Waiting for Jo by srbrdshaw Read Free Book Online

embrace. He stretches his arms up over his
head while yawning and rubs his tired eyes.
    “What time is it?” he asks.
    “It’s a little after 6:30. I’m going to put
some coffee on and then get ready for work. Go ahead and go back to
sleep. There’s no reason that you have to get up right now.” I
stretch my back and arms slightly before standing up.
    Will closes his eyes and moves himself into a
more comfortable position. “Okay. Just wake me up when you’re about
to leave.”
    I let Malcolm out, feed him and then pour
myself a very large cup of coffee. I’m going to need it today.
    When I finish getting ready for work, I wake
Will up.
    “Hey, Will,” I whisper, nudging him gently on
the shoulder. His eyes open a bit. “I’m going to take off, but stay
here and sleep for as long as you want. Just lock the door when you
go.”
    “Okay. Thanks,” he says groggily. He leans up
and kisses me quickly on the cheek. Well, that was unexpected. He
immediately closes his eyes again and lays back down. I walk to the
door and take one last look at his handsome face before
leaving.

     
     
     
    Chapter 7

    I sit in my office and try and prepare myself
for the tongue lashing I’m going to receive from Dan. I know that
he’s going to be pissed that I’m quitting without giving two-week’s
notice, but after two years of taking his abuse, I don’t feel all
that guilty about it.
    Dan is one of the most senior attorneys at
the firm. I didn’t know what the term “old school litigator” meant
until I worked for him. Old school means making 30-year-old male
associates cry. It means working fifteen-hour days regularly and
expecting everyone else to do the same. It means never showing any
emotion, except anger, of course. And it means only knowing a
single joke: What’s the best part about the weekend? Only two more
work days until Monday. Funny, right? Not really. I don’t know Dan
on a personal level, but I imagine that he hates his wife, hates
his kids, hates his friends and that they all hate him back. I will
not miss him at all.
    I walk across the hall to his office. His
door is closed, but I can hear him yelling at someone. “Yes, we
will oppose your motion to amend! I don’t care! You should have
gotten it right the first time!” It sounds like he’s yelling at
opposing counsel, which is typical. At least he’s not screaming at
his secretary or another associate again.
    The best thing to do in this situation is
enlist the help of his secretary.
    “Hey Cindy, can you call me when Dan is off
of the phone? I need a few minutes to talk to him.”
    “Sure, thing. But I have to warn you, he’s in
a pretty bad mood today,” she says.
    “Like usual, you mean?” We both laugh
heartily.
    Cindy is one of the nicest people at the
firm. She’s been a legal secretary for close to forty years now,
and she knows how to deal with the old schoolers. I’ve never seen
her lose her cool or cry. She is the master of standing up for
herself without offending anyone too much. I don’t think that
anyone else could handle Dan the way she does.
    As soon as Cindy calls me, I rush over to
Dan’s office and knock on the door lightly.
    “Come in, if you must,” he says in his usual
grumpy voice. I open the door, walk in, and I don’t bother sitting
down. Dan is looking down at some papers. “What can I do for you?”
he asks without bothering to look up.
    “Dan, I’m sorry for the short notice, but I’m
leaving the firm. Friday is my last day.”
    Dan looks up from his papers and is
practically scowling at me. “Friday is not your last day. Today is
your last day. I’m calling human resources, and they will have
security escort you out. Cindy will pack up your office and mail
you your personal items. You can leave now,” he says, looking back
down at his papers.
    “Really, Dan? You think that security is
necessary?” I ask. He ignores me. “Fine. I’m leaving now. I really
hope that acting like a complete asshole