Oh, maybe because I’m so damn tired. The partners keep calling lunch meetings, giving my boss, Leela, more work to do, and by extension, the paralegals and me, her assistant. On top of that, the wedding stress is way worse than I thought it would be. And I had my reasons to think the planning part would be less stressful compared to most brides I know. All that to say, I’m losing sleep, and it’s making me forgetful.
So when my boss and the senior partners are staring at me, I sheepishly slide my phone to my chest and hit the button to silence it. Where I make a fatal mistake is in turning it over just before dropping it in my handbag. And there, to my horror, is a notification from Nico.
The photo is tiny. Nothing more than a thumbnail. But what’s in the photo is anything but tiny.
My soon-to-be husband’s giant, erect penis stares back at me.
Not that anyone near me saw it before I dropped it into my handbag, at least I don’t think so.
That man of mine is going to get it when I get home.
One of the senior partners shakes his head, setting aside my annoying interruption. “Leela, I want you to take the lead on the Murphy case.”
I try to keep my jaw from hitting the table. I turn to glance at Leela. “I’m on it,” she says, showing no emotion but a calm smile.
She says this as if she’s been expecting it. What I happen to know is that she has been wanting this. The Murphy case is a big one. Maybe the biggest litigation in the history of this firm. Maybe the whole state. The trouble is, it’s no slam dunk.
There are interviews to schedule, legal documents to proofread, and case files to keep organized. On top of that, support Leela in whatever she needs, ensuring she’s set up for success. That means a shit ton more work for both the paralegals and for me.
Surely they’ll hire more temporary help. Surely I don’t need to worry.
“Perfect,” says her dad, founding partner Hector Gamble. “I want a full brief by morning on our plan of attack. I hope you’re ready.”
She’s been ready. Leela has been wanting to lead a defense so badly to impress her dad that she can taste it.
After the meeting, I offer her my congratulations.
“Thanks,” she says. “Order whatever you want for dinner tonight. It’s gonna be a late one.”
“Oh no.” Wait, what? Did that come out of my mouth?
“Excuse me?”
I put a hand to my mouth. “I wasn’t saying it to you, I was saying it to…the universe in general. As in, oh no, just my luck.”
She gives me a small, knowing grin. “You have plans tonight?”
No way am I telling her I have plans to torture my fiancé with the longest, slowest blow job he’s ever had. That would be insane. So I tell her the non-sexual half of my after-work plans.
“I’m supposed to meet my mother to go over the seating at the reception. But I can cancel that.”
Leela nods. “That’s right, you’re getting married in a couple of months.”
My stomach drops until I remember she already approved my vacation time. “At the end of the month,” I correct.
“Really?”
I nod. “June 26.”
“That’s very soon,” she says, looking dismayed.
The wheels are turning in her head.
She wouldn’t. Leela would not dare to ask me to take off less time for my wedding and honeymoon.
My boss nibbles on her bottom lip for a moment. Back in her office, she leans against my desk while I get to work transcribing notes for her from the meeting we just came from.
“I don’t suppose you could come back early from your honeymoon?”
