AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t know. I plan to propose next month. Is there a reason to rush the wedding?”
He chuckled as he sat back in his seat. “You claimed to want this position more than anything. You’ve barely mentioned the transition lately. I’m just making sure you’re committed.”
“Committed to what exactly?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Working for me.”
“When I become managing partner, I won’t work for anyone.”
His head shook as he laughed. “As long as your last name is Phoenix, you willalwayswork for me. You will always represent me. You running the firm won’t change that.”
“Let’s just have this conversation now,” I decided, walking toward the desk to sit across from him. “What are you expecting of me, Pops? Because if you’re giving me this position to still run things, I don’t want this shit.”
Pops ran his fingers down the corners of his mouth. “I don’t want to run things; I just need your commitment to handle anything I might need you to do. And, of course, there’s your career elevation that I have planned.”
“I need an example.”
Rolling his tongue over his cheek, Pops considered my request. “Well, eventually law will need to turn into politics. Once you’ve had your fun as managing partner, had a few kids, and gotten settled into married life. You’ll run for attorney general, governor, then senate. After that, president.”
My laughter was hearty as I shook my head. I couldn’t even get upset. I knew he was up to something, wanting something, but I wasn’t expecting this.
“Have I ever said or done anything to make you believe I was interested in any of that? I don’t want to be the goddamnpresident!”
“It doesn’t matter what you want.” His nonchalant tone and expression had my anger rising. “I made you for a reason, and that reason was to be better than me. To do everything I couldn’t do. So whether you want it or not, you’re going to spend the rest of your life trying to be the best damn version of me possible.” Slamming his hand on his desk, he stood. “So you need to tell Violet you’re leaving soon and get ready to take over. We got a lot of work to do before I leave, son, and not a second to waste.”
He squeezed my shoulder and left, and I just… sat there. Amelia didn’t realize how good she had it not growing up with him. She may have thought not being the center of his attention was the worst thing in the world, but having his attention was far worse.
Standing, I headed out, giving Mom a quick kiss on the cheek before taking Maritza by the hand and leading her out. Trusting my father had put me in a fucked-up position, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. This series of events had been what my life has been made up of, for as long as I could fucking remember. Nothing good from him ever came without a price. And the price of me finally getting the position I wanted was even more of my freedom and future.
Twenty-Eight
Maritza
The Next Morning
“I don’t know, sis. First Lady Maritza Phoenix does have a nice ring to it.”
My head shook at the sound of my sister’s words replaying in my head. Last night, Jeremy told me about the conversation he had with his father and how he still planned to take over his firm. He said he planned to stay long enough to get everyone settled before leaving so he could be free of his father, but I didn’t believe that. If I knew anything about trauma and toxic bonds, it was that you could suffer for years, take years to unlearn and relearn, then take decades trying to build anew. Regardless of how much Jeremy said he wanted to be free of his father, if he took that position, he never would be.
This morning, I talked to Sakura about what I should do. I wanted to fight for Jeremy, but I didn’t want to overstep. The last thing I wanted to do was make him believe I didn’t have faith in him because that wasn’t the case. I commended him for doing what he believed was best for everyone involved; I just hated that, for him to do that, he had to sacrifice himself. No one had ever done what was best for him, and that’s what I’d decided to do.
I asked Gloria about Violet’s schedule for the day, and when she had a window of free time, I went to her office.
“Maritza, is everythi—”
“Sign this,” I demanded, pulling the top piece of paper out of my folder.
“What is this?” she asked as she looked it over.
“Something like an NDA that keeps you from using anything I’m about to say against any of the people it’s about. You won’t be able to fire them, suspend them, or punish them in any way, including but not limited to blackballing, changing clauses in their employment contracts, or refusing recommendations if and when needed based on this conversation.”
Once she’d read it over carefully, Violet signed it and handed it back to me. I took a seat in front of her.
“You’re about to lose your current named partners, four of your hardest-working lawyers, and literally every one of our clients. We’re talkingbillionsin retainers and billable hours all because you don’t want to share. Now I like you, Violet, and after the time we spent together in your home, I began to respect you, so I’ve come up with two solutions to that problem that will not just benefit you and allow you to keep the power you so desperately desire but all parties involved.”
Violet sat back in her seat and crossed her legs. She released a hard exhale before chuckling. “I’m listening.”
“You can honor your word and add the additional partner positions you promised Jeremy and several others to keep everyone here.”
