Cash In and Cut Me Loose

Cassandra's expression softened for Andrew, but her anger at me intensified."Apologize to Andrew," she demanded. "Or we're through."I met her gaze, my heart sinking like a stone in a well. For five years, I'd practically lived at the firm, taking all kinds of cases. Top firms across the country tossed me offers, but I shut them down without a second thought.I did it all for her, and in return, she was ready to torch our marriage over a weaselly intern who thrived on drama.Maybe I'd been chasing a ghost from the start, a love that was never mine to hold. My heart went numb, like a switch had flipped."Fine, through is through," I said....Cassandra froze, then pointed a finger at my nose. "You've got someone on the side, don't you? That's why you snitched, and now you're pushing for a divorce. Let me make one thing crystal clear: you screwed up, so you'll walk away with nothing."Her words clicked like a lock snapping shut. She'd been plotting to ditch me for a while. But w

My name was plastered at the top, bold and ugly.Gone were the compliments for me. Now I was called an unethical dirtbag, a corrupt attorney, and a cheating scumbag....Cassandra wasn't just sabotaging my career; she was gunning for my entire life, all to prop up Andrew.I scrambled to pull together evidence to clear my name, but as a lawyer, I knew time was everything. I'd missed the window to fight back. Now, even solid proof couldn't fully undo the damage.Sure enough, a chunk of my clients jumped ship to Andrew. He got so full of himself that he showed up at my apartment to gloat. "If you'd just played ball and handed over the clients, you wouldn't have been in this mess. Some guys never learn their place."My blood boiled, and I grabbed his collar. "You think you can steal my work with dirty tricks and call it yours? A real lawyer wins cases with brains, not by sucking up to the boss. Let's see how long you last hiding under her skirt."That hit a nerve. His fist came flyi

Andrew popped open the thermos, revealing a pathetic pile of chicken bones in greasy broth.It made my stomach churn. Even a stray dog would've turned its nose up at that mess.I shoved it away. "I don't eat scraps."Cassandra's mask cracked. She shot to her feet, growling, "Don't act like you're above this! Quit playing sick and get back to work!"...I laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "That's funny. You signed my pink slip. Besides, I've got a new job, so except for the divorce, we're done. Take your toy boy and go.""A new job?" she sneered. "With your trashed reputation, who'd hire you?"The door swung open, and Sherry glided in. "Lester is my business partner now. Anyone with half a brain can tell those rumors are lies. As his attorney, I'm suing the pants off whoever's spreading that garbage, and I'm handling your divorce."She paused and added, "Oh, and Benson Group's legal team called. My firm is their exclusive partner now, and Lester is the chief counsel."Cassa

After I left, Andrew turned the firm into his personal fiefdom, barking orders like he was king despite knowing jack about law.He clashed with every lawyer sharper than him, driving the firm's best talent out the door in droves. Cassandra didn't bat an eye at first, convinced his connections made him bulletproof, until his house of cards collapsed.She dug into his past, discovering that he was a college dropout for cheating. His degree and license were fake. She caught on to the fact, but the damage had been done.She kicked him out, reclaiming the Maybach and other gifts. Bitter about coming up empty, he went nuclear, leaking client data to competitors and spreading word about her siphoning funds for his car.Although she had filled that hole, the scandal crushed the firm's reputation. In a week, it went from a top dog to a pariah.Desperation hit her, and she finally remembered me, knowing the Benson Group would follow me wherever I went.She thought a few soft words and batt