Philip’s eyes narrowed slightly while Matt pursed his lips.

“I never crossed over to the escort side of the business but I did work for her as an adviser, and occasionally did more in-depth analysis of the background of a few new potential clients. In the end, before I figured that I’d come close to saving enough to sustain me in LA, which is where I eventually wanted to end up in, she offered me a few opportunities to earn more money to pretend to be the girlfriend or date of a few highly-prized clients who were gay but could not afford to be outed,” I continued quietly.

“When I’d saved enough to live in LA, enough that I wouldn’t have to work while I prepared for the California board exams and then looked for a job in a law firm, I left,”

Philip blew a breath out, looked at Matt, and then at me.

I thought I’d disappointed him, or had let him down, based on his facial reaction to what I’d been saying, but, to my surprise, he reached out and squeezed my hand and gave me a reassuring smile. He said, “I did not expect that, but let ne be the first to say that I do not think you did wrong, Harley. Unless you slept with any of the clients …” his voice trailed off.

I shook my head from side to side vigorously.

“Then you did not break the law,” he said firmly. “You dated a few guys, did not sleep with them, and provided advice to the owner of an entity that was legally operating. If all of that will still lead to someone accusing you of something in front of the bar …”

“Philip,” I started to say.

It was his turn to shake his head. “No … no … Harley. Don’t worry. I will defend you myself. For various reasons, this is an area of the law that I’d had to become familiar with, and had to defend a very prominent individual … a lawyer, also … so, don’t worry. I’ve got your back.”

I blinked back tears.

Matt stood up and started to walk away. Philip and I looked at each other as he paced the short walkway that bordered the outdoor bathtub of my room.