Client Confidentiality

(56) Carlie

Trial day is on Friday. 

It's now Tuesday. 

After Hannah sent an email around to all our staff, with no room for argument, I stand in front of the conference table with all eyes on me. My breathing is forced as I keep a natural rhythm manually, making sure no one sees the sweat threatening to break out on my forehead. 

It's not the public speaking that I mind. It's the fact that this law firm could be bankrupt by the end of the next few weeks. 

"Good morning, everyone," Hannah smiles and clasps her hands together as she addresses our employees, "Thank you for joining us so bright and early." 

She turns to me and her eyebrow slightly furrows in concern before she continues her speech. 

"As you well know, the case we've all been working on is approaching. Friday will be the start of, hopefully, a very short trial period. Carlie and I would like to thank you all for the massive amount of work you have all put into preparing for this. It means a lot to both of us, and more importantly, the firm."

I peruse over everyone's tired, drawn faces and the untouched pastries in the centre of the table. Everyone seems completely exhausted, each one dragged through turmoil that they didn't even create. 

This is all wrong. 

Fuck. 

"If you don't mind, Hannah," I look over to her with determination in my eyes. She nods and steps back to lean against the window as I draw out the chair in front of me and sit down. As I stare down at the prompts I wrote for this meeting, a delirious laugh escapes me. I close my eyes and shake my head before opening them again to see everyone staring at me with confusion and concern. 

"Look, guys. I'm going to be really honest with you," I cross my leg over and clasp my hands together as I look each one of them in the eye, "this case could be the end of Knight & Rose LLP. Not because any of us lack the drive to keep the firm going, but because Charles knows exactly how to bankrupt us. This is his plan and I know each one of us is going to do everything in our power to stop him." 

I see the terror seep into their eyes as I lay out the truth to them.

But I keep going. 

"Now, if you feel you need to leave now to save your careers, Hannah and I will write you glowing references that will have you walking into any firm you want," I swallow and let my face soften, "But if any of you want to join us on this potentially sinking ship, I would be forever grateful. The choice is completely up to you without any prejudice."

I shrug and sit back, crossing my arms as Hannah opens the door to the meeting room. When no one leaves, I relax slightly. In fact, each of my employees straighten their shoulders with eyes determined to fight. 

Tears fill my eyes at how loyal they are and I nod, not trusting myself to speak without blubbering. Hannah wraps up the meeting and I thank each of them before leaving and heading back to my office. 

As soon as I shut the door behind me and sit at my desk, the tears start to fall. I grab a tissue from the box and wipe my eyes, but I'm not quick enough to catch the new wave of them. 

"That was really fucking impressive."

I look up through my cloudy eyes to see Elijah leaning against my closed door with his hands stuffed in his suit pockets. He looks down at me with half concern and half awe. The expression only makes me cry harder and has him surging towards me. 

He lifts me up and takes my place, sitting me on his lap. I curl up on him and cry into his shirt, no doubt smearing my mascara all over the white fabric. My hand tangles in his styled, black hair and I sob my heart out as he holds me. 

"It'll all be okay, trouble," he whispers as he strokes up and down my back. I half-laugh, half-scoff into his shirt. 

Oh, how I wish that was true. 

"You're so exhausted, baby. You need to sleep," he tries to plead with me but I shake my head and extract myself from him. I sit up and wipe the tears away, pulling myself together until a fierce determination fills my eyes. 

"I need to finish preparing," I clear my throat and check my reflection in my phone. 

"Well, I'm staying here for the rest of the day," he kisses my cheek and spins me around until my back is resting against his front. He lowers my chair down until we can both fit under the desk and I can reach my computer. 

"Right here?" I quirk an eyebrow as I peer over my shoulder to look at him. 

"Right fucking here, trouble," he growls and playfully bites my neck, making me jump and giggle. 

And that's how we stay. 

For the whole day. 

He gives me words of encouragement and soft kisses on my cheek as I type furiously on my computer. When I practice my speeches in front of him, he applauds and praises me. 

At some point, he must have messaged Callum and Zach because they emerge with coffee and snacks. Zach takes Elijah's place and I sit on his lap as I watch Callum tell Elijah off for making me cry. When Elijah literally holds his hands up and tries to defend himself from Callum's accusations finger pointing into his chest, Zach and I lose it in laughter. 

And when it turns two in the morning, they're all still here. Feeding me food, support and unconditional love. 

And it's enough to feel like I can win this shit.

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