Page 95 of Partner Pursuit
“Oh yes, I thought that energy was not going to do well. And I was right.”
“So, you made your own decisions?”
“Yes, sometimes.”
“And you decided to invest in Popflicks, right?”she asked.
Hehesitated.
She said sternly, “Remember, you’re underoath.”
“Yes,” hesaid.
“No further questions.”
“Great job.” He pulled her onto his lap and she leaned againsthim.
“That was a good twist with your saying his notes were just his investor’s recommendations. I wasn’t expecting that,”shesaid.
“Keeping you on your feet. Could hesaythat?”
“I don’t think so. It’s pretty clear that his notes are his own research. I don’t get the impression he used his investment advisor much. But I should have been more ruthless. I had you in several lies. I need to milk that and stretch it out so the jury doesn’t miss that you are lying. I should ask Mohan to practice with me. Thanks.” She kissed him. “Are you sure you’re nota lawyer?”
“Positive. Just seem to like to hang out with them.” He nuzzled her neck. It tickled and she shivered. “Mmm, I missed you. I enjoyed skiing with the guys, but I hope next time youcancome.”
She lifted her face up to his and looked into his eyes. Jake ran his hand through her hair. She could feel herself relax. She caressed his cheek, feeling the little bristles of his five o’clock shadow.
“I can’t wait until we can go away after your trial.”
“I can’t wait either. And Costa Rica will be warmer.”
“All right. Leave it to me. I’m planning lots of fun activities.” He kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him and focused on giving all her concentration to this moment,withJake.
Chapter Fifty
Winnie and Audrey met Colette outside the restaurant. Colette was wearing dark sunglasses, making it hard to read her. She stood off to the side, greeting them with a terse “Hello.”
Audrey worried that this pitch meeting was not going to go well, even though it had been surprisingly easy to persuade Colette to join them for lunch with the two executives from Global Capital, awell-knownhedge fund. She and Winnie had pitched it as a client development opportunity as well as a mentoring lunch. If anything, Colette seemed shocked to be included. As she should be, noted Audrey to Winnie; it was generous of them to inviteher.
Still, the three women had worked well together preparing for the lunch. They’d even had fun. Colette had made them watch a TED talk on body language, and they’d practiced doing the pitch in various power poses. Audrey had been surprised at how much the “leaning back, arms out, feet on the table” reminded her of Tim (even though he didn’t actually put his feet onherdesk).
As Colette took off her sunglasses, Winnie put her arms out wide and struck a cowboy stance, saying, “Power poses everybody.” Audrey and Colette made their own stands, taking up as much space as possible on the sidewalk, and all three laughed.
The restaurant was crowded; it was restaurant week, when the prix fixe menu was discounted. Her father had loved restaurant week. He’d carefully decide which two restaurants he and her mom would visit. She should reignite that tradition when her mom returned. Her mom might be more receptive than she’d been to her trying to revive game night.
The maître d’ led them to the table occupied by the Global Capital executives. After the preliminary introductions, Audrey launched into the reason for their invitation.
“As I wrote in my email, both Colette and I are up for partner, and we heard through Winnie’s boyfriend that you strongly advise women to work together. We don’t want to be pitted against each other.”
“We’re impressed that your boyfriend attended our panel. Few men braved that room,” one of the women joked.
“He’s learning,” Winnie said. “Your presentation really made an impression onhim.”
The two women shared their stories about how they’d worked together to be promoted and how having an ally had made the whole process muchmorefun.
“But didn’t you worry that only one of you might make it, and that it would ruin the friendship?” Colette asked, her head tilted as if carefully considering their remarks. Audrey glanced at Winnie—they should’ve organized this lunchagesago.
“We did, but we still figured it wasworth it.”
