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“Such amateurs,” she chuckled. “It’s like they haven’t updated the playbook at all.”
She examined me through squinted eyes then looked at her watch.
“Do you have a few minutes? I want to show you something.”
I looked at my watch knowing I had time. I had cleared my evening to close this deal with her.
“Sure.”
She brushed past me and swiped her cell phone at the entrance of her building which caused the door to open.
“Come on up.”
I could smell… her, her natural body odor. It was incredible. I took a deep breath in hoping to capture her scent and commit it to memory. I moved to walk beside her because I knew the view from behind was going to be distracting.
We rode the elevator to her floor and walked to the end of the hallway to her apartment. I was impressed by the upgrades to her building. I remember when it was a hotel. I used it for a number of my clients.
I followed her into her apartment.
“You can have a seat. I need a few minutes to clean myself up.”
You don’t have to change on my account.
“Not a problem.”
“There is water in the fridge and liquor at the bar,” she threw over her shoulder as she walked to the back of her apartment.
I stood from my seat to look out her window. The view from her place was of the south side of the city. It wasn’t spectacular, but it wasn’t obstructed by buildings like some of the units in this building. It didn’t take her long to return carrying the file I’d left at her office.
She handed me the file then went to her kitchen and returned with a bottle of water. She’d changed into a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. She wore some pink fuzzy slippers.
I returned to my seat and opened the file. She occupied the couch directly across from me. I opened the folder and saw notes written in green ink scattered on the document. I flipped the pages and saw the notes were not only on the first page but throughout the entire document.
One note read:Discuss presentation, i.e., clothes, speech, clique.
I read on:prepare for charges pile-up.
I tilted my head to read another one:They will probably offer him a deal to flip…or her…but probably him.
I looked through more of the notes then looked up at her.
“I had decided I wasn’t going to help you, but I still went through the file and made notes,” she shrugged.
“Is there anything I can do to convince you?”
She had me. I needed her, and she knew I needed her. If I would’ve had some of these notes before court today, it would have significantly increased our chances of favorable rulings.
She released a deep breath and stood from her seat. She walked to the same window I’d just vacated.
“Can you assure me I would be coming on as a full member of the team? At your office, you mentioned something about the optics as it relates to the jury. I don’t have the time or the patience to play arm candy to you, Mr. Valentine. If that is the case, then please look for a female attorney that’s trying to get on or make a name for herself. I assure you I am already on and I have a name, an important, recognized name.”
“Ms. Patterson, I am a man of infinite resources. I can work with whomever I choose. I can have ‘arm candy’ without requesting it. I asked for you to consider thispartnership. I didn’t say you would be my employee nor did I say you would be a junior member of the team. I expect for you to bring your entire arsenal to the table and participate as an equal.”
She turned to the window again and looked out without speaking. I could appreciate a person that thought through their answers. I’m always cautious of people who agreed too quickly.
She turned around and said, “Then I will accept your offer and work with your firm.”
I stood and extended my hand. She offered hers, and we shook.
