He takes a deep breath and his fists clench. I take his hand in mine, kissing the back of his palm until he relaxes. “For the record, I am livid about this. I want to burn the whole fucking building down. We’re going to discuss this further, not when it’s 1 a.m. I want to enjoy our time together and not get in my car, drive straight to Wallace’s house, and demand he figure this shit out. Immediately.”

“Thank you for being so receptive and not accusing me of lying.”

“Lying? I would never. I’m going to need websites. Data. Anything that documents this disparity so I can research it further. It’s unacceptable, and I refuse to work for a company that doesn’t pay its employees the same wage, no matter what gender they identify as.”

“What are you going to do, quit?” I joke.

“If this can’t be remedied? Yeah. I will.”

“Have I told you tonight you’re the best?”

Gathering me back in his arms, Henry kisses my cheek. “I used my inheritance money to pay for college and law school and barely put a dent in it. I’m out of touch with how much debt you might have. And that’s my own fault.”

“It was six figures when I finished my third year of law school.”

“Six figures? Fucking hell,” he grumbles. “Education in America is a scam. We spend thousands of dollars only to be paid chump change when we enter the professional world. How much do you owe now?”

“$3,800.”

“Ah. Explains the exact number you gave me.”

“I’m sorry. I hope you don’t think I was extorting you. I never thought you’d agree.”

“You should have charged more and added interest.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not taking your money. I’ve already told you that.”

“Hey. Look at me.” Reluctantly, I raise my eyes to meet his. The anger has subsided, a flame snubbed out. I expect to find pity in its place but something akin to fierceness resides amongst the chocolate brown hue. “A few nights before we met up for the first time, I was hanging out with my buddies, trying to verbalize the mess of feelings and emotions I was experiencing when it came to you. I told them I would find a way to give you the fucking sun if you asked for it. I can’t do anything about the difference in our pay. Yet. But I can help you with this. Let me give you the money. It’s important to you, which means it’s important to me. Please.”

“What if someone from the office found out? It could jeopardize my career.”

“Forget the people in the office. This is about you. I told you I’d sign an affidavit to protect your identity, and it could include paying off the rest of your debt.”