Happy Wednesday!

I'm baaack! Rockville was fantastic and we had a blast (even thought Stone Temple Pilots had to pull out last minute, which peeved me to no end).

CtN is ALMOST at 1.4k reviews. Thank you for all your thoughts. I read and treasure all of them.
I wanted to take a minute today to honor those of you who shared your stories with me. Those of you who had experiences of sexual harassment at work. I am humbled and grateful that you'd feel comfortable sharing your stories with me. I believe all of you, and I wish your endings in real life were better. You all deserved better. We all do.

This is brought to you by Team Momo, who keep my grammar clean and my head sane: Alice's White Rabbit and Midnight Cougar wield the red pens. Deh and Yummy pre-read. Emma is the shoulder I cry on and my purveyor of Robp0rn. Ausha Pasha provided some vital information and some of her own personal experience for the story. Pearly Fox made a gorgeous banner for this story - check it out on FB in my group (LaMomo's Lair - just type it in the search bar).

We're (briefly) back with LawyerWard today. Time-wise, this happens on Friday afternoon, five days after Alistair's chat with Bella and Jasper in the last two chapters.

Chapter 23

"This is your doing, you egomaniacal, pompous ass!"

The unmitigated gall. The unadulterated chutzpah to storm into my office without invitation. The fucking nerve of this piece of human refuse in addressing me like that.

"On the contrary, Bamford."

At that moment, while Liam drew breath to spew, no doubt, some more insults at me, Alice strode into the office, hot on his heels. "I told him you were busy!"

I nodded briefly at her and waved her away. "You're fine, Alice. Don't worry. I'll take out the trash myself."

"You ruined my career! You had me fired and slandered!"

Thus far, I'd not taken the trouble of devoting him my full attention. I kept reading through the draft engagement letter that had me fighting against a punishing submission deadline. Not a good time to come barging into my office and interrupt actual work with a misplaced tantrum. I stood to my full height and leaned forward on my hands. That was as close to Bamford as I was willing to get. I wouldn't put it past him to gouge my eyes out from across the desk.

"You're wrong again. Though that must be a condition you're used to."

"You fucking, arrogant bastard! You and your useless nepotistic brother! But you'll hear from me! From my lawyer!"

The man was truly delusional. I had no interest in listening to his tirade, so I took a chance to call Alice in between strings of disjointed abuse.

"Yes, sir?" Alice replied from the intercom.

"Please have security collect Mr. Bamford from my office. I believe his employment here ceased an hour ago. He should leave the premises."

I didn't bother to listen for Alice's answer; I knew she'd get right on it. Then I leveled a long, contemptuous look at the piece of shit who was currently stinking up my office.

"Two words, Bamford. That's all I'll give you."

"What the fuck is that even supposed to mean?"

"Criminal charges. Is that clearer?"

At that point, the son of a bitch blanched. Apparently, he did know what was best for him and scurried away. He didn't even reach the door before building security appeared.

And that took care of the trash for the week.

LawyerWard's patience has limits.

Bella will be back on Saturday. We're nearing the end, folks. How are we feeling?