Milo tried to focus on his computer screen, but his entire body was tense, waiting.

He hated living like this. Things had been so different when he’d worked for Noel, but Noel was long gone, and now Milo found himself working for Baron McDowell, who was probably the biggest asshole to ever walk the earth—with a few exceptions, of course. Some people just couldn’t be topped when it came to being assholes, but Baron was up there with them.

Someone leaned over Milo, and he jerked back, half expecting to be back-handed. But Baron had never touched him, although not because he didn’t want to. Milo had put a stop to that the moment he’d realized Baron thought being his PA came with, as he’d put it, stress-relieving benefits.

“You’re jumpy this morning.”

Milo grimaced at Julie. She worked for another lawyer in the firm, and she didn’t have to dodge hands and listen to what was essentially abuse. “Wouldn’t you be if you were me?”

She grimaced back. “Honestly? If I were you, I’d have quit my job already.”

“Trust me, I think about doing just that about a hundred times a day.”

The worst part was that Milo used to love his job. He wasn’t a prominent lawyer or even a paralegal, but in a way, he still mattered. He was the one who’d made sure Noel ate, who’d checked that he was where he had to be when he was supposed to be there, who told him things he’d never have found out if Milo hadn’t heard it through the grapevine. He’d never go as far as saying he’d been indispensable, but he’d done something that mattered.

That was when he’d worked with Noel, though. He was nothing more than a glorified errand-boy for Baron, who sent him to retrieve his dry cleaning and buy him fancy coffee, who’d made fun of him before threatening to fire him the first time he’d pointed out there was a spelling mistake in something Baron had written. Now Milo was the one who had to write every single document that passed over Baron’s desk, even some he shouldn’t. It wasn’t like Baron cared about Milo’s real job description anyway.

“What about your old boss?”

Milo sighed. He knew where Julie was going, and it wasn’t anywhere he hadn’t thought about himself several hundred times. “What about him?”

“He’s still a lawyer, right? And he’s still working.”

“Yeah.” Milo had managed to find out Noel was employed with the shifter council now, which was cool, and no doubt more interesting than buying expensive coffee.

“Why don’t you give him a call? Even if he can’t give you a job, he might help you find another one. He was a nice guy.”

He was, which was how Milo knew Noel would help him, in any way he could. Milo didn’t want to depend on him, though. They’d been friendly, but they’d still only been people who worked together, not friends. Noel probably hadn’t given him a second thought after he’d moved away, and Milo didn’t want to disturb him. Besides, what was he supposed to say? Hey, remember me, your old PA? Yeah, I was wondering if you could find me a new job because I'm not tough enough to stick it out with your replacement.

That would go over well.

“I can’t do that. I mean, it’s not like we were friends.”

“Still. The two of you worked well together.”

“Yeah, but he already has another job, so he probably has a PA.” Probably a shifter, since Noel now worked for the council, and that wasn’t something Milo could say he was. He’d been told once that he smelled a bit like a shifter, but the guy had been trying to get into his pants, so he didn’t believe it for one second. Noel no doubt needed a shifter’s help, and Milo could do nothing to change that.

“Milo!”

Julie jumped and gave Milo a wide-eyed glance. Milo shooed her away. “Go before he finds you here and decides to take whatever’s up his ass out on you, too.”

“You shouldn’t let him abuse you like this, Milo. It’s harassment.”

“I know.” But who would care, or even believe him? Baron was a high-profile lawyer who brought millions to the firm every year, while Milo was just a PA, a man the firm could replace in a heartbeat. Hell, they’d probably find a dozen people who would eagerly replace him, even with Baron being as much of an asshole as he was. Everyone had bills to pay, and that included Milo.

“We’ll talk later, okay?” he told Julie as he rose from his chair.

He made sure his tie was straight and schooled his expression, then he strode to Baron’s door. He knocked and opened without waiting for an answer. “You called me, Mr. McDowell?”

Baron was behind his desk, the city of San Francisco spreading outside his window behind his back. Milo had loved looking outside when he’d worked with Noel. But even the stunning sight didn’t help soothe him now.

Baron slammed a hand on top of his desk. “What’s this?” he asked, grabbing a sheet of paper and waving it around.

Milo almost sighed. He stepped into the office and closed the door behind himself. Not that it mattered, since the walls and the door were made entirely of glass, but at least the people outside wouldn’t get the full volume of Baron’s screams.

Milo walked toward the desk, jerking back when Baron almost slapped him in the face with his piece of paper. He peered at it. “That’s the Maldonado deposition, sir.”

“I know what it is! I meant this!”

Baron slapped the paper onto the desk again. He’d circled something in red on the paper, and Milo squinted. His stomach dropped. Shit, he’d made a typo. “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll make sure to correct that and print out a new copy.”