Page 21 of Resisting the Lawyer (Dirty Hot Resistance 3)

I’m forced back and I’m speechless at his words. Although I try to think up of a response, I come up empty. “I-It’s not bullying,” I finally stammer out.

Lucas steps towards me asking softly, “Then what would you call it? Fun teasing? Casual jokes?”

I shake my head without knowing it. It takes some effort for me to say, “I don’t – I don’t need you to protect me, Lucas. I can handle this.”

The fury lights up his face and he gestures towards Sophie. “Yes, but this is not just about you.”

The protective look on his face has me faltering and suddenly, I wonder what it would be like to just let him handle this and make this whole thing go away. His kindness also warms me from the inside but I can’t be reliant on other people and even if I let him know how bad the situation is, Lucas can’t possibly deal with everyone involved. So, I sigh and say, “I do appreciate your concern, Lucas, but I’ve got this.” My tone is firm and brooks no arguments.

Frowning, he looks down at me. “There’s nothing wrong with accepting support, Elise.”

I don’t answer him.

Now, his eyes glitter. “I’ll let this go this time. Next time, however, if you get harassed, I’ll take action whether you like it or not.”

I can sense he’s angry with me now and I purse my lips not knowing what to say to him. I’ve never had somebody angry on my behalf and the feeling is foreign to me.

He doesn’t wait for an answer though, saying curtly, “Come on. I’ll drop you home.”

A glance at the bus schedule tells me that I’ve missed the last bus and I have no choice but to follow him to the garage.

The ride home is silent and I know without him saying anything that he won’t be coming to pick me up at eight and the sense of loss in me is staggering.

Lucas drops me at my apartment and drives away.

For a few seconds, I stand at the front entrance of the building and watch his car get smaller and smaller in the distance.

Then I turn and enter the building. Heading up the stairs I cannot fathom how everything just turned to crap because of those women.

Bitterness isn’t a feeling I’m accustomed to. Nor is such unbridled anger.

But my heart is heavy with fury and I’m upset and irritated.

It’s not fair.

None of it is.

It’s not like I’m going around confronting anybody. I’m doing my job like everyone else but yet, I don’t dare leave my daughter alone for even a minute.

But Lucas’s words resound in my head and as I change Sophie, I realize that I truly don’t feel safe in the office.

But why would anyone try to harm me or Sophie? We’re not even trying to approach Darren. In fact, I’ve done a stellar job of staying away from him.

I put Sophie in her cot and unable to handle her serious countenance, I tickle her feet making her burst into giggles. Seeing her brilliant smile, I feel my own lips tugging. Turning on the panda shaped night-light that I had gotten at a flea market, I leave the door ajar slightly, after making sure that the baby monitor is working.

Although I should be going to bed, I decide to pour myself my first drink in months and wearing only a faded oversized t-shirt, I huddle onto the couch, staring gloomily at the blank TV screen.

Maybe I should look into getting another job.

The thought eats at me and I have the urge to throw the glass in my hand against the wall. I don’t want to change my job. I’ve made some good friends here and…Lucas’s face flashes in my mind.

I swallow the cheap whiskey down, ignoring the burn in my throat and then top up my glass again.

Lucas is another dilemma.

It is one thing to have a one-sided crush on him but now he goes and starts acting all strange, as if he likes me back. I know he says he cares about me and he wants to give it a shot but I’m hesitant to believe it.

The last time I went on a date with a man, he got me drunk and despite my protests, he got me to sleep with him. The humiliation of the next morning isn’t something I’m likely to ever forget. I had gotten upset with Darren. Then he called me a lousy lay and pushed me out of the apartment in just my underwear. My clothes were finally tossed out a full ten minutes later while I had stood at his door and banged on it with my fist, pleading to at least return my clothes.

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