You're The One (Very Irresistible Bachelors 1)

We hadn’t heard anything from the case worker after sending the pictures, which was reassuring.

“I’m afraid this isn’t so simple.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that your case worker was here, asking questions. She spoke to me and a few of your colleagues. I can’t have that.”

Breathe in. Breathe out. Keep calm. Breathe in.

No, no, no. This couldn’t happen. I had no idea how I kept on talking.

“But this is a personal matter.”

“That is, I am afraid, of little consequence. Josie, it pains me to do this, but I have to let you go. Word will spread, and I can’t allow people to associate these kinds of subterfuge with us. It wouldn’t reflect well on me.”

“This is not fair.”

I kept my gaze fixed on Craig now. I was so angry that I could barely control the tone of my voice.

“The case worker was just asking questions. You can’t fire me because of this.”

Craig’s eyes flashed. “You know I can.”

Unfortunately, he was right. Legally, there was nothing stopping him.

“After this, you would have no chance of making partner here anyway.”

I stood up. “Really? I have done exemplary work since I started as an intern here. You haven’t had one single complaint about me, ever.”

“Don’t make this even more difficult for yourself. And a word of warning, when anyone calls to ask for references, I will have to be frank about this. I can’t afford anyone suing me for withholding information further down the road.”

“Your legal obligation is to report on my work.”

It dawned on me slowly what this all meant. No one would hire me right away. Craig telling them this would give the impression he thought I was guilty, not just caught up in a bureaucratic process.

“You’re young and smart. You’ll figure everything out.”

I’d worked my whole life only for my entire career to just be taken away from me?

I’d sacrificed so much, dedicated everything to this. I blinked rapidly, because my eyes were burning and I wouldn’t give anyone the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

“My decision is final.”

“We’ll see what HR has to say about it.”

“They’ve already been informed.”

“What?”

“As of today, you no longer work for Marks & Partners.”

I was stunned. For the first time ever, I had no comeback. Nothing to say in my defense. I felt so utterly defeated that I wasn’t sure I would be able to make it out of the building without having a good cry first. What would I tell my parents?

They’d sacrificed so much to help me through law school, and I’d just trampled on all of their hard work.

I went through the motions for the next hour. Down to HR, signing papers. Up again, packing my belongings in the box they gave me. It all took no time at all. No one gave two shits that I was leaving.

I had such difficulties breathing when I walked out of the building, I thought I was going to suffocate. The October chill wrapped around me like an icy blanket. It was raining too.