Page 33 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 9-12
“I know.” Damian sighed. “Reevesworth cases are my preferred cases. I just want to make sure we have a balanced client list for the firm over all.”
Eleanor tapped the print out of their clients. “This list is fairly balanced. Reevesworth Industries just has more longstanding needs for our services. It doesn’t hurt that they pay on time, every time. You couldn’t ask for a better primary client. Handling business for them not just with South Korea but Japan and Singapore is a real asset. Additionally, we’ve gotten two new inquiries for your input on some deals since you were caught on camera with Jun and Richard at the same time.”
Damian half smiled. “I saw that. Well, the first one. When did the second one come in?”
“Monday, late.”
“I bet my assistant already has them scheduled in.”
“Probably.”
“This is why we need more bilingual lawyers.”
Eleanor nodded. “To assist. These inquiries are for you personally. Until then, you’ll have to focus on the contracts only you can do alone. I’m off to England next week again. I think they’re going to sign us for their next big project as well.”
Both these things were going to mean more travel. It would be a difficult balance to keep a senior partner in the office. Damian sighed. He loved international travel. Before, it would have meant more stolen moments with Jun, but now Jun couldn’t be in South Korea with him. And leaving wasn’t something he could do when he was the only legal guardian for six troubled kids.
He needed to take on the business. Reinhart and Sathers—their law firm—needed him to bill the hours. His personal expenses with the kids and Jun also needed him to bring in the additional income. As it was, he was going to need to take out a personal loan soon if he couldn’t get relief for the kids’ housing and childcare. It wasn’t fair to leave Jun with Habibi day after day. And it wasn’t good for Jun’s career either. His work was already suffering.
Damian’s phone buzzed. He glanced over at it on the conference table. Dalia. Fuck no. He flipped his phone over. He’d look at that later.
Eleanor gathered up her papers. “We’re doing well, Sathers. Don’t forget that.”
“I know.” Damian stood up and joined her in cleaning up. “I have to remind myself that we are successful. I just see where we plan to be.”
She clapped him on the back. “Take a breath. Enjoy the journey. We’re not going anywhere. Reevesworth Industries isn’t going anywhere. We have a good balance between large cases and continual contract reviews. Even if one of our ongoing cases closes, we won’t have to lay anyone off. We’re turning down work at this point in favor of taking on our specialties and preferred clients.”
“We are.” Damian nodded. “Thanks for the pep talk.”
Eleanor flashed him a smile. “Next time, it’s your turn to talk me down, okay?”
“You mean next time you call to tell me your shoes hurt in court and the coffee is bad?”
She snorted and opened the door. “Yes, that. I should go full butch lesbian and wear a suit and Doc Martens.”
“You could.”
She walked away laughing. “I’m too much of an Elle to ever.”
Damian made his way into his own office and shut the door. His phone was still buzzing. He took a look at the screen. Still Dalia. She was filling up his screen with long, misspelled texts, demanding everything from assurances that Armada wasn’t killing the precious little one inside her to threatening him to go to the press with how he had tried to murder their father when he was young.
She might actually get someone to listen to her these days because of Jun. It was a possibility he was going to have to consider. The records were sealed because he had been a minor, so they wouldn’t be able to back it up, but there would be other friends of the family, like Pastor Doyle, who would be happy to corroborate.
Her latest text lit up the screen.
That stopped mattering to me a long time ago, sis, he thought at her. But he didn’t text back. She could scream at a blank wall all day.
He opened the app store on his phone and downloaded a communication app that would record their communications for court. He set it up, grabbed the link, and sent it to her via text message.
He repeated the message inside the app and closed the phone.
There was so much more he had to do that day, other than ignore her.
A little after noon, Émeric texted.
Damian stared at the text. He could do it if Cedric and his wife, Anna, were able to take the kids for the evening. Armada was still with Hypatia. Betti hadn’t gone to school, so she was still there as well.
He texted Cedric.
