The Billionaire’s Secret Wife(35)

Vanessa gasped. “You can’t do that. That’s unethical.”

John’s smile collapsed. “I’m aware of the ethical aspects, thank you. This is what the client wants.”

“The client told you to limit the work to forty hours, but to bill them for a hundred?”

“Correct.”

“And you expect me to believe this?”

He leaned forward, his previous bonhomie gone. “I don’t care what you believe. I expect you to follow my instructions. And before you think about reporting me to the bar, everything I’ve said in this room is true. If you cause trouble, you’ll end up jobless. Most likely you’ll have to start fresh at some other firm…assuming you can find one that will have you.” He waved her away. “Now run along. Everything you need to look at is in Conference Room 2B.”

Fists clenched, she left. What a bunch of… John had to be lying through his teeth.

Or did he? She thought about it, her feet slowing as she walked down the hall. The firm was doing great. He was doing great. There was no reason to risk tarnishing the firm’s reputation, much less his own. And Vanessa had never seen him lie to an associate before. Why would he start now?

On her way to the conference room, she stopped by Felix’s desk. “I can’t believe it.”

He gave her a concerned look. “What happened?”

“He put me on another case.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. And he won’t say who the client is or anything.”

“That’s weird.”

“Right? Anyway, so I’m doing—” she shrugged helplessly “ —something. I have no idea what. Have you heard…?”

“Nope. Not a thing. I had no idea he was going to pull you off the case. Otherwise I would’ve waited until you finished the deposition,” he joked lamely.

She made a face. “I’ll send you everything I have.”

“Thanks.” Felix hesitated. “Look, I just want you to know that the work you’re going to do is important, even though it might look sort of lame at the moment.”

She tilted her head. “You know something I don’t? Or are you just trying to make me feel better?”

“Hey, just saying. Nothing this firm does is inconsequential. You know that better than anyone.” He flashed a quick smile.

She nodded with a smile of her own. “Yeah, and we all know there’s no news in the firm you don’t hear first.”

He waved it away, but it was true. He was popular among the secretaries, and they loved to include him in their gossip. Maybe somebody had let it slip that the work really was important.

Conference room 2B had a big desk and two plastic chairs. It wasn’t one of the fancier ones since it was a work room, not a “shock and awe the clients” room.

She opened a leather folio. Inside was a computer print out that read: Review and file in chronological order. She stared at the ten boxes in front of her. This had to be some sick joke. This was the kind of work you might give to an intern, not an associate. Had she pissed off one of the partners or their cronies?

The documents’ letterheads were blacked out. She glared at the papers and started reading them. Just because the partners were determined to screw her didn’t mean she had to roll over. She wasn’t giving them any reason to ruin her eval come July.

The back of her neck prickled like a centipede was crawling across it. She turned and saw John tapping his Rolex at her. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered as he jerked his chin toward the door.

If he wanted her gone, fine. She’d leave. She picked up her phone and texted Justin. Have you had lunch yet?

Not yet.

Let’s have Chinese then. Order me sweet and sour pork and fried rice. I’m heading home now.

* * *

Justin glanced at Vanessa’s text and ran his teeth across his lip. Hmm. That didn’t sound good. He padded barefoot to her kitchen, looking for a menu. She must have one from her favorite Chinese delivery.

He didn’t have to wait long after placing their order. Vanessa showed up, her eyes flashing fury and her mouth flat and disapproving. If their lives were drawn in a cartoon, steam would’ve been hissing out of her ears.

“I thought you were going to be at the office all day,” he said conversationally. If Highsmith had screwed up, Justin was going to kill him.

“Well, things have changed.” She tossed her purse and briefcase on the couch and started pacing. Her jaw muscles worked as she clenched her teeth. “That jerk pulled me off the case.”

“What case?”

“An important one. That’s all I can say.”

“Maybe they had an even more important task for you to do.”