Page 3 of Silver Fake

As I'm settling in, the door opens again and in walks Melissa Jones with her trademark radiant smile.

Melissa is a senior partner and co-chair of the litigation group with John. She and I started on the same day at the firm twenty years ago - I was her secretary when she was a new associate. I've worked for a few other lawyers since then. But Melissa and I have stayed close. I couldn’t be prouder of how hard she has worked to get to where she is today.

She spots me, her smile widening, and strides over to the empty seat next to me. As she sits down, she cringes and points to my bandaged hand. “Ouch. What happened?”

“Box cutter versus hand. I guess you can see which one lost.”

She makes a cringing face. “Ouch. Did that happen setting up for the surprise party?”

“Yes, but it’s not that bad. The bandage makes it seem worse than it is. There wasn’t any time to stop for proper first aid, so this has to do for now.”

Melissa frowns. “Do I need to make an excuse to steal you away this afternoon so we can finish setting up?"

I shake my head and smile at her. “Nope. Everything is done. I just need you to make sure John gets to the party on time.”

I don't know why I'm telling her this. Melissa is one of the smartest people I know. If anyone could come up with a way to get John to a surprise party without him knowing about it, it’s her.

Melissa grins. “Don't worry. John thinks he’s meeting with a potential client at the hotel tonight. You know he’d never miss a chance to make more money.”

"You're right about that," I reply. "John will be there with bells on if he thinks there's a business deal waiting for him."

A slight frown tugs at the corners of Melissa's mouth.

"It's a shame though. You've put in all this effort for John's party, and you won't even be there to enjoy it." She pauses for a moment, then continues, her expression shifting to a more playful one. "Are you excited for your vacation? You must be thrilled to escape this chaos for a while."

I nod. "It's been way too long since I saw Denise. And I can already hear the beach calling my name."

Melissa leans in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So, aside from hanging out with Denise and lounging on the beach, any fun you're looking forward to?" She winks at me, her smile as infectious as ever.

"Actually, I do," I reply quietly. There is a pause before I finally confess, "I'm thinking about going to see a matchmaker while I'm there."

Melissa's eyes widen, and a sudden burst of laughter escapes her.

"A matchmaker? Really?" Her surprise gives way to a wide, excited grin. "Well, this is unexpected. But I'm thrilled for you. It's about time you let someone else into that big heart of yours."

“Yeah. I’m still happy on my own. But I think I might be open to dating again.”

Melissa's grin turns into a thoughtful look. “Have you mentioned the matchmaker to John?”

I wrinkle my nose. "John and I never talk about personal stuff."

"Right," she says, an amused twinkle in her eyes. "Of course not."

I give her a puzzled look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Melissa waves her hand dismissively. "Never mind." She looks down to check her phone. “Speaking of your boss, I’m surprised he’s not here yet.”

I huff. “I’d be scolded for showing up on time to the meeting instead of early. But I guess those same rules don't apply to him.”

Melissa chuckles softly, a knowing smile on her face.

"Don't be so hard on John," she replies. "You know he always runs on his own time. Besides, without you to keep him in line, he'd probably forget his own head if it wasn't attached. It's why he values you so much. You're his anchor in this crazy world."

As our laughter fills the air, I let Melissa's words marinate in my thoughts.

It's true that I've been an anchor of sorts for John, and in return, navigating the tumultuous seas of litigation alongside him has helped me grow professionally. But her words also hint at something more - a deeper bond between John and me that I hadn't fully acknowledged.

Just as I'm about to ponder this further, Melissa's gaze shifts towards the door, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

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