Chapter Forty-Eight
Audrey rang the doorbell and then used her copy of Jake’s key to enter his apartment. Biscuit bounded over, licking and jumping on top of her. Nothing beat a dog greeting to cheer one up after a long hard day. Jake came out and kissed her. She clung to him for a moment. She could feel the soft fleece under her cheek and hear his heart beating.
“You look down. What happened?”he asked.
“I met with Malaburn today about heading up the associate mentoring committee with him. He’s such an asshole, but still he said—out of the blue—that I was too effervescent to make partner. And this after I just came up with this novel legal argument on our last case. I was hoping now he would support me forpartner.”
“You do realize that’s total bullshit. First of all, they should be happy to have someone who is happy and bubbly, if that’s what he meant—good for the clients and good for the firm culture. I thought that’s one of the reasons you were recommended for this committee.”
“I’ve no idea. Maybe he was warning me that I come across asair-headed.”
“That’s ridiculous. You never come across asair-headed.”
“Hmm,” she said. “Maybe I need to wear my hair in a bun.” Like Colette. Maybe that was the secret signal of seriousness.
“Don’t let them change you,” he said earnestly, holding her tightly. “It’s not worth it. You don’t need to change.”
She grinned. “Can I quote youonthat?”
“Seriously, don’t listen to him. You need to be true to yourself in your job. You need to be who you are and not live up to some image.”
“Funny, when you first told me you were in marketing, I thought you’d be concerned about appearances.”
“No. I like music marketing because I really believe in the bands and their albums. I want them to succeed.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Sometimes it’s about creating an image, but to work, it has to be truetothem.”
“Myex-boyfriendsaid that I’d never make partner because I wastoonice.”
“Your law school boyfriend?”
“No, my boyfriend three years ago. He didn’t make partner, and then he said I would never make partner because I was too nice.” Her voice wavered.
“That’s a damning indictment of law firm culture, not you. Being nice should be an asset. It should help you makepartner.”
Her brain froze.I am right to be nice. It should help. And if not, it is their mistake.Biscuit rolled over, exposing his belly. Audrey stretched out next to Biscuit, breathing in his doggy smell and rubbing his belly, feeling the soft fur underneathher hands.
Jake sat down on the couch, next to where she was lying on the floor. “My dad always says that you have to watch out for thesoul-suckersin corporatelife.”
“Who are those?” Shesat.
“The people who don’t have a life and don’t want you to have one, either.”
“But I thought you felt that your dad workstoomuch.”
“He does. But I guess still not as much as he could have, now that I think about it. I guess he did try to be there for us—when it was really important.” He slid down to sit next to Audrey on the floor and rubbed Biscuit’s belly. “You’re helping me see something I never thought about before.”
“It’s a trickybalance.”
“You have to establish boundaries. Especially nowadays when everybody is expected to be available 24/7. It’s the only way to succeed in life.” He stopped rubbing Biscuit. Biscuit shook himself and meandered over to his waterbowl.
“I thought having no boundaries was the way to make partner andsucceed.”
“In work, maybe—but not at life.” He moved back up on the living room couch, clearing away some clothes to make room for Audrey.
She joined him. “And how did you getsowise?”
He put his arm around her. “Easier said than done. We have some assholes in the music business too—though probably not as many now that there’s less money in it. But there’s still the glory. Seriously, don’t listen tohim.”
She leaned into him. “I won’t, but I needed to talk it over with someone. I still don’t understand why the partnership put Malaburn on this committee.”