Warren had a tell. His left eye twitched when he wasn’t being completely honest. She’d first noticed it a few months after joining the firm. It was such a small flicker that, if someone wasn’t paying attention, they’d miss it.
“What I don’t know is why? So, I suggest you start talking before I really get mad. Why did you hire a private investigator to follow me around?”
“I told you. I don’t know what you’re talking...”
Cree slammed the side of her fist on his desk, causing several items to jostle. “Dammit, Warren! I’m not playing games here. I want the truth, and I want it now.”
He released a humorless laugh as he walked around his desk, stopping a few feet from her. “You want the truth? Why don’t you start by telling me about how you dated, maybe fucked, and then married one of our clients. It’s amazing the things you can learn while watching a sports news channel.
“Imagine my surprise while watching football recaps last night, a sports analyst mentioned Tristan Whitmore got married. Not just married but married to one of our attorneys!” he roared.
Cree sighed and debated on how to respond. She knew that topic would come up at some point, but she wasn’t going to let him deflect.
“You answer my questions, then I’ll answer yours,” she said simply. “Why did you send a private investigator after me?”
After staring her down, Warren grumbled something under his breath. “I did hire a private investigator,” he said as he reclaimed his seat.
Cree leaned on the back of one of the guest chairs that faced his desk. “Why? What were you after, Warren? Are you so jealous of my success that you have to dig up dirt to try to make me look bad?”
“I did it to protect the interest of this firm. This place will always be my top priority.”
“And mine too.”
“Is it though? First, you only sign Whitmore to a six-month contract, which is unheard of around here. Especially for a high-profile client. Then when I questioned you about it, you got cagey.”
“What are you talking about? I told you Tristan and I had history. I wanted to see if we could work together again, and we both agreed a short contract to start with would be in our best interest. But if we’re being honest here, Warren, you’ve been treating me strangely for months.”
He shrugged. “I was concerned you were doing something underhanded that could affect the firm, and I was right. Dating a client is taboo, but you know that. You should’ve handed his account over to one of us the moment you even thought about screwing around with Whitmore,” he said with disgust. “Where’s your integrity? You could get sanctioned or maybe even disbarred for dating a client.”
“The latter won’t happen since me and Mr. Whitmore had a relationship before I became his lawyer.”
“What? That three-day marriage thirteen years ago? That’s beside the point. You knowingly dated one of the firm’s clients, and discipline actions will be taken.”
Anger boiled inside of Cree. At least now she knew the PI was thorough. “Did you hire a private investigator to dig up dirt on me so you can have me fired or, worse, disbarred? Is it your intention to sabotage my career?”
“What?” he asked, faking concern. “How could you even think that? I’m just looking out for the firm I started.”
“And how could you think I’d do anything to intentionally sabotage the firm?” she countered.
Yes, it was unethical to date Tristan, but she married him in a short period of time before anyone, except Warren and his PI, knew. If he did try to go after her license, she could argue she and Tristan had a previous relationship before he signed with the firm. That would make a difference in the eyes of the law, especially since they were once married and now remarried.
Cree wanted to wipe the smug look off his face. “What else do your PI dig up?”
“Question is what should we do about this situation? I saw on the partners’ group calendar that you set up an emergency meeting for this afternoon. You beat me to it. I received the report from the private investigator yesterday and…” His voice trailed off, and he narrowed his eyes at her. “How did you know I hired a PI?”
Cree stood upright and folded her arms across her chest as she looked down at him. “My husband is a very wealthy man with connections you and I could only dream of,” she said, partly lying but going with it. She didn’t want anything to come back on Milton or his PI contact. “It’s such a small world, Warren. You never know who knows who.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Instead of answering, she said, “Since it’s clear you want me out of here, I’m going to give you what you want. We can start the dissolution process. I’m hoping we can settle everything within thirty days instead of sixty. I think it would be in all our best interest if I leave the firm.”
“It’s not that easy. There will be a lot to settle, debts to take care of, and—”
“I will pay whatever it takes for a speedy dissolution and to be free and clear of the firm. All I ask is that you keep your mouth closed about your PI’s findings, and you give me a copy of his or her report.”
Warren burst out laughing as he swiveled back and forth in his chair. “Why would I do that? I have enough information on you to start disciplinary actions, and if I wanted to, I probably could go a step further. Maybe talk with the courts about your sexual misconduct. You know—because you dating a client is highly unethical.”
“It was unethical for you to hire a PI to follow me around and dig into my life for no good reason,” Cree said, even if he did have a fairly good reason. “If you wanted to know something about me, you could’ve asked. I would have answered your questions, and like you, I care about this firm. I have brought in a ton of money that shows just how much I care. It’s a shame it has to end like this with you trying to sabotage me.”
