Page 7 of Trick or Tease

Whatever was on his screen seemed to be far more important than what I was saying. I stood there and waited like a dog drooling for a treat after bringing in the newspaper.

He gave me a thumbs-up and continued reading whatever was on his computer screen. A fucking thumbs-up. “That’s a big case for you. Good job.”

I moved into his office, a glutton for punishment. “I thought you’d be more impressed. I kind of thought it would be a good time to discuss being made a partner in the firm.”

Geiss finally looked up. “That Westbrook deal, whose client was that?”

“Mine.”

“No, it was mine,” Geiss said. “I found them, brought them in, and signed them. You just did the paperwork. You want to make a splash? You want to be a partner? Then find your own big client and bring in money. That’s the difference between you and me. I don’t just close deals. I find the deals and then close them.”

What. The. Fuck?

He’s really going to pretend like he did this?

I forced my shoulders to stay where they were and not rise to my ears with the tension building in my body. My fingers wanted to curl into fists, but I forced my hands to stay slack.

He was the boss. I had to play it cool.

I don’t need accolades. “I’ll find clients,” I said.

“Let me ask you a serious question. Why do you want to be a partner?”

Is he serious? “That’s the goal, right?” I asked.

“So you just want a title?”

“No, of course not.”

“Is it the money?”

“That’s part of it, I guess. Sure.”

“I’m only asking because getting on the partner track takes serious commitment,” he said.

As if I didn’t know that. I nodded. “I know.”

“You will have no life for the next five years, at least. I burned through two marriages before they put my last name on the wall. Is that something you’re willing to do? It’s okay if the answer is no. There’s plenty of room at the company for junior associates.”

I wasn’t expecting that from him. The guy was all work but I knew there was plenty of playtime in his life. Besides, I knew the day I decided I wanted to be a lawyer that I would have to make sacrifices. I already had.

“I want to be a partner,” I stated, unwavering.

“You need to really think about it because it’s all or nothing,” he said.

“I feel like you’re trying to scare me off.”

“Absolutely not. I wholeheartedly think you should chase the career. Everything else can come later. Wives are temporary anyway.” He chuckled. “Fun in the beginning, and a nice distraction if you get a day off in the middle of summer when deals slow down, but a hot piece of ass can’t compete with the high of closing a deal. But you already know that.”

“Making partner is what’s important to me,” I said. “Let me work on that. I know I can bring in work and money for the firm. I’ll prove myself. In the meantime, what’s next on my plate?”

He regarded me with a cold expression. “Go find your next clients. Show me what you can bring to the table. Impress me.”

“You don’t have more work for me?” I chuckled nervously. “It kind of feels like you’re firing me.”

“Not yet. Sort your shit out, Garrett. I’m not handing you deals on a silver platter anymore. Now I have more important shit to do. Are we done?”

“I guess so.” I turned and made for the door.