But—he got the case.Close to the finishing line as it might be, it had managing partner interest.Baz pressed his lips together to keep all the embarrassing happy noises locked inside.He floated down the stairs to the partners’ floor.
Tammy knew better than to stop him when he was on a mission.He crashed into Aya’s office.“Did you know she was gonna give me the case against Captain Green?”
Aya, still planted in her chair, closed a binder before she met his eyes with a smirk.“Who do you think suggested you?”
Oh, this was…shewas…breathe.He needed to manage his expectations.At the end of the day, it was just a settlement he had to get signed.Not a big deal.
Not unless he could make it one.
“You’re the best.Thank you so much.”
“I know.Just don’t lose your head over this.If you need advice, ask.”
The scoff escaped before Baz could catch it, but he stood by it.“When have I ever lost my head?”
“Shafak’s client event springs to mind.”
Baz winced at the memory.Not his finest moment, he could admit that.It was supposed to be a networking event—hors d’oeuvres, live jazz, civilized conversation.The usual sucking up to rich people.Instead, Shafak had kicked professionalism out at ninepmand turned the whole thing into a disco.
Too many attendees had tried to talk to Baz over the disgustingly thunderous bass drowning out every thought.One particularly intoxicated woman had been so determined to feel him up, it took Aya ‘accidentally’ spilling her drink all over the woman’s dress for her to back off.
A horrible night.
“That was different.And you dragged me there.”
“Yes, to network, not to be glued to my side all night.”
It wasn’t his fault that they had reverted to barbarism.
“I promise I got this.”The law, cases,winning,those were his specialty.Not stupid parties.
When he got back to his office, the link to Grash’s discovery files were waiting in his inbox.The computer insisted it required twenty minutes to download the contents.Oh, come on.The firm needed to upgrade its internet provider because that was ridiculous—
His door swung open.Baz’s head yanked up just as Collin walked in, his lanky arms stretched out in greeting as if he owned the place.He looked like the king of White frat boys in his dark chinos and pastel blue shirt and, Jesus Christ, were those boat shoes?Was this a law firm or a party on a private yacht?
“Bazzy-boy!”he shouted.Baz flinched at the volume.It was too early in the day for the headache Collin never failed to give him.
Giving Collin the office next to his had been a cruel joke.It was a joke to give Collin a private office at all.Baz had worked his ass off for years, meanwhile all Collin had done was spend one weekend with a partner in Las Vegas to ‘consult with a client.’The Monday after, a disheveled Collin, still reeking of booze, was standing in Baz’s doorframe with a grin and calling him neighbor.
A dark day in his life.
“What do you want, Collin?”
“How’d your big trial go?You win?”
That was Baz’s favorite question today.
“Yes.If you consider a fifteen-million-dollar award when my client was willing to settle for ten a win.”
Collin’s eyebrows shot up to his receding, dark blond hairline.He let out an appreciative whistle.“Damn, bro.Not bad, not bad.I bet there’s gonna be a lot ofbuzzaround you now.”His open-mouthed grin awaited a laugh.
“Uh huh,” Baz deadpanned.He cracked his jaw to loosen it.
“Listen, now that you got that off your plate, mind helping me out with a little something?An old lady had her window broken.She’s got a date at Small Claims Court next week.Sullivan gave it to me, but I got my hands full, so… Are you my guy?”
Helping Collin with anything was low on his list of priorities, especially since his plate just got filled to the brim again.
Although… an easy billable and a chance to impress a partner that wasn’t Aya with his flexibility and camaraderie?Sullivan had been here forever.He was well-connected.Gaining his approval would go a long way toward his promotion.
