“While you guys are ready to rain hell on Brock, these could be from anyone. I left a few pissed off people behind.”
Miller crowds in, linking his arms around my waist and scooting me to where I’m half in his lap.
“I understand why it’s the three of you, and I’m thankful. Mom and Dad deserve to be here, but it’s better like this.”
“There’s a reason we’re called the A-Team, Ash,” Austin speaks cautiously.
“I loved being a lawyer.”
“You are a lawyer, Princess. They’re not taking that away.” Miller combs his fingers through my hair.
“We’ll see. But if being a lawyer for them is my choice, I’ll walk away… again, with no hesitation.”
“Sis, no more beating around it. Tell us what happened.” Andrew leans forward in the recliner across from us.
“It may be best if Miller leaves.”
“I think Miller needs to stay right where he is.”
“I had a convenience thing with Brock. You can read into that what you want,” I blurt out, embarrassed to look at my brothers.
Miller’s body goes to stone, hostility radiating in the air.
“It took me too long to discover he is a parasite,” I continue, “but I knew no differently. It was all convenience. He advanced to partner a few years ago, and at the time, I truly believed he deserved it. He was ambitious, precise, dedicated to the extreme. I considered him an example of what they expected to climb to the top. He knew my aspirations and pushed me harder, demanded my best. It became a game and I willingly participated. He began taking an interest in my workload, which didn’t bother me because rumor was I was on track for a promotion. He would get me there.” I sip my coffee, taking the second to boost my courage to go on.
“You all know I worked in Mergers and Acquisitions, but what you don’t know is that wasn’t my first choice. But when offered the job at Redmond, Kersh, & Reid, that’s where they wanted my skill set. I learned quickly my southern style and upbringing was a deterrent in the world they dropped me into. There was little room for heart and compassion when dealing with my clients.” I grin sadly, thinking of my friends. “Nothing like Darby’s experience with Brasher. She was lucky to have Stephanie and the management team at Brasher pinning for her. In my firm, we’d have swept the floor with her little business, and in the process made her think she was hitting gold.”
“Don’t take yourself there, Ashlyn. I’m assuming that was a much smaller deal than your clients,” Miller states flatly.
“Maybe, DG Creations was small bits, but Brasher Resorts would have hit the mother load for my portfolio. Regardless, my southern roots died and the Prada Princess was born. My peers accepted this immediately. They brought me into the fold. That’s when Brock Donner noticed my existence; otherwise, I’d been invisible. My new attitude was merciless, unpitying, harsh. I owned the cold-hearted bitch title. Soon, my reputation spread, and everyone wanted me. My job was a collaboration with multiple areas of law—tax, employment, anti-trust, general counsel. I went after weaknesses, held no empathy, and steamrolled when it benefited my clients without a care who was taking the brunt. That’s when I became a desirable commodity in their eyes.”
“Fuck, Ash, what does that even mean? It’s like I’m listening to a stranger.” Andrew’s face twists in pain. “That is not my sister.”
“A particular deal was getting close. We’d ironed all details except one. The financial gain for my firm would be my largest yet. The bonus would pay for my shareholder stocks when they offered me my place as a partner. Like a shark, I could smell the blood in the water and went into negotiations knowing no one would beat me. In the end, I laid out an ultimatum that left minor concessions for the seller. It was partially a bluff because I knew my client was willing to bend.
“It settled, and because of me, hundreds of people were laid off with one-half their deserved severance packages and half their benefits. I screwed over a decent company in the effort to prove I had the balls to have a seat at the table. And I did it for a fucking measly four million dollars.”
There’s a stillness that’s settled, and I’m scared to face them, so I take another sip of coffee that’s now cold and sour, landing in my stomach with a thud.
“Four million dollars is a shit ton of money, Ash. You did your job.” Austin tries to find a positive, but I can’t let any of them think this is anything but what it was.
Selfish, grand, and cruel.
“Remember, Austin, I was the shark. I knew the company wasn’t in a position to walk away from the deal. This acquisition was the perfect union of highly respected in their industry. The problem was too many locations once the acquisition was complete. There would be job losses, but the employment law team had recommended an allotment for the future unemployed. I agreed it was fair, but knew I could go lower. It was me who cut that number and took money from those poor people. When it was done, the owner signed off on the paperwork with tears pouring down her cheeks. I walked out with my head held high. The client sent me a case of champagne that cost more than my rent.”