The Courthouse

The final day of the {if husband==true}divorce {endif}proceedings went precisely as poorly as expected as I already knew that Derrick was getting everything, since he always got what he wanted. The exception being that one time with me that I didn't even have any control over. Hell, I would have gladly given him what he wanted, if it had been up to me.

So, naturally, I found myself back at the bar across from the office, three shots and half a pint in when a regrettably familiar man sat down on the bar chair next to me.

"Hello, Alexandra."

"Fuck me, that's my boss right there and I think he noticed me, I whispered soto voce to the bar tender."

Fortunately, Andrew Glover has a sense of humor or I'd have lost my job along with everything else. Instead, he said, "Alexandra, I know you've been going through a pretty rough {if husband==true}divorce{else}breakup{endif} and I wanted to check up on you, which, uh, clearly was a good idea."

"Pretty rough, yep, just like whiskey and rocks."

"Alexandra, I'm sorry about what you've been going through and I wanted to wish you a happy birthday."

"Mrumph," I grumbled.

"Alexandra, how much leave do you have saved up?"

"Why do you keep saying my name, is weird?"

"Because you're drunk and I'm trying to get you to concentrate. So, how much leave do you have?"

"Mhhmmm," I said, trying to focus on my boss' question instead of the temptation to hum along with the song that had just come on. "Only twelve hours or so. I spent most of it dealing with this {if husband==true}divorce{else} breakup{endif}."

"Okay, Alexandra, next week is a four-for-nine. Take tomorrow off and I'll give you four of my days. Think of it as a birthday present and go visit your family or take a cruise or something."

"But what about my work?"

"Darrell has already agreed to handle the Brighton Financial case while you're gone and the rest can wait. So, go and get some sun and forget about New York for a while."

I started down at my half-full cup of lager and didn't notice my boss leave.

What was I going to do with ten days off? Go visit family? Mom and dad were probably enjoying having the house to themselves for the first time. Get some sun? That's quite the joke. I'm so pale that I have to put on sunscreen to cross the street. Mira's lucky that she's not as pale as I, or she'd be toasting down in Mexico.

With a groan, I gestured for the bartender to close my tab and headed back to the office to sleep at my desk.