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“In addition to the case information, I have included the hourly billables. Your billables are five hundred per hour. I am willing to increase them by fifty percent to make this worth your while.”
She didn’t flinch at the mention of money. It didn’t seem to be her motivation, so that’s a plus.
“I will look over the file and let you know my decision, Mr. Valentine.”
She walked around her desk and sauntered to the office door. I watched her sexy and confident stride and had to remind myself this was business, not pleasure. She opened the door, and I took that as my cue to leave.
“Ms. Patterson,” I tipped my head as I exited the office.
“Mr. Valentine,” she tipped hers back.
* * *
I arrived backat my building and walked past Xavier’s office on the way to mine. I decided to stop in to discuss the way he blew up at me earlier.
I knocked on the door frame before entering his office and closing the door behind me.
When Xavier graduated from college, we (at the Flowers Law firm at the time) recruited him heavily. He graduated at the top of his class and had all the major law firms lined up to take him. Louis and I sat down with him over dinner and gave him our best spiel. I knew I wanted to work with him as soon as JD told me he was attending law school. In typical JD fashion, he stayed out of the negotiations and let Xavier and I handle our own business. I later learned when Xavier asked JD if he should take our offer, JD responded with, “do what you feel is best.”
Xavier accepted our offer, and he became my junior associate then moved up to associate and followed me to the top when I took over the firm. He was now one of my senior associates and the next in line for partnership.
He looked up from his computer and sat back in his chair.
“I spoke with Ms. Patterson. She said she would get back to me,” I said as I sat down on the couch.
“Great.”
“Are we going to talk about how you behaved earlier or pretend it didn’t happen?”
“I apologize for speaking to you the way I did. It was unprofessional.”
“I don’t care about the way you spoke to me. I’m more concerned with the reason behind it. I know I have a way of getting under your skin, but you usually have more patience with me.”
He sat back in his chair and ran his hand down his face.
“Yes, I usually have a lot more patience.”
He sat quietly for a minute then stood from his desk to look out the window. I waited for him to speak. I knew he would when he was ready.
“You know I just came back from Houston attending my family’s baby dedication.”
“Nette with a baby still blows my mind,” I smiled.
“I know. She is a great mom, though. My nephew looks a lot like his dad, but he also looks like my dad. I wish he could have been here to see Nette all grown up. Anyway,
Daisy was there, she was cordial this time; unlike the last few times, we’ve seen each other. I apologized for messing up and told her I wanted to try again. She listened, we danced at the reception, I walked her out to her car after the reception was over and kissed her on the cheek. I’ve tried to contact her since I’ve returned home, but she won’t answer my calls or text messages.”
“Do you feel like you can give her what she wants now?”
“My attention and a family? I can. I will give her whatever she wants as long as she comes back home.”
“Like your uncle always says, consistency is key when trying to win a woman’s heart. It’s not so much what you say, but it’s what you do.”
“True. I was consistent when we were together but consistent at building my career. Looking back, I know I messed up. I just want a chance to get it right.”
“I am no expert on relationships, you know that, but I will say that talk is cheap. Actions pay the bills. You have to show her that you’ve changed and are ready to give her what she wants, not just say it. You are asking her to move back and uproot herself but what are you willing to give up in return?”
He sat back down in his chair and thought about my question.
