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Melissa leaned over her desk, flicking her eyes to me in a way that let me know she’d be handling the matter.
“Claire is an amazing junior associate,” she said. “And I have nothing but good things to say about her.”
“But...,” Jose said with a smile.
“Butall the same, she’s still a junior associate. She needs a little more time and experience before she can handle a case like this.”
Jose shook his head. “I disagree. The traits she’s showing me, confidence, quickness of mind... those aren’t traits you can learn. You have them or you don’t.”
He turned his eyes toward the window, sitting in silence for several long moments, as if we were on his time and not the other way around.
“You want to work with me?” he asked. “Then I want to work with Claire. And I want to begin our, ah, new partnership by having a meeting with her right here, right now.”
Melissa cocked her head to the side. “Right here, right now?”
Jose smiled. “Your advice has been much appreciated, Melissa. But if you’d be so kind.”
Melissa turned to me as I sat there too stunned to speak.
“Are you OK with a meeting, Claire? You don’t have to agree to anything.”
I took a quick moment to gather my bearings.
“A meeting would be fine.”
Melissa nodded, her expression suggesting she was still uncertain about what was happening.
“Take the room. And I’ll be near if you need anything, Claire.”
With that she rose and left, shutting the door softly behind her.
Jose kicked his leg up into a crossed position as he sat.
“This is quite a privilege for you, Claire. And I believe that you and I will make quite a partnersh—”
“You want to work together?” I asked, cutting him off. “Then I've got some conditions.”
“Youhave conditions?” he asked. At first, he seemed surprised that I would interrupt him in such a way. His surprise quickly turned to amusement. “Let’s hear them.”
“The first is that I won’t be entirely alone on this. If you want to work with me personally, I’d be happy for the challenge. All the same, I want a little bit of oversight and expertise.”
“Meaning...”
“Meaning that I want to report to Melissa, to have her go over my work. And I want her to be present at any hearings. I’m good, and I know I am. But that doesn’t mean I'm perfect.”
He nodded slowly. “You know your limitations. I like that. Done. Any other conditions?”
“Just one.” I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes slightly. “I’m a professional and take great pains in treating my clients with professionality and integrity. And I expect the samefrommy clients. That means no flirting, no hand kissing, no lingering eyes. You act in a way that I don’t like, I’ll cut you loose ASAP. Got it?”
His eyebrows arched, the smile staying on his face. Then Jose threw his head back and let out a loud laugh.
“Dios Mio,” he said. “Claire, I am liking you more and more by the minute.” He nodded. “I agree. You want a gentleman, that’s precisely what you’ll get.”He leaned forward, offering his hand.
“Then we have an agreement?”
Part of me wanted to back out of it, to tell him I wasn’t ready.I pushed those sentiments aside, however. If I were to pull off this case, to yank a man like Jose’s butt out of the fire, it would make my career.
I flicked my eyes to his hand for a moment, then took it.
