“I’ve been thinking we can make an even bigger difference if we also had an arm of the practice helping people prepare for marriage. We could have financial planners, and that’s where we could have the prenup services. It wouldn’t be as ominous as going to the law firm to take care of it.”
“We can’t do everything, and we can’t build our numbers doing prenups.” Carina lunged forward dramatically. “I can barely do the divorcesandbe a mom and wife.”
“I’d support you no matter what,” Olivia said to Whitney. “If you decide to go that route, I’d love to be first in line to run it for you.”
Carina sputtered. “How would we even market that? Do we put up a billboard with a couple holding hands against the Richmond skyline that reads ‘Don’t Forget the Prenup’?” Carina shuddered. “I don’t know.”
“Couldn’t be any worse than Dad’s billboard,” Whitney groaned. “If only it would blow down in a storm. I’ve been thinking about doing a rain dance.”
“You’d never get that lucky,” teased Carina.
Whitney said, “Our caseload has grown significantly. I know we’re all feeling it. It’s time we bring in another paralegal to help Olivia, even if only temporarily? Then if we do make an expansion, we’d be able to easily transition some of that work.”
Olivia held up her hand and crossed her fingers. “I’d love to work with couples in love. It’s a little bit of a downer to see all the breakups. Some of them are really mean to each other.”
“I like the idea of adding another paralegal to the team,” Whitney said. “Olivia, it would expand your role a little. Moreleadership and managing the workload across the team. How do you feel about that?”
“I’d love that,” she said.
“You’d be great at it,” Carina added with a nod. “We could justify that.”
The server came up and set the smoothies down in front of them, dropping straws in the center of the table and moving quickly out of the way, not even slowing down their conversation.
“Plus, if we get someone a little more seasoned, I could take that two-week Alaska vacation Mom and I’ve been talking about since Daddy died,” Olivia said. “She’d love that.”
“Done.” Whitney took a sip of her smoothie. “And we’ll let you make the hire,” she said to Olivia.
“Absolutely.” Carina thanked the server and asked for a frittata for them to all share. “Sorry. I’m starving.”
“You know,” Olivia said. “I’m not surprised Kally and Jim Roundtree got together. I remember when Jim met with Carina. I was making copies for Kally, and while she was waiting, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.”
“How do you remember this stuff?” Whitney took a long sip of the frothy pink drink. “I can’t even remember how long ago it was that Kally’s divorce was final.”
“Just over two years,” Olivia said. “Carina was getting ready to go out on maternity leave.”
“Really? It doesn’t seem that long ago to me,” Whitney admitted.
“Time flies,” Carina said. “Speaking of time, Olivia, did you get the impression that Kally and Jim had been dating since then?”
“No.” Olivia shook her head, looking quite certain. “On social media it looks like this is a newish relationship. Definitely not two years in the making.”
As attorneys with the firm, there was a strict no social media policy in the morals clause, and frankly, she was glad to have an excuse not to participate. “I don’t know how you keep up with it all, Olivia. Isn’t it exhausting?”
“You’d be surprised how much people share. I’m more of a lurker,” Olivia admitted.
Whitney knew social media was a hotbed of information. She’d used social media accounts to prove assets and misconduct on more than one occasion, which was also why it was the first thing she told her clients—stay off it.
Chapter
Nine
Whitney shuffled through the cabinet where she kept her change of clothes. She’d misplaced her favorite bracelet. She’d put all her wet clothes in that bag when she got caught in the storm, but it wasn’t there now. She hoped she hadn’t dropped the bracelet on the way out of the building.
She turned to see Carina and Olivia walking into her office. Carina shut the door behind them, and the look on their faces told her something was up.
“What is all this?” Whitney looked at Carina and then to Olivia, who never interrupted her work. “Is something wrong?”
“We need to talk.”
