Page 3 of Partner Pursuit
Audrey stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “That’s not good.”Only two? All this effort and I’m not even going to make it?She leaned against a stone wall of the steps of a brownstone, her leg muscles jittery.“But Tim and I got the Popflickscase.”
“It’s not going to be enough. Two cases suddenly settled, so that means Colette and several other attorneys are no longer billing those crazy amounts, except that Colette is sure to get on another case soon. She’s not one to sit around,” Winnie said. Colette had joined the firm two years ago. She’d rebuffed Audrey’s friendly overtures; they were both in consideration for partner, but she was friendlywithTim.
“That’sgame-changing.” She had to do more, but she was already working more cases than anyone else. And if she made partner, it would be even worse. She sank down onto the steps.Her hand gripped her phone tightly, as she stared down at the paper garbage littering the street.
Audrey shook her head. She had to think positively. It wouldn’t be worse. She would make it—be judged and found to merit becoming a partner with the best and brightest legal minds of the country. It was the final rung on the ladder. She would prove herself as one of them. She took a deep breath, stood, and strode forward.Eyes on the prize. Don’t be deterred by doubts. Her mom’s favorite expression, other than “be nice.” Kevin had often imitated her mom saying that, and not in aniceway.
Kevin, who she’d broken up with four years ago, who’d said she’d never make partner.
She glanced up to see Jake turn into thefive-storybrownstone next to the one where she and Eve lived. The one with the apartment for rent. But that would be too much to hope—that he was her new neighbor. He was only her type in looks anyway, given that he was comparing women to fish and strolling around the streets on a Thursday carrying a case of beer—that he had managed not to drop while rescuing the boy. Impressed, she bit her lip. Better to hope that he wasn’t; she didn’t need that type of distraction.
“I still just have to do my best,” she saidto Winnie.
“I tried to find out more, but that was all I got. So far.” Winnie’s voice promised that she was on it. “They should pick you over Tim or Colette or that guy in London.”
“I feel like I don’t fit the image,” she said. Especially now, with her caramel blond highlighted hair frizzing from the heat and exercise. And her face probably matched her pink blouse. “Colette and Tim are always sopolished.”
“Yeah,you’vegot a personality,” Winniesaid.
“They might prefer polish over personality.”
“You’re the whole package. Remember that. When you’re on, you take over the room.” Winnie’s voice was reassuring.
She nodded. She recognized that. She wasn’t conventionally pretty; she had a strong nose—far from anall-Americanbutton nose. But if she was animated or laughing when walking down the street, men and sometimes women turned to give her a second glance. Her mom said she had presence, but she had to feel confident; otherwise, she’d fade into the background.
“Tim’s like the firm’s golden boy. If they’re only making two, he’ll definitely be one of them.” Audrey stopped outside her brownstone door, hoping Winnie would contradicther.
“Unfortunately,” Winniesaid.
Indeed. That was the thing about Winnie—she could trust her for the truth. But that meant there was just one spot for three contenders. And she wouldn’t bet on her being chosen over the other two. Her shoulders slumped.
Winnie continued, “Anyway, let’s grab lunchtomorrow.”
After saying yes, Audrey hung up. She should go back to the office after dinner. But she’d promised Eve they’d hang out tonight. And they barely saw each other because they both worked nights even though they lived across the hall from each other. Eve was only off tonight because the restaurant where she worked as a pastry chef was closed for a private function and the group was bringing their own birthdaycake.
If Eve went to bed early, she could sneak back to work after dinner and dessert. Maybe she should’ve thought of joining the CIA. At least then she’d have the disguise skills to escape the office.
Chapter Two
Audrey hurried up the stairs of her brownstone building to the second floor and pushed open the unlocked door to Eve’sstreet-facingapartment. She had to put Winnie’s news aside for now and enjoy her timewithEve.
She had met Eve at a party freshman year in college. She was dancing with a group from her dorm, watching these three women dance on top of the trestle table in the center of the banquet hall, admiring their confidence. All of a sudden, one of them reached down and helped her onto the table, saying, “You’ve got good moves. You need to strut your stuff up here with me.” That was Eve, cajoling her to come out from the library when they were in college and graduate school, and now from the office. And it wasn’t that Eve didn’t work hard. Shedid.
Eve called out hello from the kitchen. A cozy curry smell beckoned. Audrey’s stomach growled. She slipped off her shoes in the hallway and joined Eve in the kitchen.
“You made it,” Eve said. “I was sure you’d have to cancel.”
“I didn’t want to disappoint you again,” Audreysaid.
Eve’s curly black hair was pulled back from her forehead by a bright pink kerchief, which complemented her warm brown complexion. Eve was tall and thin, with toned arm muscles that Audrey envied—but not enough to do the required planks. Audrey smiled when she saw Eve was wearing a pink tank top that said “Bakers GonnaBake.”
Audrey handed her the sunflowers. “For you. Thanks for cooking me dinner.”
“My favorite. Thanks.” Eve reached up to take down a vase from a shelf. Eve’s kitchen had open shelving stacked high with pans of all types, cookbooks, and glass containers filled with all varieties of sugars and flours.
“I think I just met our new neighbor.” Audrey filled the large blue vase with water.
“And? I was hoping some hot guy would move in nextdoor.”
