the side pocket of the folder and looked at the papers. Without waiting for an invitation, I sat as gracefully as possible in the chair so I could read quickly.
The first page was notification from HR terminating my at-will employment. I swallowed thickly, dreading the idea of looking for a job, especially one with the benefits I had here, while pregnant. Still, I refused to betray my dismay and tried to keep my expression blank.
There was no explanation offered, but I knew in our state she didn’t have to give one. I wasn’t a contract employee or partner, so she could fire me for whatever reason she wanted, or simply no reason at all. At the bottom of the page, there was a check attached with a perforated line that included my severance pay. Apparently, this part was being handled separately from the bribery attempt to remove me from her son’s life completely.
Without commenting, I turned the page facedown on the opened folder and read the next one. It was a nondisclosure agreement forbidding me from mentioning any details of my employment here, the reason for my termination, my personal relationship with Mykael, or the outcome of that dalliance.
I blinked at the word. Dalliance. Like we were some kind of sordid fling. It might have started that way, or at least with overtones of sordidness, but she had no idea how we felt about each other. It wasn’t some cheap sexual relationship where I had deliberately trapped him by getting pregnant. I was certain she believed that, but I knew the truth.
With no comment, and making no attempt to reach for the pen nearby, I turned that page facedown as well and went to the last one. I stared at it uncomprehendingly for a moment as I read over the date and time, trying to process what it was. Finally, the realization that she had made me an appointment at the Brookstone Women’s Facility for Friday afternoon penetrated the fog of confusion.
Anger burned in me. I didn’t think she was concerned about the baby’s health. I also didn’t think this was some attempt to get a DNA test performed before birth to establish paternity. With an ambiguous name like Women’s Facility, it seemed likely there was one business, and one business only in which Brookstone engaged. She wanted me to terminate my pregnancy. Unable to hide my shock and horror at that notion, I dropped the page and glared at her. “What is this?”
She leaned forward slightly. “Even someone like you could figure out what it is. If you want that check, you have to meet all the terms of the agreement. I didn’t put them in writing, of course, but I think we can come to an understanding. After you get rid of it, you’ll leave the state. I’d prefer if you left the country, but I can’t force you to do that. If you ever come back, I’ll destroy you.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “You don’t think trying to force me to abort the baby of the man I love is going to destroy me, Nila?” Fuck authority and respect. She wasn’t getting Mrs. Watts out of me anymore. It was all I could do to choke out her first name. There were four letters in Nila, but I that I could think of a much more appropriate four-letter word to describe her. “I’m not interested in your terms.”
She didn’t even bat an eyelash. “That is just a starting point for negotiation. I’ll double the offer.”
My eyes widened, and I shook my head unconsciously as I fathomed just how much she must hate me, or at least the idea of me being with her son and the mother of his child. “Not even for ten times the amount.”
She arched a brow, looking intrigued. “What exactly do you want then, Ms. Chastain?”
My stomach dipped, though I shouldn’t have been surprised she had learned of the connection. No doubt, she had sicced her investigators on me over the weekend. They might have come from this very law firm, because there was an entire team of investigators for different lawsuits that worked out of the building. It probably hadn’t
The first page was notification from HR terminating my at-will employment. I swallowed thickly, dreading the idea of looking for a job, especially one with the benefits I had here, while pregnant. Still, I refused to betray my dismay and tried to keep my expression blank.
There was no explanation offered, but I knew in our state she didn’t have to give one. I wasn’t a contract employee or partner, so she could fire me for whatever reason she wanted, or simply no reason at all. At the bottom of the page, there was a check attached with a perforated line that included my severance pay. Apparently, this part was being handled separately from the bribery attempt to remove me from her son’s life completely.
Without commenting, I turned the page facedown on the opened folder and read the next one. It was a nondisclosure agreement forbidding me from mentioning any details of my employment here, the reason for my termination, my personal relationship with Mykael, or the outcome of that dalliance.
I blinked at the word. Dalliance. Like we were some kind of sordid fling. It might have started that way, or at least with overtones of sordidness, but she had no idea how we felt about each other. It wasn’t some cheap sexual relationship where I had deliberately trapped him by getting pregnant. I was certain she believed that, but I knew the truth.
With no comment, and making no attempt to reach for the pen nearby, I turned that page facedown as well and went to the last one. I stared at it uncomprehendingly for a moment as I read over the date and time, trying to process what it was. Finally, the realization that she had made me an appointment at the Brookstone Women’s Facility for Friday afternoon penetrated the fog of confusion.
Anger burned in me. I didn’t think she was concerned about the baby’s health. I also didn’t think this was some attempt to get a DNA test performed before birth to establish paternity. With an ambiguous name like Women’s Facility, it seemed likely there was one business, and one business only in which Brookstone engaged. She wanted me to terminate my pregnancy. Unable to hide my shock and horror at that notion, I dropped the page and glared at her. “What is this?”
She leaned forward slightly. “Even someone like you could figure out what it is. If you want that check, you have to meet all the terms of the agreement. I didn’t put them in writing, of course, but I think we can come to an understanding. After you get rid of it, you’ll leave the state. I’d prefer if you left the country, but I can’t force you to do that. If you ever come back, I’ll destroy you.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “You don’t think trying to force me to abort the baby of the man I love is going to destroy me, Nila?” Fuck authority and respect. She wasn’t getting Mrs. Watts out of me anymore. It was all I could do to choke out her first name. There were four letters in Nila, but I that I could think of a much more appropriate four-letter word to describe her. “I’m not interested in your terms.”
She didn’t even bat an eyelash. “That is just a starting point for negotiation. I’ll double the offer.”
My eyes widened, and I shook my head unconsciously as I fathomed just how much she must hate me, or at least the idea of me being with her son and the mother of his child. “Not even for ten times the amount.”
She arched a brow, looking intrigued. “What exactly do you want then, Ms. Chastain?”
My stomach dipped, though I shouldn’t have been surprised she had learned of the connection. No doubt, she had sicced her investigators on me over the weekend. They might have come from this very law firm, because there was an entire team of investigators for different lawsuits that worked out of the building. It probably hadn’t
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