Page 64 of One Year Ago in Spain
All of her hard work for a decade could spiral down the drain in the span of a few days. She wasthisclose to making partner. But it had hinged on successfully leading Intelligentsia’s billion-dollar acquisition of Einstein Corp.
Claire swallowed. “Are they trying to replace me?”
“Mia Kovac is gunning for your role.”
“She’s not evenonthis deal!”
“She’s a shark.”
“And she smells my blood in the water.” Claire slid all the way down into the covers. Her computer fell off her lap and face-planted onto the bed.
“Claire?”
She righted the laptop, the camera now showing a close-up of her squished face half blocked by the duvet. “I wish you could run the deal for me.”
“Me, too,” Yolanda said. “But I’m a specialist, not a general corporate maestro like you. They wouldn’t let me helm the Intelligentsia merger even if I begged. I’ll do what I can for you among the partnership, though. Not sure how much they’ll listen, since I’m a brand-new junior partner. But you know that Bill and I will stand up for you.”
Claire closed her eyes, wanting to just go to sleep instead of deal with another problem.
But being an attorney in Big Law meant you had to be “on” all the time. You had to be superhuman, with thick armor to block any emotions that might try to attack you. And she had worked too hard and for too long to lie down without a fight when she was on the cusp of finally grabbing the brass ring of partnership.
She opened her eyes, pushed away the covers, and sat up.
“I guess I’d better log in, then, email Mitch, and catch up on what’s going on,” Claire said.
“You shouldn’t have to,” Yolanda said.
“Agreed. Butshouldn’t have tois different fromdon’t have to.”
Claire
From:[email protected]
RE: Personal Update
Dear Mitch,
I’m sorry that you’ve been kept out of the loop. I thought the firm would let you know why I’ve been less available, but they didn’t do so for privacy reasons.
The short version is, my boyfriend was in a terrible accident, and he is currently in a coma. I’m at his bedside in the hospital in Madrid.
Although I may not be able to respond to messages immediately, I am still here to help make sure the closing of your merger runs smoothly. I value my work with you and Intelligentsia, and I want you to know that you can count on me.
—Claire
From:[email protected]
RE: Personal Update
Claire,
I am so sorry to hear what you are going through, and I apologize for my irascible behavior.
I recently went through something similar with my wife. Thankfully, she recovered, but I know that watching a loved one suffer is one of the most difficult things you will ever encounter.
