The Rivals - Dylan Allen Page 0,91

fist of fear. My collar is suddenly too tight and I can’t think of a single thing to say in my own defense.

She shakes her head at all of us. “None of you have even been to the sites. Talked to the people. They’re just some figment of your imagination right now,” she chastises us.

“You know what, I’ve had about enough of this. This is a business,” Asshole says in a harsh dismissal of everything she just said.

But Confidence is not easily dismissed, and while on her soapbox, with her shield held up in protection of someone else, she is persistence personified. “You’re wrong,” she insists. Her voice is bolstered by her conviction.

Asshole’s eyes narrow.

So do hers. And so do mine. My chest tightens and I tense and keep a close eye on him. His animosity for Confidence is rolling off him in waves. If she’s concerned, she doesn’t show it. She keeps pushing.

“This is the practice of law. We are lawyers. Social engineers. Or least, we should be. We are here to ensure the best possible outcome for our clients. And you want to settle because you don’t think they’re worth the price of seeking justice on their behalf,” she accuses him.

He leans toward her. Her lip curls in disgust when he speaks, his voice is a snarl.

“You’re damn straight. I am not going to worry about people who, when they die, no one will care. We represent people who are captains of industries and who will be remembered forever. The fucking flood didn’t go far enough, as far as I’m concerned.”

The woman at the table, a thirty-something blonde in a nondescript black suit, gasps.

“Jimenez,” Remi calls his name. That thread of steel is now a fully woven rope.

“Yeah?” Barry responds as if it’s an imposition to do so.

“How long have you worked here?” Remi asks.

“Five years.”

Remi actually looks surprised. “Already? Damn, time flies,” he says.

“Yes, and I care about Wilde Law. I’m not going to stand by and watch the firm undermined by what amounts to some sort of affirmative action hire. I know we wanted more women at the table, but let’s hire them for the size of their brains, not their breasts.” He shoots a venomous glance at Confidence and a rush of anger pushes me to my feet.

Both Confidence and Remi say my name at the same time.

I look to find them both watching me. Confidence with a wary alertness, Remi with anger I know isn’t directed at me.

“Then, one of you better do something about it,” I say and sit down.

“Barry, we’ll be sure to give you an excellent reference. You’re fired. Effective today,” Remi says.

Barry’s jaw drops, but he doesn’t make a sound.

No one does.

The room had been quiet before, but now, you could hear a pin drop.

Remi turns to look at the blonde. “Mila, can you take him down with you? I’m adjourning the meeting. We’ll regroup later.”

“Wait, you’re fucking firing me? For what?” Barry sputters, regaining his composure.

“For violating conduct clauses in your contract,” Remi says simply. His eyes hold the same steel as his voice.

Barry’s face crumbles. “I just bought a fucking Porsche and a put a deposit down for a pool,” he says.

“Nice priorities,” I say under my breath, and Remi shoots me a glare. I shrug unapologetically.

“I don’t deserve to be fired!” he shouts, his eyes wide. He looks around the table for support, but everyone, except for Mila and me has their face conveniently buried in a phone or iPad.

“You’ll get a month’s severance for every year you’ve worked here. With all of your experience and seniority, you’ll have a job in no time. Mila will make every resource we have available to you in pursuit of that. But you can’t work here any longer. It’s just that simple. I’m sure you understand.”

He lifts his head slowly and looks between the two of us wordlessly. His expression, completely blank.

“Barry? Are you okay?” Confidence asks. Her expression goes from concern to worry as she takes in the slack look on his face. Her voice triggers something in him because all of the sudden, his jaw tightens and his eyes focus their burning anger on her.

“Think you’re so clever, don’t you? Think you’re going to win a fucking prize or something for your stupid case? I can’t wait to see you fall flat on your face,” he says with a voice so cold and vicious that Confidence flinches and takes a step back. It takes every ounce of restraint