Chapter 127: Elevator
*If you have to hurt other people to feel powerful, you are an extremely weak individual. – Bobby J. Mattingly*
Helen loved the new maternity dresses that Reese had gotten her. Today’s dress was an ivory cotton with large pink flowers and greenery trailing down about halfway down the skirt. She had given up her heels, afraid that she would fall with her new center of gravity. Reese had gotten her some kitten heel sandals with pearls going across her ankles and toes.
She had met Joan for lunch and her friend had raved about how Helen practically glowed with her pregnancy. At the end of her lunch, she had almost floated back into the Cooper Stone building. She felt pretty and as she stepped into the elevator; she pulled out her phone to take a picture.
Helen had just snapped the picture as someone else stepped into the elevator.
“I’m surprised that you still come here.”
Helen knew the voice without having to see who it belonged to. Tall. Skinny. Beautiful.
And an absolute bitch.
“I work here.” Helen said as she lowered her phone. She wasn’t sure why she did it, but she changed the camera and began to record the interaction. Crossing her arms, she kept the camera discretely aimed at woman who always seemed to enjoy making other people feel bad about themselves.
The door closed and the elevator began to move upwards.
“You know, if you put a little effort into it, you could probably lose some weight and look good. Maybe you could even get yourself a man.”
Helen bit her tongue. What would this woman think if she knew that Helen had a man. A great, wonderful man.
“Maybe, some people find other things more important than beauty.”
“Of course, someone like you would say that.”
“Someone like me?”
“Old, fat and ugly. Your fucking cunt is so covered by your fat roll you damn near look pregnant.”
“What makes you think I’m not pregnant?”
The skinny woman scoffed. “You? Who the hell would touch you? A drunkard that was desperate for something other than his hand?”
The door opened for the floor with TRAAC and Reese smiled at Helen. Six months ago, she would have slunk away with her tail between her legs. She had told Reese about the woman before and with a subtle head movement motioned to her, he gave her a nod before the doors closed again.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Helen smiled at the other woman.
“Whatever. Electronic devices don’t count.” The woman sneered. “Do the world a favor and fucking kill yourself.”
Helen looked at the woman in absolute shock. “What… what did you say? You fucking bitch.”
The blonde woman stepped over and slapped Helen across her face. “Don’t call me that, you fat pig.”
The doors opened and the woman walked out. Not stopping the video, Helen followed her out.
“Why the hell are you following me?” the woman hissed.
“I’m meeting someone.” Helen said meekly.
“Like anyone would want to meet with you.” She said quietly before walking down the hall to her office.
With shaking hands, Helen stopped the recording and then messaged Reese. It was only two or three minutes later when the doors opened again and Reese and Frank both stepped into the office.
The secretary looked up at the two men and ignored Helen. “Mr. Thompson, Mr. Reese, how can we help you?”
They both ignored the perky brunette and moved to Helen’s side.
“Are you okay, Kitten?” Reese asked as he cupped her face.
“I am.” She steeled herself knowing that he was there. “My nipples are pierced.”
Reese understood what she was saying. She needed to do this. But she needed to know that Reese supported her. And he did. Completely.
“They are.” He grinned at her. “You’ve got this, Kitten.”
Frank raised an eyebrow but the other two just ignored him. Reese gave her a light kiss and she turned and walked to the receptionist.
Helen smiled at the receptionist who was looking past her at the two men. “Excuse me. First, they are both taken. Second, you’re not their type.”
The brunette turned to look at Helen.
“And third, you have about thirty seconds to get the senior partners out here.”
“I don’t know who you are-.”
“I’m the woman that was just assaulted by one of your employees. Twenty-five seconds. Unless you’d rather me call the police?”
“No, I’m sure that we can resolve this.”
“Twenty.” Helen lifted her own phone. “Might want to pick up that receiver.”
The woman’s jaw moved up and down trying to figure out what to do.
“Fifteen.” Helen pulled up the keypad for the phone app. “Ten.”
The brunette picked up the phone and dialed the senior partner. “Mr. Williams, there is a woman here- I think you need to come – She says that she was assaulted by an employee.”
“Five. Should I call the cops or post the video to TikTok?” Helen asked and the woman paled.
“Sir, she has video. And said that she will post it on social media.” She hung up the phone. “He’s on his way out.”
In less than a minute, a white-haired man in a very expensive suit came down the hall. He glanced at the receptionist who pointed at Helen.
“Hello, Mrs….”
“Dunning.” Helen said as she began to play the video from the elevator. The sound was turned up and the clients that were in the waiting room could hear the exchange clearly.
“Mrs. Dunning, why don’t we go to my office?”
“Why?” Reese asked. “Your employee can humiliate my fiancé in public? But can’t face the consequences in public? That doesn’t seem very fair.”
“Your employee is a bully and harassed mine for nearly a year. Helen is usually too nice to say anything, but everyone has a breaking point.” Frank said. “And I think I’ve reached mine, too. I’ll be terminating my services with your firm.”
“Mr. Thompson.” The white-haired man said diplomatically.
“No.” Frank cut him off. “I am *not* going to do business with a company that will allow their employees to treat other people as my employee has been treated.”
“Call Eliza.” Mr. Williams ordered the receptionist. She nodded and picked up the phone.
“Mrs. Dunning, I’m sure that we can reach an agreement.”
“I want a public apology.” Helen declared as her nemesis came down the hall.
Eliza scoffed when she heard that. “Why would I apologize to a fat bitch like you?”
“Eliza.” Mr. Williams said, pulling her off to the side.
“Oh, no.” A man in the waiting room stood up. “He’s right. *Your* employee should not get to hide behind closed doors now that people know what she’s like. Just in case you thought you were, you’re not the only law firm in town.”
Eliza glared at Helen. Her lips were puckered in frustration.
“I would tell you to go suck on a lemon for life,” Helen told her, “But I see you’ve been doing that already. When she’s ready to apologize, she can do so downstairs.”
“Yeah, we can’t have the fat heifer on her feet for very long.” Eliza snarled.
“Because it’s not healthy for my baby if her mother is under a lot of stress.” Reese replied as he pulled Helen into an easy embrace.
“We’ll be calling the police once we get back downstairs.” Frank advised as Reese walked Helen towards the elevator. “And you’ll be receiving a bill for Helen to go get a checkup. Her pregnancy is already high risk, you’re not helping any.”
A few hours later, after dealing with the police, Reese and Helen left the Cooper Stone building to go to the doctor’s appointment that Frank insisted on. As they walked across the lobby that she used to work in, Eliza was escorted out by security.
“Was the police really necessary?” she yelled at the couple.
“You, as a lawyer, should know that it was assault.” Reese pointed out. “Maybe we should report you to the bar also?”
The woman paled as Reese turned away from her and tucked Helen against his side with his arm around her shoulders. They walked out without ever thinking of her again.
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