Page 127 of Just for Tonight

“I see. We are concerned, Jake, about any potential conflict for your time, given the additional responsibilities of this partnership.”

“I have managed to help my brother out on the weekends, on my own time.”

He winces. I know what he’s going to say.

And in that heartbeat before he says the words out loud, I know exactly how I’m going to reply. It’s like watching dominos fall in my mind’s eye, for my next words will launch a tsunami in my life, a tide of change.

To my surprise, I find myself looking forward to it, to the challenge, to the change, to the reshaping of every single thing in pursuit of a goal I didn’t realize I had.

“We would like you to surrender that consultation when you accept this partnership,” he says smoothly. “It will be much easier for everyone if you have no other obligations.”

“Not for my brother, though,” I say and watch surprise light their eyes.

“But still, Jake.”

“I’m not sure you can stipulate this, Mr. Peterson,” I say amiably, because we all know that legally they can’t.

“I’m asking you, Jake, as a sign of your commitment to the firm.”

“I’m afraid it’s not possible for me to agree, Mr. Peterson. I promised Mike. That’s a promise I can’t and won’t compromise.” I smile. “He’s my brother.”

This is not what they expected to happen. They don’t have a script. Mr. Peterson flips through his paperwork – ha, it’s probably the employment contract – but I rise to my feet smoothly.

In contrast to these three, I know exactly what’s going to happen now.

“I assume this means that it would be preferable for me to surrender my current position as well,” I say and the shock is unmistakable. “I will clean out my desk now and leave the premises. I have several weeks of vacation outstanding, but I’m sure HR can simply pay them out.”

“Of course, but are you certain that you need to be so drastic, Jake?”

“I think it would be the best for everyone, sir, but thank you for your concern.”

As I leave, I try to keep from grinning like an idiot. I feel free. I feel – wait for it – happy.

And I’ve only just begun to shake up my own world.

I’m not an idiot. I text my three best clients and tell them I’m going out on my own, then give them my cell phone number. I’m so glad I never signed a non-compete, which is funny in a way, as I never ever intended to leave this firm.

If you’re going to make a change, you might as well go for it.

I get my usual Tuesday call from my favourite head-hunter when I get back downstairs, but this time, it goes a little differently than is customary. Having put things in motion, I tap on Tyler’s door.

She’s suited up, as if she knows things are in the wind. She was probably hoping for a summons upstairs. She leans back in her chair to survey me, standing in her doorway, and her eyes narrow. “Drop by to gloat?” she asks lightly but I shake my head.

She’s heard that I was summoned, and in moments, she’ll hear what happened. Time is of the essence.

“Got a minute?”

She nods and I step into her office, which is smaller than mine with a crummier view. She’s facing the city instead of the lake, which is a depressing fate.

I lean toward her and lower my voice. “I turned it down.”

“What?”

I tell her what they offered, because I have to be quick about this.

“That’s twice what I make,” she says under her breath with fury. It’s just as I suspected.

“Only thirty per cent more than my salary,” I confess and Tyler is horrified.