Page 75 of Apparently, I’m A B!tch

I held her close and tried to soothe her. “I know it hurts, Kel. I’m sorry it hurts. But now that you know, you can go after what you deserve.”

Harvey stepped out of his office, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of Kelly crying in my arms, his expression horrified. He backed into his office like a coward, and I ushered Kelly into my room.

Inside, she folded into one of my chairs, plucked a tissue from the box resting on my desk, and let out a heavy breath. “I can’t believe I let him use me for so long.”

I clucked my tongue and went to her, dragging my chair close to hers, throwing my arm around her shoulders as if she were Lilly having one of her anxiety-fueled meltdowns.

“Kelly, it’s not your fault.”

She laughed wryly into her tissue. “Then who’s is it? Because I’m the one who followed him around like a damn… what’d you call me? Horned-up lackey?”

I cringed. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“You were right.”

Bristling, I said, “No, I wasn’t. You’ve always been more than that, Kel.”

She rolled her eyes and it urged me on. “It’s true. I completely believe you could take prosecution against one of Harvey’s innocent clients, and run circles around him.”

Her laugh was wet, but I was glad to hear it. “Oh, sure.”

“No, really.” Something shifted between Kelly and I. She looked me right in the eye and searched my face, and I hoped she could see the truth there. “You could be an associate if you wanted to be. And if that was what you wanted, I could help you.”

For a moment, she floundered, but held my eye. Her lips pursed and twitched, as if she was weighing my offer, searching for the catch. “Why would you want to help me? You’re The Cutter. Jake and I were always so… we never liked you, Nikki, you know that. What do you get out of helping me?”

Lifting a shoulder, I smiled and Kelly’s confusion deepened. Her tears were gone, her breathing calmed, and a small sizzle of pride warmed me. For once, I wasn’t the cause of someone being upset. For once, I got to be the one who comforted.

“I get late nights and long days full of mentoring, dragging you by my side in court for hours on end.” She scowled and I laughed. “I don’t know, Kel. Why do I have to get anything out of wanting to help you? You’re a strong, smart, logical woman, and you’re so good at what you do, it’d be an… injustice to let someone else benefit from your hard work. And if I can help someone like you reach their full potential–” I shrugged again, not sure of how to finish that without saying, “then maybe I won’t feel so alone”.

She was quiet for a minute, sniffing and wriggling her nose, looking around my office, at anything but at me.

When she took a breath, nodded and said, “I’ll think about it,” I squeezed her shoulder, put Mary J. Blige back on and went out to raid Harvey’s stash.