Page 100 of Partner Pursuit
Counsel for the plaintiff huddled with his client and then approached them. “Perhaps we could have a settlement discussion?”
“I don’t think that’s in the cards now,” Anderson said, “but let’s hear your offer.”
Betty, Anderson, Audrey, Winnie and Mohan left the courtroom with plaintiff’s counsel and stood off to the side in the marble hallway while plaintiff’s counsel outlined their settlement offer. Anderson said they’d discuss it over lunch and get back tothem.
Anderson said, “I’ve reserved a private room for lunch at the Odeon restaurant a few blocks away. How about everyone meet back here in about ten minutes? Audrey, can you take Betty and everyone else over and I’ll catch up? I told another client I’d call them back at the break.”
As Audrey turned to make a discreet break for the bathroom before leading everyone to the restaurant, Mohan came running up to her. “I can’t believe you got him to admit that he got an update on the stock that day. I thought that only happened in movies. Unbelievable!”
Audrey flushed with excitement. “I couldn’t believe it either, but I had him. I’ve never seen any investor with such extensive research files. I spent days studying those. And then when I looked at the date and time of his research printouts, it just came to me that he must have programmed newsupdates.”
“Absolutely brilliant,” Betty repeated. “If it were up to me, you just secured your place as apartner.”
Jake met her at his door with tulips.
“For you!” He handed her the tulips and enveloped her in ahugehug.
“It was brilliant! It was such a rush! I couldn’t believe it when he just admitted it—I mean, I was sure of my case, but I wasn’t sure I’d get him to admit it. It turns out that you can get admissions in reallife.”
“Somehow I don’t think it happens that often.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Come, I’ve made dinner.”
She walked into the living/dining room. “Wow.” The lights had been dimmed and soft music was playing. He had set the table with candles and an empty vase with water for the flowers in the center. “A girl could get usedtothis.”
“I hope so,” Jake said. “I’ve missed seeing you these past few weeks, other than passing in the night obviously.”
“Yes.” She looked into his eyes and reached out to hold his hand. “I’ve missed being withyoutoo.”
“But you’re glowing now. Sit down and I’ll bring dinner.”
“I’d rather follow you about.” She leaned into his back as he stirred the pot. “Yes, I’m still so happy about winning, although I’m sure I’ll crash soon. It was just so thrilling, and it was so much more satisfying because the plaintiff was such an ass initially. One time, I made a woman cry during a deposition when I made her confess her mistake, and I felt terrible, because I could see that it had been a mistake, but nonetheless, it had to be admitted for the sake of my client.”
“I had no idea I was dating someone so ruthless,” Jake said in mock horror.
“I’m notruthless.”
“I’m just kidding. You’re not remotely ruthless by nature; you’ve just been trained to go for the jugular at key times. It’s probably a good survival mechanism for someonelikeyou.”
“Probably. I’m always amazed at how some partners don’t seem affected at all by the tension of the fight. Sometimes I just get such a tremendous stress headache,” Audrey said. “But, this time, I felt like a boxer with an entourage. Mohan was pumping me up and making me box in the anteroom before we went into the courtroom.”
“Sounds like a massage is in order after a hearty dinner.”
“I want a bit more than a massage,”shesaid.
He smiled. “Do you think you have enough energy? After taking down that guy on the stand today?”
“I’ve so much energy to burn off, baby. You’re not going to know whathityou.”
“Hmm, now I can understand why my mom always says that my dad’s legal career is notthatbad.”
“Did they disappear to the bedroom after a bigvictory?”
Jake shuddered. “I can’t think about that. That’s not conducive to…I should never have raisedthat.”
She shimmied to the music around Jake, her eyes holding his. He reached out to hold her hand, and she moved just out of reach, dancing.
“Should I put this on a low simmer?” he asked, gesturing to thepot.
She laughed. “I think so. It’s getting pretty hot.” Jake danced over to her and they kissed. He turned off the pot, and she pulled him into the bedroom.
