Updated Feb 18, 2026 • ~10 min read
The bar complaint arrives three days later.
Formal. Official. Accusing Roman of:
- Breach of attorney-client confidentiality
- Conflict of interest
- Providing aid to opposing party
- Engaging in personal relationship with opposing counsel while representing client
- Malpractice
Each charge comes with detailed evidence. Timelines. Witness statements.
Miles built a case. A thorough one.
Roman reads through the complaint sitting at his kitchen table. Coffee going cold. Morning sunlight making the legal document look deceptively innocuous.
He’s screwed.
Completely. Undeniably. Spectacularly screwed.
His phone rings. Declan.
“You saw the complaint?” his partner asks.
“Yeah.”
“It’s bad, Roman. Like, career-ending bad.”
“I know.”
“The disciplinary board is going to investigate. They’ll interview witnesses. Review case files. Look at every interaction you had with Harlow Hartford.” Declan’s voice is tight. “If they find evidence of the affair—and they will—you’re done. Disbarment. Possibly criminal charges for fraud.”
“I understand.”
“Do you? Because you’re remarkably calm for someone whose life is imploding.”
Roman takes a sip of cold coffee. “I made my choice. I knew the consequences. Being upset about them now doesn’t change anything.”
“You’re insane. You know that, right? You threw away a brilliant career for a woman you barely know.”
“I know her well enough.”
“You’ve had maybe a dozen conversations with her. Most of them while you were supposed to be destroying her in court.” Declan sounds frustrated. “This isn’t love. It’s infatuation. Guilt. Some misguided hero complex. And it’s costing you everything.”
“Maybe. But it’s my choice to make.”
“It’s a stupid choice.”
“Probably.”
Silence.
Then Declan says, quieter, “I can’t defend you in this. You understand that? The firm has to distance itself. Publicly state we had no knowledge of your actions.”
“I know. That’s what I told you to do.”
“I’m sorry. I know we’ve been partners for ten years. But this—I can’t go down with you.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
“Okay. Good. That’s… good.” Declan pauses. “For what it’s worth? I hope she’s worth it. I really do.”
They hang up.
And Roman sits alone in his kitchen.
No job. No partner support. No career to speak of.
He should be panicking. Should be calling lawyers to defend him. Should be figuring out how to salvage something from this disaster.
Instead, he texts Harlow.
Bar complaint is filed. Investigation starting. You should probably distance yourself. This is going to get ugly.
She responds immediately.
Too late. I’m already implicated. Besides, I’m not leaving you to deal with this alone.
You should. This isn’t your fight.
You made it my fight when you helped me. Now we’re in this together.
Roman stares at his phone.
She’s right.
They’re in this together now.
For better or worse.
Probably worse.
Harlow meets Mira at her law office that afternoon.
“We have a problem,” Mira says without preamble.
“Just one?”
“Multiple. But they’re all connected.” Mira pulls out a file. “Miles’s new lawyer filed a motion to dismiss all evidence obtained from ‘anonymous sources.’ Which means the offshore account information. The shell corporation. Everything that makes our case strong.”
Harlow’s stomach drops. “Can they do that?”
“They’re arguing the evidence was obtained illegally. Through breach of confidentiality. They’re claiming Roman Castellanos gave you privileged information while representing Miles. And that any evidence derived from that leak is inadmissible.”
“But we verified it independently. You hired a forensic accountant—”
“Who found the accounts by following leads from the initial tip. Which means the evidence is ‘fruit of the poisonous tree.’ Legally tainted.” Mira looks at her seriously. “Harlow, if the judge agrees with Miles’s motion, we lose everything. The case goes back to square one. You get the terrible settlement Miles initially wanted.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Fair doesn’t matter. Legal matters.” Mira leans forward. “I need you to tell me the truth. Right now. Did Roman give you that information?”
Harlow hesitates.
Lying will protect Roman. But it might also destroy her case.
Telling the truth will implicate Roman further. Give Miles ammunition. Potentially lead to criminal charges.
“Yes,” she says finally. “He gave me the information. He found the offshore accounts during discovery and gave me the evidence folder.”
Mira closes her eyes. “Shit.”
“I know.”
“Do you? Because this means everything he did—every tactic, every strategy, every settlement offer—can be questioned. Miles’s lawyers will argue he was compromised from the start. That nothing in this case can be trusted.”
“But he found actual fraud. Miles is hiding millions of dollars—”
“Which we can’t prove without the tainted evidence.” Mira stands. Paces. “I have to report this. Ethically. I can’t knowingly use evidence obtained through attorney misconduct.”
“So I lose everything? Because Roman tried to do the right thing?”
“Because he violated ethical rules. Yes.” Mira’s voice softens. “I’m sorry. I know he was trying to help. But he did it the wrong way. And now you’re both paying the price.”
Harlow feels sick.
This is worse than she thought.
Roman isn’t just losing his career. He’s destroying her case in the process.
“What do I do?” she asks.
“You testify. Honestly. About how you got the information. About your relationship with Roman. About everything.” Mira looks at her. “And you hope the judge takes pity on you. Sees you as a victim in this mess instead of a co-conspirator.”
“But what about Roman?”
“What about him? He’s not my client. You are.”
“I can’t just throw him under the bus—”
“You don’t have a choice. Either you testify truthfully and maybe salvage something from this disaster, or you lie to protect him and we both get sanctioned.” Mira’s expression is grim. “I get that you care about him. But he made his choice. Now you have to make yours.”
