Ripping Off the Apron

Back in the day, in the legal world, Finn Cross and I were the top dogs. Untouchable.

He ran New York, a king in criminal defense, never lost a case.

I held down Boston, crushing it in civil court.

People in the biz used to say it was a good thing we weren't in the same city.

If we were, we’d have gone head-to-head, and it was anyone's guess who'd come out on top.

But they never would've guessed.

Three years ago, I, Victoria Sterling, quietly married Finn Cross.

And just like that, the legend of "Vicky" was locked away.

I was willing to leave my career behind, to be the quiet, supportive woman behind the great man.

I made his coffee, went with him to all sorts of events, and left a light on for him when he came home late.

But when Elena, the one he’d always carried a torch for, showed up again, I couldn't keep up this charade anymore.

Back in the day, in the legal world, Finn Cross and I were the top dogs. Untouchable.

He ran New York, a king in criminal defense, never lost a case.

I held down Boston, crushing it in civil court.

People in the biz used to say it was a good thing we weren't in the same city.

If we were, we’d have gone head-to-head, and it was anyone's guess who'd come out on top.

But they never would've guessed.

Three years ago, I, Victoria Sterling, quietly married Finn Cross.

And just like that, the legend of "Vicky" was locked away.

I was willing to leave my career behind, to be the quiet, supportive woman behind the great man.

I made his coffee, went with him to all sorts of events, and left a light on for him when he came home late.

But when Elena, the one he’d always carried a torch for, showed up again, I couldn't keep up this charade anymore.

...

I was standing by the huge glass window of our Mount Pleasant mansion.

I hesitated for maybe three seconds, then dialed the number I hadn’t called in three years.

"Vickyyyyy?" Ryan’s voice on the other end was shaking. "You’re actually calling me! I can’t believe it!"

"I’m coming back to the firm," I said, my voice soft.

Silence for three seconds. Then, a shriek.

"Oh my god, are you serious?!" Ryan practically shouted, scrambling to his feet and nearly knocking a pile of files off his desk. "This is amazing! Ever since you stepped away, Finn’s snatched dozens of major criminal cases right out from under us! We’re barely hanging on! Three years, Vicky, you have no idea."

"All these years, so many of your old clients have been holding out, waiting for you. The second word gets out you're back, the whole legal world is going to lose its mind!"

I slowly looked up, staring at my reflection in the window.

My hair fell softly around my shoulders.

The black knit sweater