Page 32 of Free to Run
My problem is going to be figuring out how to untangle the mess I’ve apparently now made in Alison’s life.
After I go to Jared’s law firm looking for her.
14
Alison
Fortunately, the weather gods hold off passing their judgment until I’m on West 56th Street. I’m minutes from Jared’s office when the storm’s full power unleashes. The incessant rain pelting my windshield makes no difference in my visibility, as I’ve been crying on and off since I left Collyer.
I’ve denied every call that’s come in unless it’s from Jared to track my progress. I’m racing against time. Not only to get these papers to Watson, Rubenstein, and Dalton so Jared can leave but to get this one task done before I completely lose what is left of my sanity and crumble into myself.
Brushing my hand under my eyes to wipe away the trickle of tears escaping, I make the final turn onto Avenue of the Americas, slowly pulling my car beneath the awning of Jared’s building. As the doorman rushes to open my door, I slide out of the car, gripping my briefcase. Pausing once I’m inside, I fire off a text to Corinna as promised. I’m determined to finish company business before I find a place to lay my hurt down for just a few hours.
I’m so focused on the task at hand, that I don’t even notice the man who jumps out of the cab behind me and stands in the lobby, watching as I make my way into the building.
* * *
“Is everything in order?”I ask Jared. I’m hiding the crater in my heart behind my professional demeanor.
Even though I’m a barred attorney, my specialty is not commercial real estate. Thank god it’s Jared’s and I can lean on this family connection. Heavily. Though instead of charging me his regular billable hours, which are outrageous, he pushed me to do all of the work which is why I’m sitting here dripping in the partners’ conference room of Watson, Rubenstein, and Dalton.
Robert Watson and Bryan Rubenstein are both reviewing the documents to ensure I didn’t miss anything. Jared nods, even as he signs his name and notarizes the next set of paperwork, before passing it along to Robert. “Yes. You did a tremendous job, Ali. In an incredibly short amount of time, I might add.”
The compliment does little to soothe the hurt inflicted on me earlier, but it does make my professional vanity preen just a bit. “I appreciate the compliment.”
Watson looks at the papers again and shakes his head in appreciation. “We have members of our team who couldn’t have pulled this off. I’m impressed. What tactic did you use, Ms. Freeman?”
Sitting back in my chair, I cross my arms over my chest. I respond with two words: “Persistent nagging.”
The two older partners bellow. “Jared, she’s just like you, isn’t she?” Rubenstein chuckles.
“In many ways, she’s better. Stronger,” Jared acknowledges. “She’s too modest though.” His last comment is directed at me.
“Why have you never tried to recruit her to the firm?” Watson asks Jared. I straighten a little in surprise.
Jared pauses in the act of signing a document. “She’s loyal to her family. If I saw that waning, perhaps she could be tempted. Ali knows we have offices all over the U.S. if she ever wanted to find out if corporate law was for her.” He tips his chin at me.
He believes in me, to the point that he just went to bat for me with his partners. The barest of smiles begins to cross my face.
Jared passes the last document over to Watson, who quickly scans it before scrawling his signature across it. Rubenstein reviews it as well before signing in his more precise script. Handing the document back to Jared, both men stand up. I join them, straightening my skirt as I rise.
“A pleasure, Ms. Freeman,” Rubenstein says, extending his hand. I shake it firmly.
“For me as well, sir.”
“And please, consider this an offer, Ms. Freeman. If you would like to get your feet wet, we have a few cases where we could use some temporary assistance starting up in the next few months.” Watson turns to Rubenstein for confirmation. Rubenstein nods. “Might be an interesting way to push your boundaries on a trial basis.”
If you’d have asked me a few weeks ago…hell, a few days ago, I’d have politely turned these legal giants down, knowing nothing could possibly take me away from my family. With the despair I feel after today, I leave them with, “I’ll keep that in mind, gentlemen. I’ll keep Jared in the loop on any decisions I make.”
“Excellent,” Watson declares before both men leave the room.
Jared silently gathers the stacks of papers and slides them into a folder. We make our way out of the conference room into his office before he speaks. “Just the idea of you entertaining their offer tells me how bad things are. Do you want to stay with Ry and I tonight? Talk it out?” he says quietly, curling his arm over my shoulder.
I shake my head and let out a bitter laugh. “I booked a room at the Hilton Midtown. I’m heading there once we’re done. There won’t be any problem with leaving my car though, right?”
Jared waves his hand. “None whatsoever. But I don’t think you should be alone, Ali. Come with me, and let’s figure this out together. Let Ry and I pamper you for a bit.”
I shake my head. “I need to be alone tonight, Jared. I think I’ll order room service and crash.” And maybe drink myself into oblivion.
