AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Piper waves a hand, smiling. “I’ll go get you boys coffee.” She leaves, sending me a soft expression so I know that all is forgiven.
Lewis looks less unaffected, and I carefully set down my documents so that I’m not quite so rude.
It’s been a long time since Lewis came to my office during work hours. That day with Jessi and the kids—the day that turned this thing with Laura from a snowball to an avalanche—was the last time. Before that, I couldn’t say.
“Work or pleasure?” I ask, gesturing to the seat in front of my desk.
Lewis walks over quickly, unbuttoning his suit jacket as he folds himself into the chair. “Both,” he admits.
I incline my head.
Lewis taps his foot on the floor.
I notice, and I offer him a small smile. “Laura does that when she’s nervous,” I say, just this side of an accusation.
Lewis’ eyes snap up to mine. He scowls. “Ugh. She ruins everything.”
I snort. He sighs and puts his hands flat on his knees.
“I just wanted to talk to you,” he says carefully.
“Alright…”
“About the promotion.”
“The promotion?” I ask, brow furrowing.
Lewis’ face falls. “Yes,” he says slowly. He leans forward, his face serious, and he squints at me a little. He looks like Laura, and my heart clenches.
Don’t think of her,I tell myself.Not right now.
“You don’t know what I’m talkin’ about?” Lewis questions.
I wrack my brain.
When I remember, it’s with a start. “Right,” I say, exhaling slowly. I lean back in my chair. “Sorry. Things have been… hectic.”
Lewis inclines his head, but I see his jaw leap. Right. This is a head-partner-at-the-firm conversation, not a sort-of-brother-in-law conversation. It’s certainly not a close-friend-and-professional-buddy conversation.
I nod and try to focus. “The French expansion.”
Lewis nods eagerly. His eyes brighten. “When I heard you recommended me for it, I was… Well, at first, I was nervous that it was just because of…” He waves a hand.
I feelterrible.Not the least of which is that Ididn’trecommend him.
“Especially,” he continues, frowning. “When you never mentioned it.”
“Ah.” Here, at least, I can be honest. “I hadn’t decided if it was the right step forward.”
“The French office?”
“Me leading it,” I admit. “Your promotion…”
His face falls. “Because of Jessi and the kids?”
Thatiswhy the board thought he should be given the job. I hesitate, but decide on honesty—or as much of it as I can share without the board accusing me of sharing secrets.
“In a way,” I allow. “But it’s more so that if I do accept the board’s terms, I’ll need someone there I can trust. Someone who doesn’t just have the firm’s best interests in mind, but my own. My family’s. And our clients. Not everyone feels about the law the way that you and I do.”
