Chapter 19

Eric was in a shitty mood the entire day and he wasn’t sure if it was because of that ridiculous drama with Aubrey and that clown at Freddy’s yesterday, or because of the erotic dream he had about her last night. The dream had seemed so real that when he woke up, he had been momentarily disorganized mentally. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a dream that was so vivid that it practically seemed like reality.

He shuffled through the papers on his desk and sighed wearily, knowing that he wouldn’t get much work done today with the way his mind kept going back to his sexy dream. Thinking about it now made his cock harden, so he had to shift on his seat in order to hide his erection from his boss who sat a few feet away, reading a court brief. Gary would be mortified if he knew that Eric was having naughty thoughts about his daughter. He wondered how Gary would react when he found out that he and Aubrey had been intimate or that they were in fact, fated to be mates. Would the clan Chief approve of him being his daughter’s partner for life or would he dismiss the possibility?

An email notification popped up on his computer screen, jolting him out of his daydreaming. He clicked on it and his jaw dropped when he read the content. He read it again to be sure what he’d just read was accurate.

“What’s this, Gary?” he asked his boss, who was apparently clearing his desk as if he was done with work for the day. It wasn’t even 2 p.m. yet.

“What?” Gary asked without looking up.

“You just sent me an email,” Eric said, gesturing towards his computer screen.

“Yeah? What’s it say?”

“Come on, Gary, you know what you sent. I never asked for a leave of absence.”

“Yeah, but you need it,” Gary said in tone that meant he wasn’t in the mood for an argument. “Besides, we don’t have any serious work right now. The Pearson deal is done. Lopez vs. Brandon has been adjourned to November, which is several weeks away, plus that copyright infringement case won’t be heard in court just yet, so that’s probably going to happen next year. Now, tell me, what are you hanging around here for?”

“But what if a client needs our services?”

“I will attend to them. You go on and rest. Matter of fact, you deserve a bonus, so expect that in your next check.”

Eric was incredulous. “What’s going on, Gary? You hired me to not only put my expertise to use here, but to also ease the heavy work load you were dealing with before I showed up, so why are you kicking me out now?”

Gary sighed. “I’m not kicking you out, son. Yes, I hired you to take on the majority of cases that were burying me and believe me when I say that you have outdone yourself since you joined me here. I barely do anything anymore and I am grateful to you for that. I’ve been able to work less and rest more, and thank goodness, that bitchy Dr. Samoa has stopped breathing down my neck about taking a break. I have you to thank for that.”

“Ok, I understand all of that. Still, I didn’t ask for a break,” Eric insisted.

“But you need it,” Gary replied stubbornly and raised a hand to stop Eric from responding when the latter opened his mouth to speak again. “Listen, Eric, you’re like a son to me and even though you haven’t mentioned anything to me about your personal life, I can tell that there’s something bothering you.”

Eric’s shoulders sagged. He hadn’t realized that his moodiness had been that obvious. “So, I’m getting a leave of absence for being moody at work today?”

“It’s not just today. You’ve been like this for weeks and I think your crappy mood has lingered because you haven’t had time to deal with it. So, take some time off from work and go sort out what’s eating you up inside. It’s just ten days, so make sure you use it wisely.”

“Come on, Gary. What would I do with myself for ten days? That’s too much.”

Gary laughed. “You’re the only person I know who would complain about getting a break from work and that simply buttresses my point. Whatever you’re hiding or running away from won’t get resolved by burying yourself with work. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience. Now get out of here and go figure yourself out. I want my old Eric back—the one that was always so cheerful and did his job with so much gusto. That Eric is gone, and I want him back.”

Eric was touched by Gary’s words, and he knew that the old man was right. His job had become his escape from all the emotional baggage that he didn’t want to deal with, especially this new development with Aubrey. He had clearly lost his mojo and he needed to get it back.

He exhaled deeply. “I hate to admit, but you’re right.”

“Of course, I am,” Gary laughed. “I’m taking a break too. Only until a new client shows up, that is.”

Eric chuckled. “A lawyer is never really on break.”

“But you are, and that’s final. Now get your butt out of here and go relax somewhere. Bye!”