Page 69 of See You at the Sunset

But the other part of her? She let her mouth curl up into the smallest smile, trying to convey that it was okay. That she was okay. That maybe, just maybe, they would be okay.

“Thank you all for joining us today,” the unknown man began.“We’ve reviewed all the claims of the complaint and have determined that there are no grounds, no validity, and most of all no proof to any of them.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate. You must not have read closely enough. Or maybe take off the lens of misogyny you were reading it through, and we can discuss what you see in the documents then.” Damn, Helena was good. Jia was impressed.

Jia had never seen her parents at work. But she could imagine that her dad with his loud, booming voice, always sounding a bit put-out with a slight air of disapproval, could shut any opposition down.

Her mom? A softer approach, a kinder tone, until you realized she was waiting with ten facts collected to make you feel small and beaten.

Being in this scenario, watching and listening to these lawyers go back and forth, felt a bit like pulling the curtain back on the wizard. It all was an act to come out on top. And maybe that was what everyone did in this world, especially in the workplace. They put on an act to get the job done and then went home at the end of the day, trying to remind themselves who they really were.

Jia knew she couldn’t live like that.

“And Ms. Jia Chung had a number of clerical errors. She spent more time flirting with and distracting the staff than she did her actual job. She violated company dress code. She spent entirely too long in the kitchen each morning. And she raised questions where she had no business even addressing.”

Jia’s attention was brought back to the conference room and the voice of Mr. Wainwright. He wouldn’t look at her as he accused her of behaviors that just weren’t true. He didn’t even acknowledge her presence. That was what they were alldoing, trying to make the women feel small, unseen, insignificant.

“I see you...”Henry’s words echoed in her ears.

Jia put both hands on the table and got to defending herself. “I was never made aware of a company dress code, nor did anyone ever make it known that I was breaking one. I spent time in the kitchen to unload the dishwasher every morning so that people would have clean mugs for their coffees, since no one else would do it. And though I never flirted with anyone in this office—” she scrunched her face thinking of all the swarmy men who worked at Bakerson’s Group, and the only one worth even considering was obviously Henry, and she’d never even met him while employed at the company “—I did make small talk with other employees to help lighten the mood, since everyone was always so miserable at work. And as far as clerical errors go, I can attest that the only time my work was called into question was regarding an expense report—”

“Enough.” Steven Sword’s icy voice silenced Jia in her tracks. “This is not a sorority. This is a financial institution. All of this is nonsense. We don’t pay you to chitchat and unload the dishwasher.”

Jia folded into herself. This whole time she’d thought she was doing a good job because she tried to help people. But clearly that wasn’t important at all—at least, it wasn’t what they wanted from her. They just wanted her to sit and be quiet and fill out forms and do as she was told. She lowered her head.

“Just to be clear, there is nothing in the documentation or information we gathered to substantiate any claims of Ms. Chungflirting with and distracting the staff. And it’s not part of the complaint filed against the company.”

Jia turned her attention back to Henry. She’d wonderedearlier if the wide conference table, one so big that even if they both reached their arms out they wouldn’t be able to connect, symbolized a divide that they couldn’t overcome.

“Let’s keep these proceedings to the facts at hand. The plaintiffs filed a wrongful termination case. But New York is an at-will state. And unless they can prove illegal misconduct, which,” Henry said and looked down at his stack of papers, sifting through them in what Jia could see was clearly a dramatic pause, “I don’t see anything here that will stand in court, then I see no reason for all of us to be here today. This is not a case you can win.”

This time, Henry looked directly at Jia.

They held each other’s gaze.

You did so well, she wanted to tell him.

You’ll get hurt if you keep this up, she thought she saw in his eyes.

I have to at least try, to state my piece, she tried to convey through her expression.

His eyes narrowed the slightest.You won’t win this. I’m too good at my job.

She knew it was true. And she was actually so proud of him.

“Look, Shin is right. You can’t win this. But we also don’t want a PR mess on our hands. So let’s just cut some checks and be done with it. How much, girls? How much to make it all go away?” Edison Wainwright said across the table. The man was such a prick.

Jia hated this whole thing. Was there a price tag for her dignity? For fairness? For respect in the workplace? To bury her truth? She just wanted to be back in Palm Springs. She wanted to get all her stuff and leave New York behind. She didn’t want to be here among these dregs of the earth who couldn’tappreciate that all she’d ever done at this job was try to help people be okay during a miserable workday. And she was over being treated like dirt.

“Sir,” Henry said, trying to stop him.

“Are you saying you want to settle?” Helena asked. “If so, make the offer by midnight, and I’ll discuss with my clients. But I’m warning you, do not insult us with the number.”

Jia felt the two women next to her fidget in their seats. Their lawyer had made it clear to them that they probably could not win this case. She had mentioned, just as Henry had, that New York was an at-will state. But she said their goal was not to take this to court but to get a healthy settlement for their silence.

Jia didn’t feel great about that.

But she was in a bind financially, and it seemed like something she could do.