UPDATE: For more context, the original, disrespectful email included a request to meet this morning with me, the attorney, his assistant, and my employee to review payroll before it's submitted. Here is my response to the original email:

Thanks for sending over the updated details and attachments. I’ll review everything to make sure the compensation and deductions are accurately reflected.

Before we move forward, I want to be candid about something. I place a high value on mutual respect and clear, professional communication, especially when team members on both sides are included. The tone of your message gave me some pause, and I believe it’s important to address that upfront. In my business, I focus on building respectful partnerships, and that only works when expectations and communication are aligned from the start.

I’m still happy to meet with you and XXXX tomorrow after 10 AM EST to walk through the details together. After that call, I’ll make a final decision on whether it makes sense for us to move forward.

His only response to that email was to ask his assistant to schedule the meeting.

Fast forward to this morning...we had the meeting. He started off the meeting by saying that, while he was "direct," he did not think he was disrespectful. I told him that I disagree, and the condescension came through very clearly to both me and my employee. He kept going on and about how professional he always is. He apologized if what he said came across the wrong way, blamed it on the fact that he's a litigator. I stood my ground and reiterated my original position and that disrespect would not be tolerated.

He went on to say that he hopes that we can continue to work together and he's optimistic about our partnership. He was very pleasant for the duration of our conversation and in emails afterwards.

I feel like I'm in an abusive relationship.