Page 79 of Partner Pursuit
“No, honestly, they sound brilliant. I do project management charts all the time as I plan marketing campaigns. I’m a huge believer. But I got some resistance persuading the lawyers to adoptthem.”
“Butyoudid?”
“Eventually.” Jake smiled. He pulled her around and put both hands on her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. “And you’ll persuade Colette. It makes more sense to worktogether.”
“I hope so.” Audrey shook her head. She didn’t want to dwell on Colette when she was with Jake. “It didn’t sound like you had abadday.”
He looked down and smiled at her. “That’s the beautiful thing about chocolate chip cookie dough. It works for both bad and good days. But it was challenging trying to get everyone on the same page with this marketingcampaign.”
“Did you succeed intheend?”
“Yes, but legal was giving me a hard time.” He steered the cart nimbly around some others that were nearly blocking the narrow aisle.
“Don’t they always?”she asked.
“Some lawyers are feistier than others.” He held her hand. “They insisted on certain cuts made to the video. The artistic director said they were killing his creative vision. It was brutal. Legal was being too conservative.”
“What’d you do?”
“I showed a cat video—the one you showed me that you used once to raise morale in a meeting with associates who were depressed after working theweekend.”
“Youdidnot!”
“I had to. It was tense, and both sides wereyelling.”
“And?”
“It worked. Both sides laughed. Ultimately, I said we’d compromise: we’d cut some scenes and take the business risk on others.” He shrugged. “I also showed some music videos I’d found where the content seemed equally close to the line—with no repercussions. Legal seemed more comfortable then.” He added chicken to the cart. He wheeled the cart into the narrow breakfast food aisle. They squeezed past another shopper. “I had drinks with the lawyer just now—to show no hard feelings. What happened withColette?”
She explained the day’s events. She picked up some chicken soup for Eve, who had said she was getting a cold, while Jake added penne to the cart. They joined acheck-outline behind othercustomers.
After she relayed Colette’s parting remark, Jake said, “Ouch.” They checkedout.
Each took a bag, and holding hands, they walked out. Passing a newsstand, theHalloween-themedfront cover ofTime Outreminded Audrey that they needed to shop for Halloween costumes for Rory’s costume party. Jake suggested they shop for them tomorrow night.
They stopped at a red light and waited for the cars topass.
Jake said, “Colette might be able to do a lot of damage.” A taxi cut off another car, provoking honking and a screechingof brakes.
She shrugged. “I’m still sticking with my approach.” She wanted to make partner by being nice and working together and using humor. She didn’t want to have regrets about the way she made partner.
“I find humor more persuasive.”
“So do I, but I’m not sure Colettedoes.”
Jake’s phone buzzed. He looked at the message. “Change of plans. I got you on the list for the concert tonight at the Bowery Ballroom. I’ll make some quick omelets and then let’s go there. It’s one of my developing artists, but I think the group is going to be big. I saw them perform last night. The music is this funky popsicle pop dance—very upbeat. You’ll feel a lot better after a night of music anddancing.”
She looked at him, unsure what tosay.
His eyes held hers. “It’s better than sitting at home with today’s events going on repeat through yourhead.”
She nodded and astonished herself by agreeing. She suspected that she even surprised Jake. He smiled and kissedher.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The next morning, she felt energized and ready to take on Colette.
The night of dancing at the concert had been the perfect antidote to her stressful meeting with Colette. Dancing to the music, feeling the positive energy flowing around her, flirting with Jake, whispering into each other’s ears to be heard over the music, teasing little touches had made her forget all about Colette and work. And afterwards they had hung out in the basement of the Bowery Ballroom. Jake was so passionate about his work—she loved watching him rave about a song or a set. Even though he’d been working, he’d made sure to include her and introduce her around. She’d met so many people—and seen so many tattoos. It was another world from alawfirm.
