Page 11 of Partner Pursuit
“What happened to my college roommate—the girl who believed in closing down the party? Once I got her out of the library, that is,”Evesaid.
“She grew up and became a corporate lawyer.” Audrey gave her a wry look. “Don’t tell me you’re not tired. I saw you yawn a few minutesago.”
“Caught in the act. I’m cool with goinghome.”
They walked over to Jake to say goodbye andthankyou.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come out with us?” Jake asked. He tilted his head, encouraging, and she was tempted. All her senses came alive, as if they were ready to box in another bout ofbantering.
“I have to be at work early tomorrow.” It wasn’t like college where she could sleep in. Tonight was a temporary respite, but tomorrow she had to makeup for it.
The air stirred behind her, and the smell of Chanel perfume wafted over. Jake’s open smile disappeared.
“Veronika,” Jake said flatly.
“Jake, I took an early flight to make your party.” Veronika swept between Audrey and Eve to envelop Jake in a hug. The night air suddenly felt chilly, and Audrey wrapped her arms around herself. She turned to Eve and tilted her head towards the door. Penny joined them as they were leaving.
Penny held open the front door for them. “She’s like quicksand. She appears harmless, but she’s not going to let him go that easily. And Jake’s too nice. He shouldn’t have told her about his party. He told me it was safe because she had a modeling commitment in Italy. He doesn’t want to hurt her feelings, but there isn’t a nice way to break up withsomeone.”
“No,” Audrey said, still filled with regret at the way she’d broken up with Kevin. Eve and Audrey waved goodbye to Penny as they turned into the entrance of their buildingnextdoor.
As they jogged up the stairs, Audrey said, “That was fun. I miss college and thoseall-nightparties.” And that flickering of anticipation that something might happen.All-nightersfiling briefs were not the same. Any flickers then were of fear that she had missedsomething.
“It doesn’t have to beall-nightor nothing. There is a middle ground. I told you that you just have to get out there,” Eve said, behind her on the stairs.
Audrey nodded, but any middle ground was fast disappearing. She trudged up the dark stairway to their floor. A hallway light was out, and the walls felt like they were closing in. Winnie’s news and Malaburn were lurking in the shadows. She shook herself and hugged Eve goodbye atherdoor.
Chapter Four
Audrey’s office looked occupied, just as she had left it. Not that the deception had worked. She should’ve taken the elevator. She had to call the assignment partner and head off Malaburn’s attempt to workwithher.
As she walked around her desk, her bag swung out and knocked over the glass of water. Agh! All over her papers. All her edits and notes. She blotted the papers with napkins from one drawer devoted to extra napkins and plastic utensils from hertake-outdinners. Still wet. She draped a few papers over the backs and arms of her guest chairs. Finding a ribbon left over from a wine bottle gift at the close of a trial, she strung it from her floor lamp to her bookcase, and using binder clips, hung papers off it. She quickly closed her office door so nobody could see her paper laundry. She laid out some papers on the floor. She’d quickly input her edits on the first ten pages while the others dried. Winnie was going to find this hysterical.
A knock sounded at the door, and she opened it to find Malaburn. Her back tensed. He took in the scene in her office and raised an eyebrow.
“I knocked over a glass of water.” She removed the papers from her guest chair, felt the cushion to confirm it was dry, then carefully stepped over the papers on the floor to return to herownseat.
Sitting down, he peered at her through histortoise-shellrimmed glasses, like she was abug he wanted to squash.“Glad you could make time for my little assignment. You’re on suchhigh-profilecases nowadays. I see the Rothman case frequently in the news. That was a nasty article in theWall Street Journalthe otherday.”
Really nasty. It had quoted the plaintiff in the case, this Frenchmulti-millionaire, Pierre, and his public complaint alleging that Mr. Rothman had made a $200,000 trade in Pierre’s account without his approval. Only one sentence noted that Rothman and Hen Bank disputed those allegations vigorously.
“We’re working with our communications team to get more favorable press thisweekend.”
“Bit behind the ball.” Malaburn sniffed.
She wasn’t even responsible for press. “Not necessarily. We know more about their approach now, and now we get to counter it and leave a positive impression.”
He steepled his fingers. “And I hear you won the Popflicks pitch.”
“I’m excited. Hopefully this client will bring in a lot of work for the firm.”Hint, hint.A new client demanded utter availability and commitment, not an overloaded,stressed-outassociate. And the firm recognized that. It was like a legal “get out of jail free”card.
“My assignment shouldn’t take much time,” he said. “It’s updating your past memo fora pitch.”
Preparing for a pitch could be just ashort-termassignment, but he’d probably get the business. Her stomach knotted. She was too busy for this, but she needed his vote for partner.She couldn’t see how she could just say no. “I’ll talk to the assignmentpartner.”
Her assistant Gertrude appeared at the door. “Anderson is on the phone. He says it’s urgent.”
Areprieve.
