“My what?”
“Your case. Obviously you’re going to sue.” Her cool silver eyes glance at my bruised wrist, which is now turning an awful shade of purple. “Jack’s doing?”
“Yes, but…”
“Good.” She hits a button on the control in front of her. “Bebe, I need a camera to photograph evidence.”
I give her a long look. I feel like I should bring it up, but delicately, so I don’t offend her. I’ve been so preoccupied with Nicholas that suing Jack is the last thing on my mind right now. “You don’t look like the type to do it, but…this sort of feels like ambulance chasing.”
Jeremiah gives me a stunned look, then presses her lips together. But she can’t contain the laughter. It comes out in a short snort, then she throws her head back and really lets go. “Oh dear… I haven’t heard one that good inages.” She dabs at her eyes. “Ambulance chasing.” She fans her face. “Just wait until I tell Catalina and Andreas. Nicholas, too.” She tries to set her face into a semblance of sober attention, but fails as she laughs again. “I heard Nicholas fell for an unusual girl, but this is hilarious. You must’ve shredded his heart to ribbons. That poor child. It would’ve been funnier if you’d done it tomyson, but…” She sniffs.
I have no idea what to say or how to correct her. Nicholas hasn’t fallen for anybody as far as I can tell, unless she’s referring to one of his exes.Maybe it’s Stella…?And I don’t have the power to shred his heart.
A cute, black-haired woman walks in with a huge camera. She looks at my wrist and gives me instructions as she snaps multiple photos from different angles.
“Do you have any other bruises or marks on you? On your torso or back? Thighs or…?”
“No! Just my wrist,” I tell her quickly, before Jeremiah can order me to strip down. I don’t think I can say no if she issues a command.
“Okay.” Bebe walks out as abruptly as she entered.
“So.” Jeremiah steeples her hands. “Tell me what happened. How long has Mr. Peterson been harassing you?”
“Before we talk about all that, shouldn’t we discuss your fees? I don’t think I can afford you.”
“It’s immaterial. Nicholas is footing the bill.”
“Why?”
“Male pride, I suppose?” She shrugs. “He could theoretically go over to Get Jacked Gym and punch Peterson out, but that would be inadvisable. It’d be classified as assault, which is a criminal matter. Even if the DA decided to not pursue it, Peterson could go after him in a civil suit. Nicholas is a man of considerable assets, so it’d be a lawsuit worth pursuing. If Peterson were my client, I’d advise him to do so.
“Of course, Nicholas could taunt Peterson into throwing the first punch, but that’s unlikely. Peterson has a reputation for keeping his tail tucked between his legs when he deals with people of strength.”
I nod. I’ve never seen Jack try anything with the male trainers. As a matter of fact, he goes out of his way to get along with them.
“However, if you’re uncomfortable, you don’t have to pursue the matter. Nicholas arranged for this because he thought you might want some legal retribution against your former boss.”
He didn’t find out about what Jack did until two days ago…when he walked out. Does this mean he’s calmed down? Or… “Does he really want me to sue?” I’m willing to do anything if it’ll help him feel better.
“That wasn’t my impression. He wants you to do what feels right to you. If you want to let it go, you can.”
“Then nothing will happen to Jack.”
“Insofar as a lawsuit is concerned, correct.”
Petra told me Jack is gross with all the female employees, and he tries to make it up by paying them well. I’ve read articles about how generous he is as an employer. They contributed to my decision to apply to the gym.
If I’d known what he was really like, I wouldn’t have taken a job there. Dad’s voice in my head says I should just let it go, because what happened isn’t important enough to make a fuss about, especially when it’s going to cost so much. But there’s another voice, a more authentic one, that doesn’t want to shut up about it. Why should I be silent and let Jack get away with his behavior? What’s wrong with making a fuss over what actually happened? If Arturo and Petra hadn’t interrupted, I might’ve ended up with something a lot worse than a bruised wrist.
Besides, wouldn’t this be a public service announcement? Nobody deserves to be treated the way I was at the gym.
“Do you think it’ll become drawn out and ugly?” I ask.
“Possibly prolonged. Could be ugly, depending on what Jack decides to use as a defense. Most likely he’ll say you came on to him first, or some other ridiculous excuse along those lines.”
“I never did that!”
“Obviously. But it’s my job to warn you and insulate you as much as possible from defamation of that nature. So. What would you like to do? If you want to think on it for a few days, that will be fine as well.”
