Hello, people!
Happy Wednesday!

Usual housekeeping:
- I still don't own any of it.
- Team Momo wouldn't exist without Midnight Cougar and Alice's White Rabbit with their red pens, or without AGoodWitch, Maplestyle, Mel, and Eternally Addicted who pre-read and tell me if I'm off my rocker or not.
- Thank you for all the reviews and alerts. I read all of them, but I'm trying really hard to finish writing my upcoming story, so time for replies is at a premium. Be assured that I treasure all of them.

Also, the Golden Onion Awards nominations are up and I want to take a minute to thank YOU all for the nominations for my work and for Team Momo at large.
My other story Behind The Ivories was nominated as Best Je t'aime Fic, Best Nail-Biting Fic, Favorite Fic of the Year, and Masterpiece of the Year.
Shape The Narrative is nominated as WIP of the Year, and yours truly is nominated as Author of the Year.
I posted a voting link and details on nominees in my FB Group (LaMomo's Lair). You can vote daily until August 20.

So, to clarify two things from the last chapter:
- the firm has the authority to FIRE Rebecca, but not the authority to DISBAR her. That's up to the Bar Association, and disciplinary proceedings take time.
- back in chapter 41, Edward and Emmett decided to report the rogue business to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission). So stick a pin in it, because who knows, things might snowball from there.
But for now, rest easy: the trash HAS been taken out.

Let's hear from Bella today.

Chapter 45 – BPOV

The extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee lasted for three solid hours.

Jasper and I didn't have a clear view of the hallway into Alistair's office from where we sat because our room was ensconced behind the reception lobby and the break room. Other than asking reception staff to give us a heads-up when they saw him come downstairs, we had no way of knowing if the whole thing was over and done with.

So, we'd thrown ourselves into work. Our main task for the day was eliminating any trace of Rebecca's presence from the firm's website and from our marketing materials.

"This feels like scrubbing Grabby away all over again," Jazz grumbled.

"Don't remind me."

Jasper's head peeked from behind his computer screen. "Why are you even still here, Swan? Aren't you off this week?"

I levelled him a dirty look. "Yeah, well. Edward was supposed to be off this week, too. But here we are. Catastrophes have rotten timing."

He groaned in response. "Ugh. Let's look at the positives. We won't have to put up with her bitchy ass after today."

I frowned and blew out a breath. "I keep having a bad feeling about this, Jazz. Does she seem like the type who goes happily off into the sunset?"

He leaned back in his chair and rolled away from his desk, fidgeting with the pencil in his hand. "Do you think she'd play dirty tricks?"

I scoffed. "Her entire employment history here has been one giant dirty trick. Why stop now?"

We were so absorbed in our speculations that we didn't hear the door cracking open.

"Because we made her stop," said a voice I'd recognize anywhere.

"Edward! Is it …?" The words wouldn't come all of a sudden.

I didn't know whether I'd worked myself up into a nervous frenzy or I was just being superstitious. If I didn't spell it out, I wouldn't jinx anything.

Always in tune with my moods, Edward picked up on my hesitation and flashed me a relaxed, smug smile. "Yes, it's done."

Jasper sprung from his seat and sauntered up to Edward for a fist bump. "Ding dong, the witch is dead."

I erupted into a fit of cathartic giggles. I couldn't stop. When it felt like I was wheezing, I forced myself to take a deep, sobering breath. That did the trick.

"Oh, man, Jasper. How long have you been waiting to say that?"

He snorted. "Since fucking February," he confessed, then patted Edward on the back. "So, how did it go? Can you even tell us?"

Edward grimaced. "Technically, I shouldn't."

"Oh, come on. Like you're not going to tell her later tonight," Jasper prodded.

Edward dithered for a second, then relented. "Fine. Close the door, though."

Jasper gleefully rubbed his hands. "Take a seat, sir. Be comfortable and give us all the juicy details."

&&&StN&&&

Half an hour later, Jasper was still holding his sides, laughing like a loon while Edward narrated Rebecca's pitiful demise.

"I can't believe the nerve of that woman," he whooped.

"She oozed entitlement from every damn pore, Jazz. Of course, she'd have that kind of chutzpah," I countered.

I was over the whole thing. She was out of our lives for good. I didn't care if she jumped off a cliff at this point.

"Couldn't agree more," Edward said. Then, he turned to me, ignoring Jasper's continued tittering. "Hey, how soon can you get out of here?"

I glanced at the clock in the bottom corner of my screen. "Considering I shouldn't even be here? How about now?"

He leaned down, kissing the top of my head. "Perfect. Grab your things; we're going out for dinner."

Romantic, celebratory dinner with my gorgeous boyfriend?

Count me in.

They need a break, especially after taking out the trash.

Catch y'all on Saturday!