Page 50 of Teasing Her Grumpy Boss

‘Daniel, you’re supposed to be meeting Miles for lunch.’

‘Cancel it.’

The stunned expression on her face made him relent. ‘Apologise profusely. Tell him I’m not feeling well.’

His life was getting way too complicated. He headed to the outdoor pool. He always thought things through in the water, but today he couldn’t settle into his stroke. He abandoned the attempt and went for the walk he’d said he was going to. Somehow he ended up along by the club. He didn’t go in. Didn’t want Lucy thinking he was coming to gloat over his verdict. He could hardly go in high-fiving. He wanted to play that one carefully. A lot of what she’d said was right. There were no real winners today.

Immediately on his return to the office he was called in to his managing partner. The one he’d ditched at lunch.

Miles leapt to his feet as soon as he saw him. ‘It’s time we had that talk, Daniel. More than time.’

‘You know the university has made me an offer.’ It was a confirmation of knowledge, not a question.

‘I knew they wanted to. I can understand it. You’ve got a brilliant brain for research and your enthusiasm for the law is palpable. You can make the most complex law crystal-clear to the most uneducated Joe on the jury and as a lecturer you’ll have students captivated. But you’re also a sight in the courtroom, Daniel. That’s your home. We can give you the resources you need. We know other firms have tried to headhunt you. You’ve stuck with us and we want to reward that, by promoting you to full partner. You’re the youngest we’ve ever made the offer to.’ He smiled. ‘There are substantial benefits, of course.’

Daniel knew. Remuneration the university could never compete with. But then the university had other kinds of benefits—holidays, for one. Sabbaticals. Time to research and write. And he didn’t need the money. This was passion for him.

‘I know you like to do a lot—pro bono, lectures for law school and the Law Society. All good stuff and good for the firm, but you have to be sure you can fully commit to us.’

That word. Commit. He’d been skating around it for some time.

‘I’m sure you’ll think it through with your usual precision.’

Daniel nodded and exited. Satisfied but still hungry. You’d think he’d be happy with all his pigeons coming to roost. This was what he’d been working towards for the last eight years. Setting up his pick. Trouble was, now he had to choose and he didn’t know where to start.

* * *

He knocked on his father’s door having bypassed the usual necessary appointment. For once in his life he needed his father to be a father, not a mentor. Managing partner at Graydon Jefferies, he’d been disappointed that Daniel hadn’t followed him into the commercial law arena and made it Graydon & Son. But for Daniel sealing deals and clinching contracts around the world wasn’t really law. It was the cut and thrust of the courtroom battle he liked. The testing of evidence and the theoretical development of the law in which society operated that got him going. Not sorting out matters between large, already wealthy firms. He chuckled under his breath. Lucy was right; he was an idealist.

‘Hi, son. How is it?’

Daniel knew he was referring to his work and nothing else. ‘Good.’

‘You’re lecturing at the university again, I see.’

Daniel nodded.

‘Don’t hang out with all those academics too much though, will you? Get back to your ace-lawyer act in the courtroom. You’ll be a judge in no time.’

Did he want to be a judge?

‘What about your caseload—still okay?’

Still crazy.

‘Not still doing all that pro bono stuff, are you?’

Well.

‘Partners won’t be interested in that. You want to be a full partner, you bring in the money.’

Did he want to be a partner?

His father frowned. ‘Although the publicity that last case brought was good.’

Daniel looked at his father another moment and wondered if he should mention Lucy. He figured there wasn’t much point. His father went to bed with law tomes.

He stiffened. Up until a couple of weeks ago, so had he. Sure, he’d had his flings, but he’d still come back to his own bed, alone, with his books.

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