Updated Feb 18, 2026 • ~9 min read
Mira calls Harlow at seven AM.
“Where did you get this?”
Harlow is barely awake. Her studio apartment is cold. She pulls the blanket tighter. “Get what?”
“The offshore account information. Shell corporation in the Caymans. Four million in hidden assets.” Mira’s voice is sharp. Urgent. “Harlow, where did this come from?”
Shit.
Harlow gave Mira the evidence folder last night. Didn’t think she’d review it immediately.
Now she has to lie.
“Anonymous tip,” Harlow says.
“From who?”
“I don’t know. Someone left it in my mailbox.”
“That’s not how evidence works. We can’t use anonymous tips. We need a source. Chain of custody. Verification—”
“Can’t you just… investigate it independently? Pretend you found it during discovery?”
Mira is silent for a beat.
Then: “You’re asking me to lie about how we obtained evidence.”
“I’m asking you to find the truth. If Miles is hiding four million dollars, doesn’t that matter more than how we discovered it?”
“Not in court. Judges care about process. Chain of evidence. If we can’t prove how we got this information—”
“Then verify it independently,” Harlow interrupts. “Hire a forensic accountant. Trace Miles’s finances. If the offshore account exists, you’ll find it through legitimate discovery. The anonymous tip just points you in the right direction.”
Another silence.
“Who gave you this?” Mira asks quietly. “Really?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Harlow—”
“I can’t. But it’s credible. I promise. Just… follow the lead. Please.”
Mira sighs. “If this blows up, we’re both screwed. You know that, right?”
“I know.”
“Okay. I’ll hire the forensic accountant. See what we can find. But Harlow? Whoever your source is, they’re taking a huge risk. If Miles finds out someone leaked this information—”
“He won’t. I’ll make sure of it.”
They hang up.
And Harlow stares at her ceiling.
Roman gave her that evidence. Violated client confidentiality. Risked his career.
For her.
She still doesn’t entirely understand why.
Yes, they kissed. Yes, there’s chemistry. But people don’t throw away their careers over one kiss with opposing counsel.
There’s something else. Something Roman isn’t saying.
Harlow picks up her phone. Texts him.
Mira is investigating. Hiring forensic accountant. Thank you.
Three dots appear immediately. Then:
Good. Don’t contact me again unless it’s urgent. Miles is watching everything.
How much trouble are you in?
More every day. Worth it.
Harlow’s chest tightens.
She shouldn’t care. Roman made his choice. He’s an adult.
But she does care.
Because he’s destroying his career to help her. And she’s letting him.
Which makes her complicit.
Which makes this so much worse.
Roman gets the call from Miles at nine AM.
“We need to talk. In person. Now.”
Miles’s voice is clipped. Angry.
Roman’s stomach sinks. “About?”
“About why Harlow’s lawyer just hired a forensic accountant. About why they’re suddenly investigating offshore accounts. About why someone is helping them.”
Shit.
Miles knows.
Or suspects.
Roman keeps his voice neutral. “Forensic accounting is standard practice in high-asset divorces. It doesn’t mean—”
“Don’t bullshit me. They’re looking in the Caymans. Specifically. Someone told them where to look.”
“Maybe they just did thorough discovery—”
“I want to know who leaked information about my accounts. And I want them destroyed.” Miles’s voice is ice. “Meet me at my office. One hour.”
He hangs up.
Roman sits at his desk.
This is it. The moment everything falls apart.
Miles suspects someone betrayed him. And Roman is the obvious choice. He has access to all the financial records. He’s the one who changed strategy suddenly. Sent that fair settlement offer.
Miles is going to fire him. Probably report him to the bar association.
Roman should be panicking.
Instead, he feels… calm.
Because he made his choice. And he’d make it again.
He calls Declan.
His partner answers immediately. “Please tell me you’re not calling to confess something that’ll get us both disbarred.”
“Miles knows someone leaked information. He’s summoning me to his office.”
“Jesus Christ, Roman.”
“I need you to promise me something.”
“What?”
“If Miles files a complaint—when he files a complaint—don’t defend me. Let me take the fall alone. This doesn’t touch the firm. You had no knowledge of what I did.”
“Roman—”
“Promise me, Declan. I’m not dragging you down with me.”
Silence.
Then: “You’re really doing this. Throwing away your career for her.”
“Yes.”
“Is she worth it?”
Roman thinks about Harlow. The way she looked at him in that park. The way she kissed him like he wasn’t her enemy.
“Yeah,” he says. “She is.”
Declan sighs. “You’re an idiot. But okay. I’ll protect the firm. But Roman? When this blows up—and it will blow up—you’re on your own.”
“I know. Thank you.”
They hang up.
Roman grabs his jacket.
Drives to Miles’s office.
TechNova headquarters is exactly what Roman expected. Glass. Steel. Modern furniture. Young employees in hoodies coding at standing desks.
Miles’s office is on the top floor. Corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Seattle.
The kind of office that screams success.
Miles is waiting. Arms crossed. Expression furious.
