I made good on my promise to show Emerson a good time. We lost ourselves in each other that night. Lost ourselves so much that I forgot to set an alarm and overslept. I had barely enough time to shove Emerson out the door, get dressed, and head to work before anyone could notice that I wasn’t at my desk as early as usual.

I was just turning on my computer when Lucinda came over with a sour look on her face. Bryce was trailing behind her, wearing a similar expression. They seemed tense and short-tempered, even for them.

“Where have you been?” Lucinda hissed.

Whoops. Guess my tardiness hadn’t gone unnoticed. Did this mean I would have to limit my sleepovers with Emerson? The thought disappointed me, but I also knew that I couldn’t afford any other late mornings. And he was awfully tempting—doing a very good job of keeping me distracted.

“Did I miss something?” I asked, avoiding the question.

“No,” Lucinda snipped. “But you know what happens this week, don’t you?”

I wracked my brain to figure out what she was talking about. We didn’t have any important cases going to trial that week, and besides the gala we were all required to attend this weekend, I couldn’t think of anything else that would have both Bryce and Lucinda on edge.

“Unbelievable.” Lucinda shot a look in Bryce’s direction, as if I was being a complete moron.

“The bar results are out this week,” he informed me.

Shit. I had totally forgotten.

“I assume you know what that means.” Lucinda’s voice was tight and shrill.

It meant that if one of us failed that bar, we were automatically out of the running for the associate position—and any job as a lawyer, anywhere. At least until we’d retaken the bar and passed. I hadn’t even considered that Lucinda and Bryce would be nervous about their results, but they both looked like they were waiting on terrible news.

“I’m not worried,” I said, hoping I sounded like I believed what I was saying.

I apparently did not, because Bryce snorted at my show of faith and walked away. Lucinda, on the other hand, just seemed to get more pinched and pale.

“You’re not getting the associate position,” she told me, almost like she was trying to convince herself.

I looked at her, but I didn’t say anything. I knew enough about my co-worker to know that showing any sort of fear or nervousness would only hurt my standing with her. So I just stared back at her. What did she think she was going to accomplish? Eyeball me long enough that I’d just give up and quit? She obviously didn’t know me half as well as I knew her. I wasn’t giving up. I never would.

And she blinked first.

It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. I turned my attention back to my work, doing my best to ignore her. Letting out an exasperated sigh, she finally threw up her hands and walked away.

But her visit had rattled me. The fact that both her and Bryce were so nervous about getting their results made me nervous about my own. Studying for the test had consumed my whole life; I’d barely come up for air for months before the exams. But the minute I walked out of the testing hall, I had done my best to put it out of my mind. I had done all I could do up to that point and reasoned that worrying about my results would only stress me out. So I had focused on my work, and that had turned out OK.

Except now, all I could think about was the results. And I really didn’t have time for another distraction. Emerson was bad enough, but stressing about something I had no control over was even worse.

It was late in the afternoon when we were all called into a meeting with Laney. We had managed to get that temporary restraining order on her soon-to-be ex-husband after he had drained their joint account, but now his lawyers were offering to accelerate the divorce proceedings if our client took less than a fifty-fifty split of their assets.

I sat at the edge of the room, taking notes while Arthur explained the offer to our client. She looked exhausted, and I could only imagine the toll the whole ordeal was taking on her. She had been dragged through the mud by her ex—not just via lawyers, but in the press as well. No doubt she was getting tired of hearing herself referred to as a gold-digger slut.

It obviously didn’t matter to anyone that it was her husband who had cheated—and with his secretary, no less—and that she was only asking for what was rightfully hers. The whole thing was terribly unfair, and I found myself secretly annoyed that the partners were recommending that she take the settlement. She deserved better.

“The partners and I have gone over the offer, and we think it is worth considering. It is the best option if you are looking to end this whole ordeal quickly,” Arthur was telling her. “You’d be able to cover your expenses and have a nice nest egg to start over. Leave all of this behind.”

Our client seemed overwhelmed by everything, and I really couldn’t blame her.

“It just doesn’t seem fair,” she said quietly.

“Your ex-husband has made it clear that he is willing to go to court over this,” Arthur continued. “Which could drag this on for months. Years, even. This could be your best option.”

“What do you think?” Laney asked, and it took a moment for me to realize that she had directed the question at me.

All eyes swiveled in my direction. Arthur looked surprised, but everyone else looked pissed. I couldn’t really blame them—as far as the office hierarchy went, I was a nobody. No doubt everyone was wondering why our client was asking me for my opinion.

“Alex?” Arthur prompted, giving me permission to speak.

I took a deep breath as I considered my options. Tell them what I really thought or toe the company line? Fuck.

“I know that this process has been exhausting and draining,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “And your ex-husband will try to drag this out for as long as possible. But, I believe that a fifty-fifty split—which you are entitled to—is worth the fight.”

There was a disapproving murmur through the room. Double fuck. Across the room, Lucinda looked positively thrilled that I was such a complete and utter moron. Bryce just looked confused.

“Thank you for your thoughts, Alex,” Arthur finally said, dismissing all of us.

I headed back to my desk, kicking myself. Never mind the bar results, I’d just torpedoed my chances here at the firm all on my own.

An hour later I was called to Arthur’s office.

Stomach in my feet, I headed over there, ignoring Lucinda’s chuckle. When I arrived, I found, to my great displeasure, that all of the partners were there waiting for me. Triple fuck. Quadruple fuck.

