Nash stepped inside her office. “Can I have a seat?”
“Of course.”
After Nash sat down, he said, “They want to pay me under the table.”
“They aren’t supposed to do that. I’ll call David.”
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t want to make waves with them. I’m sure they’re used to it not being a big deal.”
“They shouldn’t advertise the position as legitimate if it’s not. I’ll let my boss know because he doesn’t like to list places that are shady.”
Nash dragged a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry I’m being a pest. I’m sure most people who come in here are happy to get a job and get paid.”
“It’s fine.”
“You asked me the other day what the deal is, and I didn’t answer.” Would she think he was full of shit? Nash was sure that some of her other clients claimed innocence or told her their sob stories, so he wasn’t expecting much.
“Yes?” Hilary picked up a pen off her desk and twirled it in her fingers.
“You know I was charged with assault?”
“Yes, it was in your packet.”
“I’m not going to deny that I did it, but there is more to it than a simple beat down.” Although, the dude did deserve to get the crap kicked out of him, and he’d do it again. To hell with the consequences.
“Okay.”
Nash’s jaw clenched. “The dude was trying to rape my sister outside of a club.”
“Shit.”
“I saw them leave and had a weird vibe about it. When I found them, the guy had my sister pinned against the building with her skirt torn off.”
“Oh my God, Nash, that’s awful.”
“I saw red.” He rubbed his temple. “When I got done with him, he had a broken nose and cheekbone.”
“Did he get time for attempted rape?”
“No.”
“What the fuck?”
“He has money and comes from a prominent family. We both got arrested, but I’m the only one with a conviction. Although, the Judge said he didn’t feel I was a risk and would have probably done the same thing.”
Hilary dropped her pen. “I don’t understand. How could he find you guilty?”
“He gave me jail time and suspended probation. I did weekends in jail for months, now I’ve been crime free and compliant with my field probation officer for the last two years. The only stipulation I have now is to get a job that pays taxes. If I get that done, in six months’ time, my record will be closed. The conviction will be gone.”
“Wow.” Hilary sat back and leaned against the headrest of her chair. “I see now the motivation to get an up and up job.”
“When you asked the first time, I didn’t want to sound like I was full of shit.”
“No.” Hilary shook her head. “I believe your whole story.”
The relief Nash felt at hearing Hilary say that she accepted his explanation was more than he’d hoped for. And he believed her. Hilary didn’t seem to have a conniving bone in her body. She was open, honest, and too damn good for him.
“I’m sorry that Phillip’s Construction was a dead end, but I know the perfect company. It’s also a construction job.”