“Sit,” he says.
Roman sits.
Miles paces. “I hired you because you’re supposed to be the best. Ruthless. Effective. Someone who destroys the opposition.”
“I am representing you—”
“You’re helping her.” Miles stops pacing. “I don’t know how. I don’t know why. But someone gave Harlow information about my offshore accounts. And the only people with access to that information are me and you.”
“I’m not the only one with access. Your accountant, your financial advisor—”
“Both signed NDAs. Both have more to lose than you do if they breach confidentiality.” Miles leans on his desk. “So I’m asking you directly. Did you give Harlow information about my accounts?”
Roman should lie. Should protect himself. Should deny everything.
Instead, he says, “Yes.”
The word hangs in the air.
Miles goes very still. “What?”
“I gave her the information. The offshore accounts. The shell corporations. All of it.” Roman meets his eyes. “Because what you’re doing is fraud. And I won’t be complicit in it.”
“You won’t be—” Miles laughs. Sharp. Bitter. “You work for me. Your job is to represent my interests. Not to sabotage my case because you have some misguided sense of ethics.”
“My job is to practice law. Not help you commit crimes.”
“It’s not a crime if nobody finds out.”
“That’s not how laws work.”
Miles’s expression hardens. “You’re fired. Effective immediately. And I’m filing a complaint with the bar association. Breach of confidentiality. Malpractice. Whatever else my new lawyer can come up with.”
“I expected that.”
“You expected—” Miles stops. Stares at him. “Why? Why would you throw away your career for her? She’s nobody. A failed artist with a mediocre business. You could’ve destroyed her. Taken everything. Won this case and made bank. Instead you—” He stops. Understanding dawns. “Oh my god. You’re sleeping with her.”
Roman doesn’t answer.
“You are. You’re fucking my wife.”
“Ex-wife. Soon-to-be ex-wife.”
“That doesn’t make it better!” Miles is shouting now. “You were supposed to represent me! Instead you started an affair with the opposition and sabotaged my case!”
“I didn’t start an affair. I gave her information she deserved to have. The affair came after.”
It’s technically true. They kissed after he gave her the evidence folder.
Miles looks like he wants to throw something. “Get out. Now. Before I have security remove you.”
Roman stands. “For what it’s worth? You’re a terrible person. You cheated on Harlow repeatedly. You’re trying to defraud her out of millions. And you’re shocked when people don’t want to help you do it.”
“Get. Out.”
Roman leaves.
Walks through TechNova’s offices. Past the standing desks and the young employees and the modern furniture.
Gets in his car.
And laughs.
Because he just got fired by his biggest client. Admitted to violating confidentiality. Basically ensured he’ll be disbarred.
And he doesn’t regret it.
Not even a little.
He texts Harlow.
Miles fired me. He’s filing a bar complaint. Things are going to get messy.
She responds immediately.
I’m so sorry. This is my fault.
No. It’s mine. I made my choice. No regrets.
Where are you?
Sitting in a parking garage having an existential crisis.
I’m coming. Send me your location.
Roman sends his location.
Twenty minutes later, Harlow appears.
She slides into the passenger seat. Looks at him. “You okay?”
“I just destroyed my career. So no. Not really.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’d do it again.” Roman looks at her. “Harlow, I need you to understand something. What I did—what I’m doing—it’s not just about ethics. It’s not just about the law.”
“Then what is it about?”
“You.” The word comes out raw. Honest. “It’s about you. And the fact that I’ve spent weeks trying not to care about you and failing spectacularly.”
Harlow’s eyes widen.
“I know it’s inappropriate,” Roman continues. “You’re opposing counsel. I should’ve maintained boundaries. But I can’t—I couldn’t—watch Miles destroy you. Not when I have the power to stop it.”
“So you gave me the evidence.”
“So I gave you the evidence. And kissed you. And got fired. And probably ruined both our lives in the process.”
Harlow is quiet for a moment.
Then she says, “I should be horrified. This is unethical. Probably illegal. Definitely stupid.”
“All true.”
“But I’m not. Horrified, I mean.” She looks at him. “I’m… grateful. And confused. And maybe falling for you. Which is insane.”
Roman’s heart does something ridiculous. “You’re falling for me?”
“Don’t make me say it again.”
“Too late. I’m going to need you to repeat that. Multiple times. For clarity.”
Harlow laughs. And then she’s kissing him.
In a parking garage. In broad daylight. Two people who absolutely shouldn’t be together.
But are.
When they finally break apart, Roman says, “This is going to be a disaster.”
“Probably.”
“Miles is going to destroy me. The bar association is going to investigate. I might lose my license.”
“I know.”
“And you’re okay with that? Dating someone who’s about to be professionally ruined because of you?”
“No. I’m not okay with it. But I’m doing it anyway.” Harlow takes his hand. “Because you risked everything for me. And I’m not walking away from that.”
Roman kisses her again.
And thinks: Worth it. Every consequence. Every disaster. Worth it.
Reader Reactions