“Sit down,” Arthur said, looking more solemn than usual.

I did as I was told, keeping my hands clasped in my lap. I really hoped they wouldn’t draw this out so I could head home and drown my sorrows in a bottle of cheap wine, because I certainly wouldn’t be able to afford the good stuff anymore. Not like I really had ever been able to afford the good stuff. Just the sort-of-good stuff. But it was just going to be Two-Buck Chuck from now on.

“Laney called a few minutes ago,” Arthur informed me. “She decided to refuse the settlement. She wanted to keep fighting for an equal split.”

I was glad that she had made that decision, but apparently the partners weren’t.

“It was very clear from this afternoon’s meeting, as well as our conversation with her, that she took your advice very seriously,” Arthur continued, while all the partners stared at me silently. “We were wondering if you had anything you’d like to say for yourself. If you’d like to explain your relationship with the client and why she seems to rely so heavily upon your recommendation.”

It was a fair question. So, I explained the discussion I’d had with her in the bathroom.

“I just wanted to reassure her that we would do everything we could to get her what she deserved,” I told them. “It wasn’t meant to undermine the partners’ suggestion, I promise.”

“Except it did,” Arthur countered.

I was silent for a moment. Fuck it. If I was going to get fired, I might as well be upfront about it.

“I studied law because I wanted to be an advocate for people who couldn’t advocate for themselves,” I said, my heart racing. “I wanted to be able to fight for the best interests of those who didn’t have the resources to fight on their own. And I think our client deserves better than the settlement. I think it is in her best interest to keep fighting. Because I think that if anyone can get her what she deserves, it’s this firm.”

I thought it was a rousing speech, but the blank looks on the partner’s faces just seemed to confirm that they thought that potential associates should be seen but not heard. Maybe not even seen.

I was definitely fired. Bracing myself, I looked down at the ground, waiting for the blow.

Instead, there was a knock on the door.

Arthur’s secretary poked her head in the door.

“Henry Hayes is here to see you,” she said.

Immediately, the atmosphere in the room changed. Everyone sat up straighter, and there were some excited looks.

“You didn’t say you were meeting with Hayes,” one of the other partners spoke up, looking impressed. “Arthur, that’s great news.”

“It’s not on my calendar,” Arthur frowned, “but I’m sure we can make time for him.”

They all chortled with laughter. “I’d say. What does his company bill, two, three million a year in legal fees?”

“It would be a great account to land.”

“We’ll finish this discussion later,” Arthur said, but his secretary gulped.

“Actually, he’s here to see Alexandra,” she said, looking awkward.

Again, everyone was staring at me. Only Arthur seemed to take it all in stride.

“Bring him in,” he told his secretary. “Alexandra can make introductions.”

Henry came in, smiling and showing off the dimple he shared with his son.

“Alex,” he said, greeting me with a hug. “So good to see you again.”

“It’s good to see you too,” I coughed, my mind racing. He’d said he would check out the firm, but I didn’t think he’d meant it!

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Henry looked around the room.

Most of the partners were staring at him, obviously thrilled that he was in our midst. They all seemed to be regarding me with a newfound respect.

“Let me introduce you to the partners, Mr. Hayes,” I offered.

“Please, Alex, you know you can call me Henry.”

Immediately I could tell the partners were impressed that I was on a first-name basis with one of the wealthiest and most influential people in Chicago. I made introductions, and Henry quickly charmed them all.

“You’re very lucky,” he said, giving me a pat on the shoulder. “Having such a talented young lawyer on your team.”

“Yes, we’re very proud of her,” Arthur agreed quickly. “We think Alexandra has a lot of potential.”

“She’s the kind of person that would make a man reconsider his legal options,” Henry added, the implication clear.

I could see the partners exchange looks, and I mentally relaxed. It looked like I wasn’t getting fired today, and I could thank Henry Hayes for that.

“And your dad just swept in and saved the day,” I told Emerson that evening at the bar, still elated from my near miss. “I was probably five or ten minutes away from being fired!”

“I’m sure they weren’t going to fire you,” Emerson said. “They’re not that stupid.”

I snorted. “Sure. You didn’t see me this afternoon,” I said. “They weren’t the ones who were being stupid—I was. I should have never spoken up in that meeting or contradicted the partners.”

“You said what you believed,” Emerson reminded me. “And I would think they would appreciate that.”

“You’re sweet.” I snuggled into his embrace. “But that’s not how lawyers think.”

“It’s how I’d want anyone representing me to act.” He kissed me on the forehead. “And obviously your client agrees.”

“I should thank your father.” I took a sip of beer. “I really owe him.”

Emerson frowned. “Don’t tell him that,” he warned me.

I was confused. “Why not? It’s true.”

“My father probably already thinks you’re in debt to him. Don’t give him any reason to believe that.” Emerson’s words sounded ominous.

“You make him seem like a mob boss,” I teased, but I couldn’t make him smile.

Instead, his expression was stormy. “Everything my father has ever done for me has come with strings. That’s just how he operates.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Just be careful, OK?”

I was confused. I knew there was some tension between Emerson and his parents, but I couldn’t understand why Emerson was so concerned. As far as I was concerned, his father had just saved my ass, and I really was in his debt.

“I’m just happy I didn’t get fired,” I finally said, lifting my mug in a mock salute.

“Me too,” Emerson agreed, clinking glasses with me. “Me too.”