Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“I see…” He tapped his finger against the edge of my desk “What size do you wear?”
“What?”
“I didn’t stutter,” he said. “What size do you wear?”
“That question sounds a lot like sexual harassment, Judge Ashton.”
“I don’t think I’d ever have to harass you for sex, Miss Spencer.”
That’s definitely going in the article…
“Can you say that a little louder, please?” I asked. “I don’t think I heard you clearly enough the first time…”
“I sure can.” He stepped even closer, eyeing exactly where I’d angled my cell phone. “I am not sexually harassing you, Miss Spencer, but since you’ve been coming to work with black lace bras, tight pants, and skintight dresses, I think you may be harassing me.”
I gasped.
He picked up my phone with a smirk and hit stop on the recording.
“Now,” he said, pausing, “if I were to ask you why you haven’t come back to my office and begged me to finish what we started last week, that would be sexual harassment. Correct?”
I said nothing.
I hated how this man was incapable of looking anything less than perfect at all times.
“I’m just asking what your size is so I can cash in a favor to a client I know,” he said. “It’s that simple.”
“How much will I owe you for this favor?”
“Nothing.”
“I’ll need that in writing.” I refused to believe him. “Then I’ll consider telling you.”
“Whenever you want to stop playing games with me...” He tore off one of my pink post-its and picked up one of my pens.
He scribbled a few lines onto it before pressing it on the edge of my desk.
“Email me your size in dresses, suits, and shoes. The more specific you are, the better.”
“I want you to promise that I don’t owe you anything,” I said. “I need that in writing.”
“That’s exactly what I wrote…” He pointed at the post-it. “And you should start calling me Liam whenever it’s just me and you here at night.”
“I thought you wanted to keep things formal?”
“That’s hard to do when I’ve tasted your mouth, Olivia.” He looked me over. “It’s just a small change. Don’t read too much into it.”
GOOD FAITH (N.):
HONEST INTENT TO ACT WITHOUT TAKING AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE OVER ANOTHER PERSON OR TO FULFILL A PROMISE TO ACT, EVEN WHEN SOME LEGAL TECHNICALITY IS NOT FULFILLED.
OLIVIA
Two nights later
Istepped into my apartment and immediately dropped my purse at the sight in front of me.
Every inch of my living room—from the sofas to the windows—was covered with designer bags and boxes.
In disbelief, I walked over to a Chanel box and flipped it open, coming face to face with my very first pair of high-end black heels.
I unzipped a cream-colored Yves Saint Laurent bag and pulled out a stunning deep violet suit.
I ran my fingertips over the buttery-soft fabric, suddenly embarrassed by every clearance-rack outfit hanging in my closet.
Tears pricked my eyes as I spotted a row of Versace purses sitting on my windowsill.
I couldn't remember the last time someone had solved one of my problems instead of becoming another one.
Oh my god!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for all these clothes and bags!
This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.
Judge Ashton
I did it for myself.
Well, I still appreciate it. Thank you very much.
He didn’t text back, “You’re welcome,” and in the morning when I picked him up, he didn’t look my way at all.
ARM’S LENGTH (ADJ.):
THE DESCRIPTION OF AN AGREEMENT MADE BY TWO PARTIES FREELY AND INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER, AND WITHOUT SOME SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP.
LIAM
Subject: Law Clerk Case Load
Mara,
You can give the junior law clerks the rest of this week off.
Send me the list of work that’s left over.
—Judge Ashton
Subject: Re: Law Clerk Case Load
Oh! What an awesome surprise!
They’ve been working super hard.
I’ll have that list up to you shortly.
By “junior law clerks” you’re including Miss Spencer as well, right? She definitely deserves some time off.
—M.
Subject: Re: Re: Law Clerk Case Load
No.
She’s going to handle the work that’s left over.
—Judge Ashton
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Law Clerk Case Load
What? Why?
—M.
Because I just spent seven figures on her new wardrobe, and I need to put her back in her place…
ACKNOWLEDGE (V.):
GENERALLY TO ADMIT SOMETHING, WHETHER BAD, GOOD OR INDIFFERENT.
OLIVIA
Iknew there was a cost to this asshole’s “generosity”…
DURESS (N.):
REFERS TO A SITUATION WHERE ONE PERSON MAKES UNLAWFUL THREATS OR OTHERWISE ENGAGES IN COERCIVE BEHAVIOR THAT CAUSES ANOTHER PERSON TO COMMIT ACTS THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE NOT COMMIT.
OLIVIA
Two Weeks Later
Judge Asshole (Don’t Change His Name Again)
I asked you for that Dawson case file an hour ago.
Your research is still giving “surface level” to me.
Where are those dockets I asked for?
My feet throbbed in my new heels as I ran from the library to chambers for the umpteenth time today.
Every time I completed one task, Judge Ashton smacked me with another, and I was starting to feel like his task list was personal.