Harlow leaves the office feeling hollow.
Because Mira’s right.
She has to choose.
Protect Roman and lose everything.
Or tell the truth and ruin him.
There’s no good option.
That night, Roman and Harlow meet at her apartment.
It’s the first time he’s been inside. It’s small. Depressing. Water-stained ceiling and cheap furniture and the kind of temporary housing that screams my life fell apart.
“Sorry about the place,” Harlow says. “It’s not much.”
“It’s fine.” Roman sits on the worn couch. “How was your meeting with Mira?”
“Bad. Miles’s lawyers are moving to dismiss all the evidence from the anonymous tip. They’re saying it’s tainted because you gave it to me.”
“I figured they would.”
“Mira says I have to testify. Tell the truth about how I got the information. About… us.”
Roman goes still. “What did you tell her?”
“The truth. That you gave me the evidence. That we’re…” Harlow stops. “What are we, exactly?”
“Currently? Two people making catastrophically bad decisions together.”
“I meant relationship-wise.”
“I know what you meant.” Roman looks at her. “Honestly? I don’t know. We’ve kissed twice. Had a handful of conversations. And now we’re both facing legal disasters because of those kisses and conversations.”
“So this is just… what? Infatuation? A mistake?”
“No. It’s not a mistake.” Roman stands. Crosses to her. “But I don’t know what it is yet. All I know is I can’t stop thinking about you. And I don’t regret helping you. Even though I should.”
“Even though it’s destroying your career?”
“Even though.”
Harlow looks at him. “Mira wants me to testify against you. Tell the judge everything. About the evidence folder. About the kisses. About you helping me.”
“Then do it.”
“What?”
“Testify. Tell the truth. Save your case.” Roman takes her hands. “I’m already screwed, Harlow. The bar complaint is filed. The investigation is happening. Whether you testify or not, I’m losing my license. But you still have a chance. Don’t blow it trying to protect me.”
“That’s not fair. You risked everything for me—”
“Because I chose to. This is my consequence to deal with.” Roman’s voice is firm. “You didn’t ask me to violate confidentiality. You didn’t ask me to fall for you. I did that on my own. So don’t sacrifice your case trying to save me.”
“I can’t just—”
“Yes, you can. And you will.” He kisses her forehead. “Promise me, Harlow. When the judge asks, you tell the truth. All of it.”
Harlow’s eyes are burning. “I hate this.”
“Me too.”
“I don’t want you to lose everything.”
“Too late. I already have.” Roman pulls her close. “But I got you. So it’s not all bad.”
They stand there. Holding each other. Two people whose lives are imploding but can’t seem to let go.
“What happens now?” Harlow asks.
“Now we face the consequences. Together.”
“Together,” Harlow repeats.
And hopes it’s enough.
The next morning, Roman wakes up to an email from the Washington State Bar Association.
Formal notice of investigation. Request for documents. Interview scheduling.
It’s real now.
Not just Miles threatening. Not just Declan warning.
Real consequences. Real investigation. Real possibility of losing everything.
Roman should be terrified.
Instead, he feels… free.
Because for the first time in his career, he’s not playing games. Not twisting ethics to win cases. Not representing clients he doesn’t believe in.
He helped someone who deserved help.
He told the truth when it mattered.
He chose integrity over profit.
And if that costs him his license?
At least he’ll sleep at night.
Roman responds to the Bar Association’s email. Confirms interview dates. Agrees to produce documents.
Then he calls Harlow.
“Hey,” she says. Sounds tired.
“Hey yourself. You okay?”
“Define okay.”
“Fair point.” Roman pauses. “I got the investigation notice. Formal interview next week.”
“What are you going to tell them?”
“The truth. That I found evidence of fraud. Gave it to you. Started a relationship I shouldn’t have. Take full responsibility.”
“They’re going to disbar you.”
“Probably.”
“You’re surprisingly calm about that.”
“I’ve had time to process.” Roman looks out his kitchen window. Morning light on Seattle skyline. “Besides, maybe this is exactly what I needed. A forced career change. A chance to do something that doesn’t make me hate myself.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know yet. But I’ll figure it out.” He smiles even though she can’t see it. “Maybe I’ll represent the ex-wives instead of the assholes. Do the job I originally wanted to do.”
“You’d be good at that.”
“Thanks.”
Silence.
Then Harlow says, “I’m scared. About all of this. The testimony. The investigation. Losing the case. Watching you lose your career because of me.”
“It’s not because of you—”
“It is. Partially. And I don’t know how to live with that.”
“One day at a time,” Roman says. “We deal with today. Worry about tomorrow when it comes.”
“That’s very zen for someone facing disbarment.”
“I contain multitudes.”
Harlow laughs. And Roman feels that stupid thing his heart does whenever she laughs.
“I’m falling for you,” she says suddenly. “I know it’s fast. I know it’s complicated. But I am. And I thought you should know. Before everything explodes.”
Roman’s chest tightens.
“I’m falling for you too,” he says. “Have been since that first mediation when you refused to cry in front of Miles. You’re stronger than you think, Harlow. And you’re going to survive this. We both are.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
They hang up.
And Roman sits in his kitchen.
Career in ruins. License on the line. Future uncertain.
But falling for a woman who makes it all feel worth it.
He’s screwed.
Completely.
And he wouldn’t change a thing.
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