Chapter Thirty-nine:
Ria had yet to learn why she had been summoned to Ms McQueen's office less than one hour into her shift. Surely, it would have nothing to do with the five-day long sick leave she'd taken only last week, but she couldn't think of any other explanation.
She gulped hard as she trod outside the office door. She aggressively patted herself to ensure she appeared presentable in front of the woman who invariably looked like she'd popped straight out of a Vogue Magazine. She tapped open the front view camera on her iPhone to scrutinise her own appearance. She instantly regretted the decision as several dehydration lines stared back at her. She sighed as she settled the phone back into the palm of her hand.
"Come in!" Ms McQueen sang in response to Ria's light knocks.
As Ria entered the room, she immediately detected the tepid expression on Ms McQueen's face. The usual subtle smirk sitting on her face, one calf resting over the other, her bisque skin tone seeping through her nude tights. "Ah, Ria. How are we this morning?"
Ria attempted to quash the rise in her eyebrows. She wouldn't for one second believe that McQueen had called her to simply make a query about her wellbeing. "Fine, thanks, and you?"
The older woman drove her fingers through her untamed fiery mane, her index and thumb fingers disentangling a knot that had formed. "I've kept a keen eye on the news these past few weeks."
Ria's shoulders slumped as she realised that even a hot-shot lawyer like McQueen wasn't averse to gossip. It seemed that even her workplace wouldn't allow her an escape from the scandalous events surrounding her father's death.
"It's not every day that we have a man storming in here trying to undo years of sexism in the workplace, later admitting to a murder." She marvelled, leaning forward, her elbows plunged upon the table, a minuscule amount of cleavage displaying with the movement.
"So, that's what this is about? Getting one up on me because of what happened with Rocco?" She derided in return. "Where is he, anyway?"
"Rocco doesn't work here anymore." Ms McQueen waved a hand in apathy at Ria's change in topic.
"What?"
Ms McQueen shrugged. "I got what little use I needed from him, and now he's gone." She declared matter-of-factly as Ria gaped up at her in bemusement. "Oh, don't give me that look. If anything, you should be thanking me. I did what you wanted. I got rid of the sex pest."
"But first, you used him like how he was trying to use me?"
"It's not even remotely the same. This is the law industry, Ria - this is how things work here. It's the life you chose for yourself. If you wanted to feel good about yourself at the end of the day, you should've chosen nursing or teaching."
Ria scoffed at her words. She stood up tall, preparing to remove herself from this unproductive conversation.
"Ria, sit down," McQueen ordered. But when Ria didn't oblige, she repeated sternly. "I said, sit."
"And I'm not your fucking dog." Ria snapped back. Regret instantly washed over her as she realised her words may have cost her a job, but when she peeked at McQueen, she saw a smirk on her face, intrigue lining her every pore. "What did you call me here for? For the gossip on the case? Because I won't tell you anything more than what you can read online."
A quelled spark arose in her emerald eyes. "I wanted to check in on my intern. Your work hasn't been up to scratch recently."
"Bullshit."
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Under My Skin
General Fiction[COMPLETED] High-flyer Ria Aslan thought she had her entire life planned out perfectly. Except her plans didn't quite foresee the still unsolved hit-and-run that prematurely claimed her father's life. The unfortunate tragedy only amplifies Ria's n...
