Page 61 of Greed

“I like being a lawyer,” I answer honestly. “I’ve always been fascinated with the law.”

Her blue eyes widen. “I find it kind of boring.”

Laughter bursts out of me before I realize it. My hand jumps to cover my mouth. “I’m sorry.”

“Why?” she chuckles. “A lawyer who is bored by the law is like a punch line to a bad joke.”

I smile. “Have you considered doing anything else?”

She skims a hand over her dark brown hair. “Retiring.”

That brings a grin to my face. “That sounds exciting.”

She nods. “It definitely won’t be boring. I had to go in for a consult on an odd-shaped mole on my back last week. It turned out to be nothing, but it did get me thinking.”

“I’m glad it turned out to be nothing.” I pat her hand. “Did it get you thinking about your next chapter?”

“Right.” She glances toward the barista counter. “I’ve worked for a big name law firm for over thirty-five years. I worked my ass off and tucked away a small fortune, so I could jump ship and close my notebook for good.”

She extenuates the point by slamming the cover of her notebook closed.

“It would be a whole new adventure,” I say.

She sighs. “I almost took the plunge before I was handed this case. Kalina came to the firm in a bit of a panic when Mr. Wells approached her. I had an opening in my schedule, so this deal landed in my lap.”

“I’m glad. It’s been nice getting to know you today.”

A smile slides over her lips. “I feel the same way. I didn’t think my farewell case would involve a condom company, but it’ll be a great conversation starter for the future.”

I laugh. “I’ll do what I can to help close this deal quickly.”

* * *

An hour later,I’m sitting in the same chair in Declan’s office that I was in earlier. The only difference is that the door is closed, and he’s the only other person in the room.

His gaze drops to the paper I just handed him with the details of Marg’s final offer of the day. “Abigail.”

My name comes out of him edged with exasperation. I watch as his index finger slides over the paper.

“I realize it’s above the monetary limit you have in mind,” I explain.

He finally looks up at me. “It is. I was clear, or at least I thought I was about my limit.”

“You were,” I say in a voice still brimming with confidence, even though I lack that inside.

Marg and I went back and forth on the terms until she got a call and had to leave the café. I promised I’d present her final offer to Declan, so on the subway ride here, I readied myself for this meeting.

He balls the paper in his fist and then tosses it toward the wastebasket beside his desk.

Naturally, it’s a slam dunk.

“You can do better than this.” His voice snaps through the silence. “You will do better than this.”

“Yes, sir,” I say without giving it any thought.

His gaze narrows. “I can’t tell if you’re calling mesirintentionally to make me hard.”

I want to laugh, but the pressure of the deal is weighing on me. “It slipped out.”

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