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“Yes, ma’am.” Ipushed from the window and back to my laptop, scheduling it into my agenda and shoving these five office hours into my weekend. “Igotta say I’mflattered to be the man who persuaded Laura Farmer to have aFriday night off.”
“Shut up, Zach.”
“That’swhat she said.”
“What? Ican’teven with your randomness. Goodbye.”
Iplaced the phone on my desk, grinning widely at the open laptop and never-ending list of emails and documents Ihad to sift through. None of it bothered me on adaily basis, and it bothered me even less today.
“Finally signed Johnson and McCabe on the deal we’ve been hatching for them?” Joel entered my office without knocking. They were abig pharmaceutical company that just moved its headquarters to the east and not only did Ihunt them down, Isigned them and was the conductor on their first merge with asmaller company from Boston. Joel had me finalizing the details and Iguessed it was amatter of days before Imade it happen.
“Soon.” Ikneaded my fingers in my lap, unable to shake the smile from another, far more satisfying deal. “Why’dyou ask?”
“You had that victory smile.” He pointed at my face. “Same one you have whenever you close something big.”
Joel being an observant bastard stood as reason number sixty-nine why we were partners. Today though, Iwished he had been duller around the edges, because Ifucking hated lying to anyone, especially to him.
“Umm, no.” Iscrambled for abelievable excuse, one that didn’tinvolve breaking my promise to Laura. “No, no, no. Italked to Thomas, he put the kids on the phone, and I’masucker for baby laughter.”
And then Ihit ahome run with abrilliant deflection. “Can’twait to hear Joel Jr.’s.”
“Yeah.” His eyes shone at that as he wandered to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The triumph that swept over me lasted for the whole of aminute. “You still didn’tget back to me about expanding.”
Way to put adent into my mood.
“To be honest, Ihaven’thad achance to think about it yet.” Istrolled to the office’ssofa.
Joel poured us drinks and sat on the couch facing me, placing his glass on the table and resting his elbows on his thighs. “You’re nervous about the cashflow.”
“Iam, and I’mnot oblivious to the fact that this year we’ve signed and billed more than ever. I’maware.”
“As much as Irespect your opinion, I’mnot sure how aware you are.” He clasped his hands and intertwined his fingers, tapping the upper thumb and not touching his drink. “When was the last time you read the bank statements, the budgetary reports Kevin sends us every quarter?”
“Iread them. The last one we got in the beginning of the month and so yes, we surpassed the revenues we projected at the end of the year.”
“That’sright, we’ve been doing well. Extremely well.” He bowed his chin, shooting me that look that meant business.
Iraised the glass to my lips. Alcohol in the middle of the day—Ishould’ve realized Joel had planned aserious talk. “I’mlistening.”
“It’sone thing that you don’tmind the endless hours and working on weekends. The other attorneys here aren’tlike that. They work their asses off for us.” The thumb tapping increased in speed. “They’ll wear out eventually.”
This wasn’thow it was supposed to work, him being nervous about my reply.
“Joel, I’mnot saying we wouldn’thire anyone else ever. Ineed more time, like this isn’tsome dumb luck on our part. Ikeep…” Igroaned, taking another swig of the drink. “Ikeep thinking this is adream and if Islack, if either you or Iaren’tall over our clients, we’ll lose them. Ican’tlose this.”
His thumb slowed its drumming, then halted. “We can’tmicromanage everything. Truth is, we’ll end up losing clients if we’re so swamped we lose our focus and attention to details.”
“Are you accusing me of slacking on our clients?”
“What? No, you fuck.” He leaned back, covering his face. “I’msaying without any hidden agendas, that what we have here isn’tsustainable. It’ll fall apart no matter how many hours both of us invest into it.”
“I’msorry, okay?” Ipushed myself off the sofa and started pacing the room. “Ineed more time. Ineed more assurance.” It stood on the tip of my tongue to tell him that this was my baby and that failure wasn’tan option. It sounded sad even inside my own head, so Ilocked it there.
“‘Kay.” He slapped his hands on his thighs, then stood up, buttoning his jacket.
“Let me take aclient or two off your hands.” Iwalked him out. “Caitlyn would probably appreciate her baby daddy being at home and present.”
“You shouldn’tbe taking on so much either. You’re thirty-six and this place is basically your home.” Joel shook his head. “Don’tyou want to settle down, have afamily?”
Like Isaid, an observant fuck. “Family can come later.” Ipatted his back when we reached the door. “It’snot like Ihave abiological clock ticking.”
“Have it your way. I’ll be holding on to my clients in case you do.” He turned to me, smirking. “For your sake, and for the sake of you possibly finding your forever woman.”
“I’ll be sure to mention my future, nonexistent wife to yours, when she asks me why you’re not home for dinner.”
Ireturned to the leather chair behind my desk, cracked my fingers, and picked up where Ihad left off. Alot of work had to be done before Friday.
