“And what exactly are you hoping I’ll get?” I asked warily.
“Get them to drop all the charges.”
I snorted in amusement, but he didn’t laugh. He was serious. “No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I can’t represent him.”
“And why not? You represent criminals. Hell, half our clients are guilty.”
“Yes, but half our clients don’t rape and beat women.”
He leaned forward, his face hard as he stared at me. “This isn’t a request. If you want to be a partner, you’ll do this.”
“Tell me why,” I said, my jaw nearly cracking with how hard I was gnashing my teeth.
“Matthis is an old friend. He has his proclivities, but he has excellent business contacts. Hell, he’s half the reason this firm became the best in New York.”
“So, he deserves a free pass?”
“He is a trusted friend, and you will do this,” he snarled. “You’re the best, and he needs the best.”
It was all on the line—everything I had worked for depended on what I decided to do. I could take the case and look past the horrible things this man had done, and I’d become a partner. Or I could say no and lose everything. Every goddamn second of my time that I’d given to this firm would be swept away in an instant. And for what? Because I refused to take this case?
Hell, even OJ had to have a lawyer.
What was I really giving up by taking this? I hadn’t spent all these years working my ass off to walk away now. And what about Bianca? What would she say about me if I walked away from such a great opportunity? This would be good for us. I could give her anything she wanted, all the dresses and diamonds that she eyed every time we walked past a shop.
She’d be happy, and I’d finally have what I worked so damn hard for.
All I had to do was say yes.
I shutthe door to my apartment, setting down the brown box that contained all the contents of my life from my office. Disheveled and home mid-day, it was no wonder when Bianca came around the corner, shocked as hell to see me.
Her eyes dropped to the box, and disappointment filled her eyes. “They fired you?”
“Something like that.”
Tossing my jacket on the back of a chair, I walked over to her and wrapped her up in my arms, taking in her floral scent. This was all I needed—the comfort of her arms.
“What happened?” she asked, pulling away. “I thought things were going really well.”
“They were. Hanson called me up to his office for an early morning meeting. All I had to do was take one case, and it would be mine.”
I walked over to the fridge and grabbed a beer, then popped the top and drank half of it.
“All what would be yours?” she asked hesitantly.
“Partner.”
“What was the case?”
I laughed humorlessly, my head hanging in despair. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I had turned it down.
“They wanted me to defend a rapist,” I said, finally bringing my eyes up to meet hers.
I thought I would see shock or horror, but instead, I saw confusion. “So, why didn’t you take it?”
