Page 22 of Partner Pursuit
“Well, yes, but you’re a great team leader. I’m sure you two will work well together.” He looked at his watch. “I have to run. I’ll ask my assistant to schedule a meeting with the three of us so we can all start from the same page.” He stoodabruptly.
Dismissed.
“Great,” she said, schooling her voice to be positive and firm, and she trailed him out of his office. She walked quickly to her office. She could use more time for Malaburn and her Popflicks case. How dare Malaburn say that she didn’t have what it took? Especially after seven years of working here around the clock. She’d prove him wrong. Her stomachclenched.
She needed to prepare for her meetings thatafternoon.
Tim knocked on the doorframe. “Hey, can Icome in?”
“Sure.” Normally, she loved chatting with Tim, feeling a little thrill when his brown eyes met hers or he nodded in acknowledgement of a point she made, but now she was on edge and upset. And she didn’t want to show him that side of her. Especially after Malaburn’s remark that she was tooemotional.
Tim closed the door with a click. “I hear Colette was just staffed on yourcase.”
“Word travelsfast.”
“Colette told me.” He pulled out the chair in front of her desk and sat. He was frowning. His hair was gelled into place—not like Jake’s tousledhair.
“Did you suggest Hunter as a partner for her to work with? You could’ve warned me.” Her throat tightened. She had thought he was on her side—even if not interested romantically.
“No, I mean we did discuss him as a possibility, but I told her that he’s so keenly in your corner, that it would be better for her to go with Stromen,” he said. “She hasn’t worked with him either, and he’s certainly influential.”
“But he’s difficult.” Although not as difficult as Malaburn. It wasn’t a fair trade. She got Malaburn; Colette got Hunter. She shook her head. She needed to look at this positively. Wallowing inself-pitywas not going to get heranywhere.
“Probably why she didn’t ask Stromen,” Tim said dryly.
“I guess it should help me. This will give me more time to focus on my Popflicks case, and now I’m not responsible for defensive discovery onRothman.”
“Still, it’s a bit awkward. You’re really being puthead-to-headthere.”
“But we have different areas, and surely our being able to work together helps our partnership chances,” she said. “I’ve never worked with her before, though.”
“She definitely views you as the competition. She thinks they’ll only make one woman partner, if any. But, hey, I’m friends with both of you, so I don’t want to get in the middle,” Tim said. “But her having defensive discovery—that’s not good for you. If she’s responsible for preparing all the client’s witnesses and pulling all their documents, she could establish a relationship with the client such that they preferher.”
“Are you trying to cheer me up or scare me?” Her stomach was tensing.
“I’m trying to weigh the pros and conswithyou.”
“I have to work with her. I’m sure we can work together.” Audrey didn’t want to share her doubts, if Tim didn’t want to “get in the middle.” So, he wasn’t on her side, he was staying neutral. She looked down, her throat feeling tight, and swallowed. The competition for partner was feeling more direct, more personal. She looked back at Tim. Was that a pitying lookfromhim?
He leaned forward. He ran his hand through his hair, staring at the floor, seeming to consider what to say. “Audrey, Colette is determined to make partner. She’s not going to play nice in the sandbox. You’ve got to beprepared.”
“What doyoumean?”
“Just be on your guard. Don’t assume you’re both on the sameside.”
She made a face. “We’re on the same side: representing the client. This is a big case forourfirm.”
“You’re on opposite sides competing forpartner.”
“Is that how you view us too?” The office felt small, tight.
He paused. “She may be right that they’ll only make one womanpartner.”
“But what am I supposed to guardagainst?”
“I don’tknow.”
“Hunter likes teamwork. It’s not going to win her any points with him to screwmeover.”
