The attorney who most definitely would have been briefed about our situation looked between us like a couple of lunatics. I am sure we were the most interesting but infuriating clients he was about to have.
Junior gestured to him. "Go ahead." We followed him quietly into his office and sat across from him. He slid a docunt across the table and asked to go through it as Mr Nuro had done so already. I carefully studied each page. I finished studying it and decided to make adjustnts as it seed to be the source of our most recent argunt.
"I want a clause added that says I have the right to a job."
"Fine," Junior said. "Add it." He gestured to the lawyer. This seed too easy. I should probably push my luck a little bit more.
"And," I added, "I get a couple days a month to myself, anywhere I want to."
"Done," Junior said, "Anything else, Princess? A private island, perhaps?"
I ignored him and turned to the lawyer. "Also, if this arrangent ends, I want the option to disappear with zero strings attached."
The lawyer scribbled on his notepad, his glasses sitting low on his nose.
Junior raised an eyebrow. "You planning your escape already?"
"Just being thorough," I said sweetly. "You know, like a good accountant."
After two hours of editing and re-editing, the contract was finished. Junior signed and then handed the pen to . "Your turn,"
I signed my na across the paper and slapped it shut. "Done. Now, if you'll excuse , I have reports to finish."
Junior walked to the car, a pissed look on his face. "You think you won, don't you?"
"I don't think. I know."
As I got into the car, he leaned in and whispered, "I'll see you tomorrow. Wear sothing acceptable, accountant." There was a wicked glint in his eye and I had the feeling, that I had won the battle but lost the war.
I gave him the finger and shut the door. It was immature, but ooooh, so satisfying.
*****
I walked into the office the next morning, still fulfilled about my little victory from the day before. It felt like it gave extra energy to face the day. I smiled at the receptionist, heading to my desk – ready to be badass.
I sat at my desk and found an envelope, a letter from my boss. He could have sent an email, wouldn't that be more convenient. I picked up the envelope, opened it, and read the contents. What the fuck is happening?!
I got up angrily from my desk and headed into Mr Jenkins's office. I found him seated at his desk and placed the letter on the table.
He put on his glasses and scanned through the note like it was his first ti seeing it.
"Miss Williams," he began, clearing his throat "I... uh... I'm sorry. It's the way it has to be."
I stared at him, confused and surprised. "You're letting go?"
"Well, it's not personal, you are a hard worker and good at what you do. We are undergoing so budget cuts and as much as I would like to keep you on the list of retained staff, we just can't afford soone with your qualifications anymore." He kept looking at the letter I had just given him, refusing to make eye contact.
"Budget cuts?" Is soone ssing with ? "You gave the receptionist a raise last week!!!"
"I-I'm sorry, Miss Williams. Truly." This ti his eyes t mine and I knew. He truly was sorry but soone else was about to be.
That overgrown idiot just sabotaged my job.
"Fine." I left his office back to my desk, grabbed my purse, and left the building. Junior had no right. Not everyone had Daddy's empire handed to them. So of us worked our asses off!
Outside the building, I bought a cup of coffee from the mobile café across the street. I pulled out my phone and called Mama Nuro, she was always eager to ddle.
"Darling! What a lovely surprise!" Her voice was charming as always.
"Hi, Mrs. Nuro. I was just thinking..." I hesitated, thinking if I really wanted to lie to this woman but when I glanced at my now forr office building, every sense of novelty went out the window. "Maybe Junior and I need to spend more ti together. You know, bond as a couple."
"That is a splendid idea, Darling! I am so glad you are handling this elegantly!"
"Uh-huh," I said, a bit of guilt laced in my voice. "Could you tell where his office is?"
"Of course, darling!" She gave the address and gave a few tips to be even more appealing. I hung up before she could offer to give a makeover.
*****
Walking into Junior's office building, I realized two things. The Nuros weren't millionaires, they were multi-millionaires. No, scratch that, billionaires. Two, they had terrible custor service. The receptionist glared at like I was in the wrong place at the wrong ti.
"Can I help you?" she asked, looking like her makeup was plastered twice on her face.
"Yes. I'm here to see Mr. Nuro." I gave her my most professional smile.
"Do you have an appointnt?"
"Oh, I don't need one. I'm his fiancée, just pick up the phone and tell him Nita is here," I said sweetly. She gave a once over, clearly unimpressed, and picked up the phone.
When I finally burst into Junior's office, he was sitting at his desk, feeling all-powerful. He was waiting for and he knew exactly why I was there.
"Ah, Miss Williams. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He said, his smile victorious
"Cut the crap, Junior," I snapped, "You got fired."
His eyebrows shot up, "Sweetheart! I am in the process of taking over an empire from my father. I have hundreds of thousands of employees, I have thousands of investnts, hundreds of companies to manage and you think I have the spare ti to interfere in your little job."
"It wasn't little! I put my blood and sweat into it. I worked my ass off! Not all of us out here have hand--downs from Daddy!" I shot back. "If you are so powerful, be man enough to admit that you pulled strings because you always have to have your way. What's the matter? Couldn't handle having so independence?"
He laced his fingers on his knees. "Why would I want to take away your independence? You're free to do whatever you want, as long as it aligns with the Nuro na. You expect my wife to be being bossed around by soone not qualified enough to clean my shoes?"
"Nuro na?" I threw up my hands. "Did you forget I have it for a year only? Tell what will happen after a year and we go our separate ways? What will I fall back on?"
"You're acting dramatic. Of course, you will be handsoly compensated. You wouldn't have to do anything your entire life. I thought accountants were financially smart."
"You were insufferable as a teenager, and you're still insufferable now, Junior."
The mont the word left my mouth, his face darkened. It seed like he was in my face in a flash. I staggered backward until my back hit the wall. "What did I say about calling that?" His voice was threatening and dangerous.
"Don't. Call. . Junior," he growled.
For a mont, I was a teenager again, the one who cried while being bullied in school. I saw the face I once feared, as in the past few days, I had allowed myself to forget that this man had once terrorized . I had allowed myself to wish that maybe he had changed. My throat tightened, and I could feel the tears coming.
"Get off ," I whispered shakily.
His expression softened, but it was too late. I had nothing to say to him again. I shoved past him, running out of his office, ignoring his calls after . The elevator ride down felt like it was never going to end, and by the ti I got outside the building, I was gasping for air.
I hurried ho ensuring there was no one ho. I curled up on the couch and let the tears flow. I thought I had outgrown it, I thought that I could stand up for myself, turns out – I haven't.
If I was going to heal from the trauma he caused , I couldn't let him win. First thing tomorrow, I am going job hunting. Our contract clearly states that I can have a job. I would get a job even if it was as a janitor.
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