Page 136 of Come Apart
"I've got it covered."
He plants his palms on my desk like it's his. "I don't want to clean up any more of your messes. And I don't want to have to take any more of your meetings or counsel any of your clients."
I unclench my fists. It would feel great to punch Ryan in his smug face, but I have something much better waiting for me. I offer him my most polite smile. "It sounds like you should agree to dissolving the firm."
Ryan looks at me with pity. "You'll never survive alone. Your charm gets you far, but it's not enough."
"And it won't be your problem anymore."
Ryan looks at me closely. I could swear there's something human about him. Something vulnerable.
"I'd still be happy to buy you out," he says.
I say the unthinkable. "I'll consider it."
It won't kill me to let Ryan win this one time.
Not if I have Alyssa.
