Obviously, that was what Baz wanted.Question was: “Would she do that?”
Tammy was great at her job, attentive, proactive, an organizational genius—but she was old-fashioned.Much as her and Baz had a rapport thanks to several pastry bribes from the coffee shop next door, she wasn’t one to play games.
“No.But she might hold off mentioning that she works for me.”Aya stirred some cream into her coffee as she turned around.Her skin was glowing even under the fluorescents.How did she always manage to look so flawless?Talk about winning the genetic lottery.
“I’ll take it.”
“Consider it done.I have meetings all morning, but I’ll come by in the afternoon to discuss our offer.”
That desperate to supervise him, huh?What a vote of confidence.
Baz already had a plan, anyway.He had spent all weekend drafting it to perfection.No more playing nice.He would shut up Sami’s goddamned pretty mouth and its claims that Baz wasn’t the good guy on this case.
Aya’s eyebrows drew together.“Everything okay?You seem tense.”
“I’m fine,” Baz muttered, forcing his shoulders to relax.
“Don’t lie to me.What’s going on?”
“Nothing worth dwelling on.”His victory would say it all.
“Uh huh.Make sure your attitude gets the memo because you’re acting like someone pissed in your morning coffee.”
He did not have an attitude, thank you very much.But if his presence was that bothersome, fine, he’d leave.He had more important things to do anyway, such as reaching out to their lead plaintiff to discuss the change of plans.
Vanessa Martinez, after some initial confusion as to what caused the upheaval, did agree to follow his lead because why turn down the chance at a better offer?His thoughts exactly.Ambitious, courageous, and sensible.Toes or no toes, that woman would go far in life.
Aya joined him a few hours later, bagel in one hand—Baz’s stomach growled at the sight—and a paper bag in the other that she threw at Baz.He caught it before it hit his face; a toasted bagel with cream cheese greeted him.She was a freaking godsend sometimes.
“Thursday, twopm,“ she announced.
Did Ian think arranging a meeting so soon would make them sweat?Baz would be ready to go right now.
“At least something’s going right…”
Aya dropped into the office chair in front of Baz’s desk.“So.The settlement.”
“Already done.”He pushed the paper over.Aya licked cream cheese off her finger before picking it up.“Grash was well under.I’m demanding two million dollars per plaintiff.”
Aya huffed.“Ask for ownership of the moon while you’re at it.”
“I’m serious!I did the math on the treatment costs, plus emotional damage, all the time spent in hospitals… It adds up.If Captain Green wants to buy themselves out of their liability, that’s the price.”
“Is it?Or are you just trying to one-up Grash?Or four-up, rather.”
Why was everyone accusing him of being selfish?First, Eevee and Joel implied it, then Sami, now her!
“It’s what’s best for the clients.Their rep agreed.We’re doing this.”
“Great job, giving the girl with cancer hope for unrealistic goals.”
“Who says it’s unrealistic?”
Aya was the one who said to always shoot high in negotiations.Why the hell should he be playing it safe?Why did no one trust he knew what he was doing?
“You said Ian revoked the offer because five hundred thousand is too high.”
They both knew Ian revoked the offer because he was a petty jerk trying—and failing—to intimidate them.
