to flare. She waited until Shannon actually looked at her before speaking, trying to keep her voice neutral.

“I’m actually very busy right now,” she replied, her fingers hovering over the keyboard in front of her. “And that’s not my job.”

“Oh, of course, but since Ellen is sick and you’re the least tenured person here…” Shannon trailed off. “I have the order list all ready to go,” she added, waving a piece of paper at Riley.

At that, Riley couldn’t keep her cool any longer. It wasn’t enough that she was running herself ragged, regularly taking on a downright impossible workload, now she was also supposed to fill the role of Shannon’s personal assistant?

With Addison’s words from their conversation last night ringing in her head, Riley shot up from her seat, her face flushing with anger.

“I work just as hard as everyone else here, and I’d like to know why you insist on treating me like I’m not,” she said, unable to hold back.

Shannon raised her brows as she slid into the office, closing the glass door behind her. Riley hadn’t raised her voice, but there had been an edge to her tone nonetheless, and Shannon did not look like she had appreciated it.

“I’m sorry, were you under the impression you had chosen an easy career path?” she asked.

Spine straight, Riley faced her, unwilling to back down. She could apologize, say she spoke out of turn, and go get the damned coffee. But with the year she’d had – working until exhaustion, not to mention the exceptionally lousy dating decisions she had made when she had still had the time for such things – push had finally come to shove.

And Riley was sick of getting pushed around.

“I didn’t become a lawyer because it was easy,” Riley replied. “But that’s not the point. Have I ever complained, or given you reason to be displeased with my work?”

Shannon stared at her, silent and unmoving, which Riley guessed was as close to a ‘yes’ she was going to get.

“No,” she answered herself, and Shannon didn’t argue. “Yet you treat me like some rookie, despite the fact you obviously think I’m good enough for dumping your own work on to take credit for later.”

Now Shannon looked like she was ready to protest, but Riley was on a roll. All the things she had ever wanted to say came pouring out, and the relief of finally speaking out was too great for her to even consider stopping.

“I haven’t been to the movies in years,” she said. “People keep making references to books and TV shows I know nothing about. I used to love music, and going to concerts. I don’t even listen to the radio anymore, fearing it would distract me.

“I order take-out, because it’s less time-consuming than going to an actual restaurant. I have given this place my life, and I’ve gotten nothing in return. I’ve had enough.”

Shannon’s eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing, yet she said nothing.

“I’m leaving,” Riley announced, slamming her laptop shut and reaching for her purse. “I think the flu might have finally gotten to me, too. Either way, I have some time off coming up, don’t I?”

Frowning, Shannon folded her arms in front of her, but Riley could tell there would be real no fight coming from the woman. Her boss would never admit it, but Riley was too valuable for Shannon to actually try and stop her and risk her throwing in the towel for good.

“How long will you be gone?” Shannon sputtered.

“I don’t know,” Riley simply shrugged, gathering her things and heading for the door. “Now if you’ll excuse me…”

I have a plane ticket to book, she smiled to herself, brushing past her boss.