Page 43 of The Boyfriend List
Yes!!!!
I finish making notes on the contract, then reorganize my bag and make my way toward the elevators.
As I get into a lift going down, a familiar voice calls out. “Hold, please.”
Blinking in surprise, I jab the OPEN DOOR button as Henry McFayden, my former work nemesis, walks in and pushes the button for the lobby. His brows lift as he sees me. “Good afternoon, Gloria.”
“Good afternoon.” I eye him, still wary of him after all the times he took credit for my work or tried to one-up me in a meeting. Mycuriosity gets the better of me when we stop on the seventh floor and some businessmen get in, chattering on their phones. “I thought you switched firms.”
Instead of bragging about how much better his job is at a higher-ranked firm across the city, or boasting about his recent legal wins, he says, “I heard about the opening for senior associate.”
My stomach clenches. Now I have to deal with Giorgio, other competitors,andHenry? Why would he even come back when this job is beneath his position at his new workplace? “You want to be a senior associate? You said you were a heartbeat away from making partner when I saw you at that conference last year.”
Now that I’m examining him more closely, his brown hair is more grey, and dark circles shadow his blue eyes. Though he’s five-ten, his frame seems to have hunched in on itself. Maybe his new job has taken more of a toll on him than I thought. “Yes, well, what they don’t tell you about being partner is that you work ninety-hour weeks and accumulate dozens of vacation days you can’t use. In case your coworker steals your case while you’re on a beach in Fiji.”
“Sounds stressful,” I say as politely as I can. “And you think you can just waltz back in and nab the senior associate position?”
Some of his old bravado straightens his spine. “I’m the most qualified for the job.”
A snort escapes me. “Good luck.”
“Yes, well, you’re the one leaving the firm for a lunch break,” he says with a shake of his head.
I roll my eyes in spite of my determination to be professional as the elevator stops. The two businessmen exit, and at least Henry is enough of a gentleman to let me out first. “It’s not a crime to have a life.”
Though it sounds like it’s a crime for a senior associate to have a life, from Henry’s descriptions. Checking my texts again, I see one from Raina sayingshe's waiting for me in front of the food truck, withtacos al pastor, churros, and chips with guac. I hurry out the door.
"I love you," I blurt out as soon as I get out of the law firm and face her.
She grins. "Are you sure you haven't confused me with your boyfriend?"
"No, I don’t have one. And even if I did, I would love you way more, because you bought me tacos."
"Aww." She smiles and we sit down on a nearby picnic table. "I love you, too."
We dig into our food after Raina says grace, a habit she's picked up since marrying Kostas.
"So, why is her royal highness Raina Vasileiou taking time out of her busy schedule to talk to a commoner?" I tease her.
"Please. More like, why is busy and important corporate lawyer, Gloria Romero, taking time out ofherschedule to have lunch with a mere sitcom actress?" she teases.
Her words remind me of Henry’s description of ninety-hour work weeks and piled-up vacation days. I’m nothing like him. "I'm notthatbusy, am I?"
"I left you three voicemails asking you to lunch this morning before texting you."
I wince. "I never check my voicemail. It’s full of telemarketers and people asking me to take surveys."
"Oh. Well, seriously, though, how's the lawyering going?"
I fidget with a wayward strand of hair that’s slipped from my bun. "I wish I knew. I ran into Henry McFayden, my old archenemy, on my way out of here."
"What?" Raina gasps. “Why was he at your work?”
"He thinks if he comes back and begs nicely, they’ll give him the position of senior associate."
Raina nods. "Are you worried he’ll take it from you?"
I bite my lip. "I’m not worried about him. I’m more surprised that he complained about having to work too much. And he wasn’t even partner yet.”
