13

13
When I woke up the next morning, Jake was gone and there was a dull ache in my chest. The bed was cold so I knew he barely slept in it. I hated the fact that we had to hide and sneak around but I knew the news would not go down well with my father.
I pulled myself out of bed and went on with my day as usual hoping to see him downstairs. By the time I got down the stairs, he was seated next to my father and they were laughing about something. Both men were dressed in suits and ready for work and they were drinking coffee.
Jake saw me first. He ran his eyes down my outfit and I could just tell the kind of thoughts going on in his mind as he watched me over the rim of his mug. I mentally patted myself on the back for choosing the pantsuit and when I walked past him, I knew his hands itched to grab a fistful of my ass.
I kissed the top of my father’s head and went into the kitchen where Alana was busy buttering a toast for me. I thanked her as she handed me the complete breakfast tray but just as I was about to leave, she stopped me.
“You look… happy,” she sounded almost confused. “That’s not to say you weren’t happy before but this is different and it looks good on you. Is there a man involved?”
“There is no man involved. Thank you for breakfast.”
I knew she didn’t believe me but she allowed the matter to rest.
Jake and I could not even touch each other during breakfast or after because he had to rush off to work and I had to go to the office. I was in a good mood all day and I was certain that nothing could ruin it until I got a text from my dad asking everyone to meet in the conference room.
I was confused as to what could have brought it up considering he called not just the lawyers but the paralegals as well. We were seated quietly waiting for him when one of the older lawyers spoke.
“Does anyone know why he called us? Michael never does that.”
“Maybe you can ask Hayley,” Greg drawled. “She is his daughter after all. Maybe she told him something. I wouldn’t put it past her.”
“If you spent the energy you did on me on your clients, you wouldn’t be such a shitty lawyer,” I shot back and I felt pride climb up my spine when his face became as red as a tomato.
He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the door opening. My father walked in typing away furiously on his phone as he took his seat. For a second, it was just us watching him. I was close enough that I could have snooped to see what he was doing but we were at the office, not at home.
After a second, he put it away and cleared his throat.
“I am not going to waste anyone’s time here,” he looked at every one of us before speaking. “The teamwork in this room sucks ass. It is absolute garbage and normally I wouldn’t give a shit but the clients notice. They notice you trying to steal them from your partners. That’s not how a firm works.”
“Can we ask where the complaints came from?” it was Charles who asked.
“Does it matter?” dad shut it down almost immediately. “I didn’t come here to tell you something you all obviously already know. I came here to make a solution. I considered switching out your interns but I realized it would be more torture than solution so there will be team building exercises.”
I did not like the way my dad was smiling. I knew it meant trouble so I sat up straighter. “What kind of team building exercises?”
“I’m glad you asked, Hayley,” he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. “In your offices you will find assigned rosters. Every week each of you will organize something that benefits the entirety of the team. I have taken it upon myself to assign everyone based on levels of experience which means we are starting strong with Greg on Friday.”
I resisted the urge to pull my hair out of my scalp.
“Let me make this very clear,” dad’s voice dropped to a cold whisper. “If any of you refuses to partake in the team building exercises then consider yourself fired effective immediately. The paralegals will not be hosting exercises but they will also be required to attend.”
“Is that all?” I asked but dad shook his head.
“I had some complaints from some interns and paralegals some of them are being mistreated by the people they intern under. I do not care for workplace squabble but I do not condone mistreating employees. Good day.”
We all rose and filed out of the room and sure enough when I got to my office, I saw the chart that dad talked about. Thankfully, I wasn’t meant to organize anything anytime soon but I was pissed that all my Friday afternoons and possibly evenings were now off the chart because of the team building. I knew if I asked, he would let me get out of it but I didn’t want to give Greg and the others any more ammunition against me.
I picked up my phone just as a message from Jake came in.
Jake: I wish I woke up with my head between your legs.
Me: Hello to you too. How is work?
I snapped the chart and sent to him.
Me: Friday afternoons are officially off the chart.
Jake: Michael told me about this. We’ll find a way.
I loved that he said we instead of me. A small smile bloomed on my lips but it was quickly wiped off when I heard a knock on the door. I barely had time to tell the person to come in before Charles was making his way into my office. I hadn’t seen him since Jake made me answer the phone while he made me cum. I had hoped it would keep Charles away for longer but clearly I was wrong.
“There were some files at the printer. I wanted to know if you left them.”
That was the most bullshit excuse I had ever heard. I had a printer in my office and if I wanted to use the general one, I would wait there and pick them up- everyone knew that.
“They’re not mine but I’m sure if you leave them there, someone will pick it up,” I tried to make my tone as dismissive as possible but he didn’t seem to get the hint.
“I guess the teambuilding is a blessing in disguise,” he began as he made his way closer. “We all get to spend time together. Maybe we could get to know each other better.”
“Charles, what do you want from me? I’ve already told you in the nicest way that I know how. I’m not interested in pursuing anything with you. Why do you not listen? That is our entire job in a nutshell.”
“Part of the job is also to know when to push especially if it is for the client’s benefit.”
“How is being with you for my benefit?” I knew it was rude but I didn’t care. “I need you out of my office, I have to work and I’m sure Greg is looking for his intern.”
This time he took the dismissal and walked right out refusing to shut my door on the way. I rolled my eyes at how childish people could be and pushed myself to my feet. Just as I was about to shut the door, I saw Greg walking past while whistling a happy tune.
I was prepared to ignore him but he made his way over to him. “I know you went to bitch to your dad about the lack of teamwork.”
“First your intern and now you, I’m starting to think you have an obsession with my office,” I mumbled under my breath. “In what universe do you think I would want to spend more time with you? You’re either dumber than you look or wait, there is no or.”
“If you didn’t tell him, then who did?”
“I don’t know, you know the way to his office, go ask him.”
I started to shut my door but he blocked it with his foot. I would have smashed his foot without a care in the world but I knew HR would have a field day with it so I settled for crossing my arms over my chest and staring at him blankly.
“We all have skeletons in our closets, Hayley. It is best not to forget that before you go around acting like you’re better than everyone else.”
“Before you go around threatening people, you should make sure your own closet is clean,” I whispered and he took a step back. “Have a good day, Greg.”
I slammed the door shut.