Chapter 24 Percy
Percy POV
"What?" I take her head off my shoulders to make sure I'm hearing her out.
"You can't go that route."
"What are you talking about?"
"You need to drop the embezzlement charges against Mason."
"Adeline, if you're trying to make me mad, it's working." I tell her, and she fucking laughs.
"There’s no need to be mad over it. All I'm saying is you don't need to destroy him like that."
"You can't let me destroy him? Is that what you're telling me?" I repeat so she can hear how ridiculous she sounded.
"Yes," she says, her voice shaking but her chin held high.
"Adeline, the man committed a felony and a long list of crimes, including sexual coercion, he's already a disgrace as a lawyer. I’m not just going to destroy him, I will make sure he never makes a living with law again, and you’re defending him?"
"I am not defending him!" She yells back, grabbing my wrist before I can pick up my phone again. "I am trying to protect you!"
I freeze. "What?"
"Embezzlement, Percy?" She looks at me with wide, terrified eyes. "Planting flags? Faking evidence? That’s illegal. That is a misuse of power. If you plant evidence to frame him, you are committing a crime."
"I own the firm. I can do what I want."
"No, you can't!" She insists. "You’ve spent your whole life building this empire. You’ve spent your whole life proving you aren't just some adopted kid from the streets. If you do this and it gets out? You lose everything and, even more importantly, your credibility as a lawyer." She huffs. "I won't let you become a criminal to save me from one."
I stare down at her, and the anger in my chest begins to cool, replaced by pride and love for this fierce woman in front of me, trying to protect me from myself.
"He has to go, though. I won't allow him to be in the same building as you." I tell her so she knows I won't be backing down on that.
"I know, but there's a right way we can do that."
"The right way?" I scoff. "The legal system is slow."
"We use the truth," she says firmly. "Fire him for harassment, that's grounds to terminate him. Report him to HR and have him terminated for that. It destroys his reputation just as effectively, but it keeps your hands clean."
I hate the situation, but she's right. I hate letting Mason off with just a firing when I want him to be permanently ruined for this.
"Fine," I step back. "We do it your way."
"Thank you." She sags against the counter, relieved.
"But I’m warning you," I point a finger at her. "If we do this by the book, Mason is going to know it came from you. He’s going to think you reported him. He’s going to blame you."
"Let him," she says boldly. "I’m not afraid of him when I have you."
I pull her back into my arms, burying my face in her neck.
"You have me," I promise. "Always. I love you so much."
"I know," she teases, and I reward her sassiness with a firm smack to her bottom.
The next morning, I walk into my building at 8:00 AM sharp. I insisted on driving her, though she only agreed if we went in separately, and so that's what we did. I reluctantly let her go with a warning that she stay in her cubicle until this is all done.
I go straight to the HR director’s office since handling Mason was my priority this morning.
"Mason Bernard," I say without mincing words. "Terminate him, effective immediately."
The man blinks. "Sir? On what grounds?"
"Sexual harassment," I state flatly. "I witnessed him cornering an intern, a Miss Adeline Volkov, in the break room. I witnessed unwanted physical contact, and I have credible reports of a hostile work environment."
"I... I see. We will need to open an investigation..."
"Opening an investigation will require you to bring both parties in, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"You don't need an investigation," I interrupt, leaning my hands on his desk. "You need a severance package and a security escort. I want him out of the building in twenty minutes. Do not let him access his computer. Do not let him speak to staff. He is a liability, and if it won't be wasting my time, I will be pressing charges. Need I say more?"
The director nods, sensing the anger radiating off me. "Understood, Mr. Akilov. My office will handle it immediately."
"Good."
I go up to my office, but I don't work. I stand by the window, watching the street below and watching the minutes tick by slowly. Thirty minutes after my report, my phone buzzes with a text from the HR director assuring me that it has been handled. I let out a breath of relief when I see two security guards coming up.
I check the camera feed on my laptop and switch to the one monitoring the lobby.
I see Mason arguing with the guards. He looks furious, holding a box of his personal effects. I'm not worried that they can't take him until I see Adeline walking through the lobby heading for the front doors on an errand, probably.
"Dammit, Adeline," I curse under my breath.
She couldn't just stay at her desk. She had to go see it for herself.
I watch on the screen as Mason spots her. He breaks away from the guards and lunges toward her. I’m out of my chair and sprinting for the elevators before he even reaches her.