Forty million dollars of it.
He promised. He looked me in the eye and promised.
My phone buzzes. Thorne's contact lights up the screen.
I’m on the road. I’ll be home in 20.
Another buzz.
Thank you for tonight. I need it.
I stare at the messages. At the riding gear on the bed. At the empty hallway where he'll appear and everything will end between us.
Thank you for tonight. Like he knows it's the last one.
Like he knew what he'd done and wanted one more evening before I found out.
I can't stay up here. Can't pace this room for twenty minutes rehearsing what I'll say.
I head downstairs and sit on the bottom step, the marble cold through my jeans. The foyer is vast and empty. Just like everything else he promised.
Headlights sweep across the windows flanking the front door.
I stand. Press my palms flat against my thighs to stop them shaking.
The door opens. He walks in with his keys in one hand, already reaching for his phone with the other, probably to text me that he's home. His shoulders aren't quite so tense, and the corner of his mouth quirks up like he's already imagining our ride.
Then he looks up.
Sees me standing at the base of the stairs.
The almost-smile dies. His hand stills on his phone. He knows.
"You called him," I say.
His expression shifts. Resignation, maybe. Like he knew this was coming.
“I did.”
And just like that, the last thin thread of hope snaps. I'd held onto some desperate belief that he'd have an explanation, something to make this go away. But it dies alongside his happiness.
"After I explicitly told you not to." My voice shakes. "After I begged you to stay out of it. After you promised me you would."
"They were going to fire you or make you so unhappy you'd leave." He closes the door behind him, but doesn't move closer. "Your career was in jeopardy. I fixed it."
"You BOUGHT it!" The words explode out of me. "You called Bill and offered him eight million dollars in annual business! Full environmental retainer, exclusive East Coast representation. The whole goddamn package!"
"I offered them business contingent on working with competent attorneys—"
"Don't you dare spin this!" I advance on him, and he actually takes a step back. "You put a price tag on my career, then you paid it. Do you have any idea what Bill just said to me? He congratulated me on my 'excellent instincts about client relationship management.' He said I've proven I can bring in 'transformative business.' He practically patted me on the head for being so strategic with who I sleep with!”
"He's an asshole," Thorne says flatly.
"He's an asshole you just proved right!" I shout. "He accused me of using our relationship to advance my career. And then you called him and made it true! You confirmed everything he said!"
"That's not what happened—"
"Yes, it is! Don't you see?" I'm pacing now, can't stand still, need to move or I'll scream. "Bill thinks I played you. That I got you 'wrapped around my finger' and convinced you to hand over millions in business. He thinks I'm smart for doing it. Pragmatic. He compared me to Tom Henderson, who married a client and made partner by bringing in her company's business. That's what I am now. The woman who fucked her way to a partnership!"
