he could absorb so many emotions, reactions and spontaneous behavior all before 9 a.m.
His office was no different. Schworst & Stone was the only law firm in the small town of Repo Ridge, a quaint and quite removed settlement named after some puritanical pastor who laid claim to the valley and set down roots in the mid-seventeenth century. Dave was sad that although the town had grown since then, the small-mindedness of some of its citizens had not. Repo was a place much like any other, with its progressive youth, devout churchgoers, a façade of happy couples, small business owners, a few bars and so on. It had its poor, its wealthy and everything in-between.
Dave didn’t dislike his job, but he didn’t feel any sort of passion for it either. It was just that, a job—a job that many laughed at when Dave informed them of his position. Some assumed that it was a joke, especially those who knew about the tremendous wealth of his wife. But Dave couldn’t care less. He really didn’t bother himself with the opinions of outsiders. His job was his own and his family accepted his decision. Georgie understood more than anyone, she knew what it felt like to have so much money you didn’t have to work. She knew how boring it could be and if Dave found it necessary to keep the job he had long before she waltzed into his life that was completely understandable, even admirable.
Dave took his duties as secretary very seriously. Being the organized person he was, he enjoyed structure and regularly occurring tasks. He also possessed excellent communication skills that made him an enjoyable asset to the office. People liked to chat with him, be around him and found him extremely helpful. He always went above and beyond for the lawyers and their clients, creating and maintaining a peaceful environment while putting out fires when necessary. The only person who seemed to despise Dave for existing was one of the partners, Schworst, or as Dave privately referred to him.“The Worst.”
It was exhausting yet not surprising to Dave that the alpha male of the firm would target him. Where Dave exuded calmness and a trusting manner, Kyle Schworst was the antithesis of this—he excelled at causing severe anxiety in anyone within ten feet of his temper. When he wasn’t screaming about something not going his way, he would parade around the office, looking down his nose at everyone—a pompous jackass with the arrogance and immaturity of a fourteen-year-old king.
And today, like every morning Dave walked in the door, Schworst had something to say,
“Hey Davey, nice sweater. I need those subpoenas by noon. Think you can handle that in-between answering the phone? I know you like to have your ‘girlie-girl time’ with the ladies first.”
Dave always smiled blandly in response, not giving rise to this childish behavior. Kyle’s jealousy was always showing. None of the women in the firm wanted to go near him. The thing they all found the least repulsive about him was his huge gut and sweaty red face. But they would stop by Dave’s desk and make small talk and that was enough for Schworst to seethe with envy. It was ridiculous. So instead he tried to insinuate that maybe Dave wasn’t into women, even speculate on the reasons for his marriage. This couldn’t be more opposite than how Dave actually felt. He loved women. He admired them. He enjoyed their company and their conversation over that of his own sex and for obvious reasons. Dave was a sensitive soul; having quite a few exceptional women in his life made him very grateful for their care. But the women at the office were friends, colleagues. It baffled Dave that Schworst couldn’t understand that if he just treated them with respect and kindness they would respond with the same. The lack of self-awareness that some functioning adults exuded was unreal to him.
Besides, everyone knew he was married and very much in love. Everyone except the new paralegal who started two weeks ago—her name was Desiree and she was extremely attractive. She’d been hired by the other partner, Stone, who was getting up there in age and frequenting the offices less and less—in turn giving Schworst additional power.
Desiree was not only a ‘damn fine piece of ass,’ as Schworst described her, she was also highly intelligent and a ruthless opportunist. Dave watched her interactions, keeping his distance and dreading the moment she would turn her gaze on him, someone in a subservient position to her own. Dave worked in a law firm for 15 years—he knew a predator when he saw one. The one thing he did enjoy about Desiree was her absolute refusal to be bullied or hit on by any and all of the men that threw themselves at her, especially Schworst, who she flat out humiliated in front of his clients three days earlier. Dave secretly enjoyed it, why not? Desiree apparently had Stone to protect her—Dave wondered what the story was there. But he didn’t ask, he didn’t talk about her at all and continued to keep his distance.
The days usually passed quickly for Dave as he kept himself immersed in his environment. But the moment five o’clock hit, he was packed up and stepping out the door. Sometimes, if Schworst was feeling particularly vindictive, he would call Dave back in for some menial task just to satisfactorily gulp up more power. Dave would complete whatever job was demanded of him without complaint, for all he had to do was consider how sad it must be—to be as lonely and insecure as Kyle Schworst.