Page 49 of Writing Mr. Right

Actually, your exact words were “as of now, it is not my intention to do a JD, but it’s possible my mind will change in the future and it’ll be something I want to do, if you’re okay with it,”Aashiq says.And he responded in the affirmative, which is when he offered to have the firm cover costs as an incentive for you to accept the job offer.

I force my shoulders to relax to keep the laughter at bay. I didn’t realize when Aashiq materialized, he’d end up not just being a walking, talking notebook, but also someone capable of bringing up my memories word for word. “Actually, whenasked if it was my intention to do a JD sometime in the future, I didn’t say no,” I tell Colin. “I said it was possible my mind would change in the future, and you were open to that possibility. Then you said the firm would be happy to help pay for it if I did decide to pursue a law degree in the future. I know the end-of-year finance meeting is happening soon, so it’s the perfect opportunity to figure out where the funds will come from.”

Colin sucks in his cheeks. “Well…it’s not written in your contract,” he says. “So, I cannot prioritize your needs in the budget review.”

I bite my lip, but then a crucial memory slams into me. “Maybe it wasn’t a written agreement,” I allow. “But it was a verbal one. In our interview, the terms you discussed became mutually agreed upon items, which we both accepted when you called me the next week and formally offered me the job. Even if it wasn’t written in my contract, it was a clear understanding between employer and employee.”

And you’re sure a judge would agree with you, Aashiq adds.

“And I’m sure a judge would agree with me,” I repeat obediently, and a second later I realize what I’ve said. A tiny gasp escapes me, and my hand nearly flies to cover my mouth.

Bewilderment lines Colin’s forehead. “You’d take me to court for this?” he questions, his tone confused but also incredulous.

I send a mini glare in Aashiq’s direction. I can’t believe he said that! And I can’t believe I justrepeatedit without thinking it through.

It’s okay!Aashiq assures me.You can do this, Ziya.

I drink in a steadying breath. He’s right. I can do this. “Maybe not to, you know, an official legal court,” I say, “but definitely the court of opinion.”

“Whose opinion?”

I chew my tongue. “Our colleagues’,” I offer. “The people who work for you. I’m sure they’d be upset to hear they can’t trust anything you say unless they have it in writing. And thereare people—like Attorney Hamada, for example, who I know for a fact has spoken to you on my behalf in regard to a funding package for my JD—who wish to see me reach my full potential because of how hard I work for everyone else.” I lower my arms, resting my hands in my lap. My blood cools, and once I’m calmer, I say, “This is the first time I’ve put my own career first, and I want this very much. I’ve put together a plan we can go through later, but the purpose of this meeting is to show you how serious I am about this endeavor. I think I am a worthy investment, and I want to help New Scope out more, beyond what I’m already doing. And I know you rely on me for a lot of things, but if I were to leave today, you’d be left scrambling at the busiest time of the year. This way I can still work while attending school, and then eventually train someone to take over my position.” I draw in a deep steadying breath. “I think I’m capable of so much more, and I don’t want money to be the reason I can’t reach that potential. Please consider my request.”

Tingles rush through my entire body, turning my limbs to jelly. Even though I’m sitting, it feels like I’m about to collapse. All the bravado that held me up is gone, but it leaves behind a pleasant buzz in my fingertips. When I glance up at Aashiq, who flashes me a thousand-watt smirk, all the feeling returns to me at once, because his gaze sets me aflame. It reminds me I can do anything.

Colin taps his fingers on his desk, and I snap back to attention. His expression is careful not to betray his thoughts. I stare right back, though, maintaining my unwavering resolve. After a long stretch of silence, he says, “Okay.”

My heart stutters. “What?”

“Okay, I’ll fund your JD,” he states, then he holds up a finger. “But I cannot promise what we’ll be able to pull together will cover all three years, so you’ll also have to research scholarships and other methods of payment.”

My lips spread into a grin, and happiness fills my face, wholeand unfiltered. “Okay,” I agree, then add, “But if I were to request a number, it’s at least eighty percent, and if possible, the whole one hundred.”

Colin chews his cheek, then nods. “I’ll take it into consideration,” he allows. Then he gestures to the door. “You should get to work now, and I’ll be sure to let Faye know about this so she can start crunching some numbers.”

I stand up, trying not to bounce all over the walls. Even though I feel like I’m going to burst out of my skin, I maintain a cool appearance as I say, “Thank you for your display of trust and faith in me. I’ll be sure to work hard.”

Colin gives me a firm nod. “I have no doubt, Ziya. You’ve always been a hard worker, and even though I’d rather keep you as my secretary, I know you’ve got it in you to be a great lawyer.”

The immigrant daughter in me nearly cries, but I just dip my chin in acknowledgment, then turn around. Aashiq isn’t here anymore, which causes worry to spike my pulse, but I can’t make a show of it here. So, I shut Colin’s door behind me, and it’s not until I’m in my own chair that Aashiq reappears in front of the desk. He crosses his arms on the counter, then rests his chin on top of them. “How do you feel?”

Now that he’s back in front of me, my heartbeat returns to a normal level, which restores all the excitement in my body. I stand up from my chair and mimic his pose, leaning on the counter so our foreheads nearly touch. Adrenaline pumps my blood faster, but I relish in the feeling becauseIdid that. I feel this way because I went after something I wanted, and itworked. And it worked because of him.

When I speak, my voice is softer than his smile. “Like I deserve the world.”

23

I ride the high of my meeting with Colin all day. Instead of answering the phone with my usual polite and professional voice, I allow giddiness to seep into my tone. I practically skip around the office as I deliver files or make photocopies (though I’ve mostly left the task to Aashiq, who has finally gotten the hang of working the copy machine). I even propose Sofia, Faye, and Stella join Aashiq and I for lunch, and the five of us return to the same sushi place we went to on my birthday, only this time laughter fills the table instead of silence, and Aashiq isn’t the one leading it; it’s me. He just watches me the whole lunch hour, occasionally reminding me to take breaks in conversation to eat something.

At the end of the day, when everyone has left and I’ve packed up the office, I decide I don’t want to go home yet. I have a feeling if I go home now, the rush of today will end, and I don’t want it to.

“What do you want to do, then?” Aashiq asks as the elevator takes us down to the lobby.

I stare at his side profile, trying to calm my racing pulse. “Let’s go for a walk.”

He eyes me. “But you don’t like walking.”

“Well…” I muse aloud. The elevator stops, and the doors open. “Sometimes all it takes is one person to change your perspective.”

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