Page 45 of Dirty Judge

“Or, whenever she feels like taking a week or two off.”

“We get to decide when we take vacations?”

“She does.” She shot me a pointed look. “Only her.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s Judge Ashton’s favorite.” She paused as Mara read a case number aloud. “I used to think they were fucking each other.”

A pang of envy hit my chest, and I wasn’t sure why.

“They weren’t?” I asked.

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t think he’s ever slept with anyone who works for him.”

“Too honorable?”

“Please…” she scoffed. “It’s because he gets his rocks off by making people miserable.”

I snorted. “That actually makes perfect sense.”

“Miss Spencer.” He looked up from his folder, his eyes meeting mine all the way in the back row.

Everyone was now staring at me, as if I was the jerk.

“There’s no talking allowed in my courtroom,” he said. “Unless it’s with me. Do you understand that?”

“Yes, Your Honor.” I gritted my teeth. “I understand.”

“Good.” He returned his attention to his case while I silently seethed.

You’re lucky I’m too broke to quit…

The moment he banged his gavel and dismissed the court for lunch, I slipped into the hallway and headed to the luxurious coffee break room.

I gulped down two mugs of hazelnut blend for myself before grabbing a coffee cart and putting in the orders for the chambers staff.

Luckily for me, the baristas already knew his staff’s orders by heart.

They must’ve also assumed I wouldn’t last too long here because they simply wrote “New Ashton Clerk” on my cup instead of asking for my name.

I took my time rolling it to the elevator, trying to savor every precious second away from Judge Ashton’s gaze.

When I returned to his chambers, he was leaning against the edge of my desk, waiting for me.

“Good afternoon, Miss Spencer,” he said. “Are you having a good second day on your job?”

“Not really…”

“I’m so sorry to hear that.”

Sure you are.

“Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?” he asked.

“Is that a real or rhetorical question?”

“The latter, obviously.” He handed a blue binder to me. “You have a new and important assignment to handle and it’s time sensitive.”