Page 33 of The Cinderella Secret
Lilly looked like she was thinking this over, then she smiled. “Chet’s still going to have a black eye.”
Ella grinned. “It does take a little of the sting out of it,” she agreed.
13
Aiden – Axios Partners
Aiden watched Don’s lips move and let the sound wash over him. Don was working up to a point, but it was a good five minutes away. Aiden was certain of this because he’d heard this story three times already. It was Don’s go-to story for teaching the maxim of working smarter not harder. Don deployed it on all occasions when he thought some junior lawyer wasn’t working the right kind of hard enough. To date, Aiden had never had it used against him, but there was a first time for everything.
Don’s lips were still moving and all Aiden could think about was Ella Zhao. Their last encounter in court had left him confused and more than a little turned on. He still wasn’t sure if she knew he was Number Nine. She challenged him on so many levels in court—he had the hardest time not feeling like they had more of a relationship than they did. He felt like he understood her, but he didn’t understand where her being at the fight in Jersey fit in.
“You see where I’m going with this?” demanded Don, and Aiden nodded automatically.
Don was a partner at Axios with the kind of spotlighted career that made him well known on a statewide level. He was mid-fifties, well-dressed, and basically the kind of person who intimidated others simply by having his shit epically together. Aiden, when he bothered to think about Don at all, generally liked him. Although, he suspected that Don’s feelings were not reciprocal. It had never been stated, but Aiden thought Don had voted against him in the hiring process.
The story reached the part about the goats. Aiden had never been able to figure out what that part meant, but it did mean they had passed the halfway mark. Aiden wasn’t sure he was going to actually make it to the end without drooling. He could zone out for a while longer, but the beautiful and legally lethal Ella Zhao had just dropped a pile of briefs on him and he needed to get to those.
“Don,” he said when Don took a breath.
Don looked startled and paused.
“Skip to the end. You’re pissed at me about something, spit it out. I don’t have time for all of the goats today.”
Don looked angry, but like a true professional he swallowed the anger and smiled. “Your family’s case is taking up too much of your time.”
Aiden nodded. Don was right. His work had been slipping. Jenna had been trying to warn him. Something had been bound to fall through the cracks and it had definitely been Axios. He didn’t like underperforming, but he was feeling the pinch. Something had to give.
“You’re not doing your work.”
Aiden nodded again.
“You’re right,” said Aiden. “I’ve really let some stuff slip here. That is unfair to Axios.”
Don looked surprised and then puffed up as if the goats were personally responsible for the admission. “Look, we’re sympathetic. It’s obviously a tough spot to be in. But MacKentier has a stable of good lawyers, and good lord, we know a few. And I know this isn’t exactly Jerome’s wheelhouse, but he’s hardly a back bencher. You should lean on him more. I’m sure you can find a co-counsel to take care of DevEntier.”
“Oh,” said Aiden. “No, you’ve misunderstood. In the pecking order, my family is here,” he held up his hand at about head height, “and you are here.” He put his other hand at about chest level.
“There’s a lot of space between those two,” said Don, looking as though he wasn’t certain how he’d arrived at this point in the conversation.
“Yes,” agreed Aiden. “Probably best not to investigate that gap too much.”
“We’re your employer,” said Don, seeming to fall back on an argument that he was certain of. “And you’ve been shirking.”
Aiden thoughtshirkingwas an unnecessarily pretentious word. It wasn’t as though Don was British. What American went around sayingshirking?
“Yes, I understand that’s frustrating for you. I’ll resign.”
Don gaped at him. “That’s a stupid decision. What about your career?”
“Don, I haven’t checked my bank account lately, but generally speaking I have fuck tons of money and a law degree. I’m fairly certain I’ll be OK. Anyway, I’ll clean out my desk and be out of your hair by the end of the day.” Aiden stood up and looked around the office. Not seeing any of his belongings, he nodded and prepared to exit.
“But your cases…” stammered Don.
“Yeah,” said Aiden. “If only you had promoted Jenna to law clerk, you’d have someone who was up-to-date on all of my stuff.” He shook his head sadly. “Tsk. Well, too late now. See you around, Don.”
Aiden ambled out of the open office door and smiled at the secretary, who was sitting at her desk with wide eyes. He took the long way back to his floor. Jenna was waiting for him when he got there.
“Did you just quit?” she demanded.
