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As I sat back further in my chair, unconsciously trying to create more space between us, Nicholas sat on the edge of my desk. He tapped the folder again before flipping it open and pointing to the client testimony provided at the top of a stack of documents.
“I just got the go-ahead from the client. It’s a private matter. He’s suing a club for its violations of liquor distribution, employee environment, the works. Looks like the owners are real pieces of work.”
I shook my head. A civil dispute like this was going in the wrong direction if I wanted to make partner. Partners handled significant cases, usually involving the state or of felony status. In fact, if Nicholas was so concerned about this, calling it top priority, why wasn’t he handling it himself?
“Mr. Cohen, I assure you I can handle it, but,” I sucked in a breath, knowing I needed to appeal to his ego, “aren’t you better suited for this case if it is so important?”
He scoffed, not disagreeing with me.
“As much as I’d just like to handle it myself,” Nicholas said, closing the folder and folding his arms over his chest again, “I can’t. He’s a friend of mine. Conflict of interest.”
Oh, it all makes sense now. I’m dropping everything to help out his buddy. Just great.
“Oh, of course, sir.” I nodded, slipping back into my practiced gratitude face. “I’ll be sure to handle it with the utmost care.”
Brightening, Nicholas stood up from my desk, going to the door before turning back over his shoulder and pointing his finger at me.
“You do that, and if it goes well… If Labriola wins his suit…” I straightened in my chair, desperately wanting to hear a few choice words. “You’ll be looking at partner. Cohen, Marks, & Pearce.”
A beaming grin spread across my face, and I nodded swiftly. “I’m on it, Mr. Cohen. I assure you, I’ll nail this one.”
He lingered on the threshold for a moment, smirking like a cat who’d gotten his cream.
“Good. Good. Now, get out of here. Go celebrate your win with someone. Nothing like a little congratulatory intimacy.”
My smile faltered, but I didn’t let it show enough to give Nicholas any hint of my sudden nausea. My boss was talking about fucking when I got home. Skin crawling a little, I faked a laugh and let him leave. Not only was Nicholas talking about getting laid extremely weird and unprofessional—but unfortunately not rare—but I also had no one to go home to.
There’s not a lot of dating going on when you’re at work nearly every hour of the day, and I wasn’t about to sleep with anyone here.
Almost the entire staff was significantly older than me, with the odd intern here and there. Plus, they were also predominantly chauvinistic jerks. Male lawyers who’d been in the game for years and years were a particular type of man. I was seriously hoping to make partner so I could change things around here.
“That’s a huge nope, there, Nicholas,” I mumbled. “So much nope.”
Standing up from my desk, I shut off the computer and packed the new case file into my bag. My feet immediately protested having to walk in the shoes again, and I regretted another day I was forced to wear heels. They were practically Medieval torture devices, and presenting to a jury in them sucked big time.
Stupid dress code. It’s the first thing I’m challenging as partner.
Without the light of the monitor, my tiny excuse for an office was cast in the dim glow of the dull overhead lights and the lamp on my desk. I pulled the chain on the lamp, making it that much darker. Rounding my desk and slinging my briefcase over my shoulder, I let out a long breath.
“God, I’m…” I yawned again. “Tired doesn’t even cut it.”
And that’s what I would be doing at home, dealing with the tiredness and trying my best to get a good night’s sleep for once. I shuffled over to my door, flicking off the light switch and shutting things up behind me. Locking up, I momentarily rested my head on the frosted glass cutout on the large wood surface.
“Someday. Someday, your name will be on the door. A real office. Your pick of clients.” I turned away and started for the elevators. “And maybe even a date or two. Hell, who knows, I could even get married.”
I huffed a laugh at myself. From where I stood now, marriage and children didn’t seem like they’d be a part of my future. As I walked down the long hall past the cubicles and array of printers, all I could bring myself to do was just exist.
Bone tired, frustrated, and still somehow hopeful—it seemed that was my permanent state. But I was ready for a change. I wanted to make partner. I wanted to get out of the daily grind smashing me into dust.
My own clients. Partner. A step closer to your own firm.
It had been my dream for so long that I didn’t know how to want anything else. It didn’t help that my family had spent nearly every penny they’d ever earned trying to put me through college.
Sure, I could get grants and scholarships, but that didn’t cover room and board when living off campus. And I’d had to pay my dues with unpaid internships for a long time.
Reaching the elevators, I pressed the call button and waited a few moments for it to arrive. It was empty as I slipped inside. Aside from Nicholas, I was probably the only other person here, and I didn’t know what a partner was doing here so late anyway.
At the basement level, I entered the parking garage and headed for my little two-door. Another hand-me-down of sorts: I’d bought it from a family friend. It barely ran and ate up gas like a damn gluttonous pig.
