The day after the reception I slept in, and when I finally woke up, Brady was already at practice. Even though he’d just won a tournament, there was another one in a week and he had no down time. It was an exhausting lifestyle but he seemed to excel at it.

I dressed quickly and decided to do something I hadn’t done in years. I explored the Indian Wells gardens, and let my thoughts focus solely on Brady and what he might think about my proposal.

It was obvious he was nervous. Worried and a little hesitant, all of which was to be expected. But he never revealed what he really thought about it, and I knew that overthinking something I couldn’t change was a recipe for stress, which I couldn’t afford at the moment. Either Brady would help me, or he wouldn’t. The end.

But as much as I wanted to forget it, I couldn’t. It was a huge ask, I knew that. Hell, it was an ask that might end our friendship if he was really committed to being commitment and responsibility free. But as much as I wanted a baby, I didn’t know if I could risk it. Maybe an anonymous donor wasn’t so bad?

Yeah right.

Even the crisp, clear day and the colorful flowers couldn’t distract me, so I turned and made my way back to the room. I could tell Brady was back the moment I entered because his cologne lingered in the air. I found him in the main room with his head back, eyes closed and feet on the table as he relaxed in nothing but a towel that hung low on his hips.

Damn but he was a beautiful man, inside and out sure, but right now, those abs…

“Jeez I seriously need to get laid if I’m gawking at you with my tongue wagging out.”

His mouth curved into a slow grin and one green eye popped open, then the other. “Hey babe, I don’t work hard to not look this good.”

“Of course not. You work hard to make what, half a million for a week of work?”

He frowned. “One point one.”

My eyes bugged out of my head. “I guess you chose the right time to become a tennis great.”

“Don’t forget the glory and the fame,” he said around a goofy grin.

“Right. How was practice?”

His expression instantly changed and I had my answer, but still, I waited. “Shit. I lost serve three times in that second set on fucking double faults and you know what McEnnis said? He said fuck all, jack shit about it, Syl!” He shook his head, completely disgusted. “I did it on purpose hoping he could see it so we could work on it before heading to Montreal tomorrow. But he’s fucking useless.”

I knew he wouldn’t want to hear my next words, but I said them anyway. “Are you hurting somewhere and hiding it?”

“No,” he answered a little too quickly, and I quirked my eyebrow.

“Then maybe you should call Gladden sooner rather than later.” He wanted to, I knew he did. The man was an amazing tennis player, but he was a better coach, and until now he’d only worked with new talent. Kids on the cusp of greatness. “He offered. The least you can do is hear what he has to say about your game.”

He groaned, stretching his long body until the towel dipped so low I spotted a sprinkling of dark hair that intrigued me. I really needed to get laid. Things were bad if Brady was getting to me.

“You’re right.”

“I usually am. Now get dressed, get pretty and let’s go do some tourist crap before you go.”

“We always do tourist crap and we’ve both been here too many times.”

“Fine. Stop whining and tell me what you want to do.”

He grinned that salacious grin he did so well and I rolled my eyes. “Get your mind out of the gutter, I want to eat.”

“Sushi?”

“Who in the hell is that going to satisfy? I want some barbecue, ribs with cole slaw and corn on the cob.”

“Oh sure, there’s a place where I hear they give out blood pressure medication with every half slab of ribs.”

He stood and the towel nearly fell, but he caught it and winked at me. “I’m completely okay with that.”

“Then let’s go.” I smiled as he disappeared into his room. Things were still normal, still right with us.

No need to worry.

* * *

“You want me to do what?” I leaned forward in my seat around the conference room filled with junior and senior partners, palms flat on the table and I’m sure, outrage splashed all over my face. I’d heard exactly what they, no what he said. And it was pure bullshit.

“You heard me, clearly.” Paul sneered at me like a fucking child.

I looked around the table at the other senior partners, waiting for someone to smile and say it was a prank. Or to brush off Paul and say this was all a mistake. But they didn’t. “So after winning this case, thousands of billable hours with only one associate to help, you want me to give Antoni to Paul?”

“One associate?” Harvey Milsen, one of the named partners cut a curious glance at Paul. “The Antoni case required at least two associates.”

“Yet I got it done with one. I won that case. While Paul suggested a deal right out the gate.”

He scoffed the same way he did when Marcos told him “fuck no” on a plea deal. “Everyone knows what Antoni is.”

I laughed. “Maybe. But what matters is that they have to be able to prove it. And last I checked it was our job to make sure they can’t prove a damn thing.”

I’d felt so good this morning. A few days with Brady was just what I needed to give me a little more gas to get through the week. I made it to Thursday on that alone. And then this shit at the weekly staff meeting.

“Sometimes a deal is what’s best, and you’ll learn that. When you’ve had more experience.”

It was my turn to scoff. “I agree, but this time was not one of those times.” I held my hands up, taking a quick second to admire my pink French tips, to stop anymore words. “What is this, you want me to talk to Marcos and get him to agree? Because he does not like Paul.” Paul and the other senior partners bickered and I tuned them out, looking out the window and wishing I was anywhere but here.

If Brady agreed to help me start a family then I would look for work at a smaller firm. Or maybe start my own little firm somewhere else. Even if he didn’t agree, it was time I started making plans. Past time, actually.

“Are you still with us, Sylvie?”

“Sorry, no. What did I miss?” A few people snickered but I wasn’t trying to be a smartass, I had just lost interest.

“I want Marcos Antoni on my roster. Make it happen.”

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. “If you want him, take him. But there’s nothing in my contract to say I have to help you poach a client.” And I wouldn’t do that, but I wouldn’t stop it either.

“That is not acceptable!”

I nodded. “You’re right. I’ll make the call now.” Reaching across the table, I dialed my assistant. “Sebastian please get me Mr. Antoni.”

“Right away Ms. Porter.”

The phone rang, echoing in the cavernous conference room. Three times. Four times. “Ms. Porter, I hope you’re calling to tell me you’ve given more thought to what we talked about.”

All eyes went to me and I knew they were thinking sex. Because a woman who looks like I do must have fucked her client.

“I have already explored a few options for expansion but that, unfortunately is not the reason for my call. You’re being moved to one of the senior partners.”

“Fuck that shit! If you try to pawn me off on that little dick fucker Nelson, I walk. With my retainer.” He heaved a breath. “What the fuck is going on Sylvie?”

“Mr. Antoni, I can assure that I am perfectly-,”

“No! Hell no. Sylvie I’m not dealing with this shit. Call me back when you can talk, for real.” The line went dead, and I didn’t smirk. I didn’t grin. I just sat there calmly and waited. I know they wanted me to say something, to jump in and promise to smooth things over with Antoni. But I wouldn’t. Not because I’m not a team player, but because this was bullshit. I’m not some associate getting a big fish stolen. I am a fucking partner.

“How do you plan to fix this?”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll let you know after I make sure Antoni doesn’t take his business elsewhere.” I left the conference room and made straight for my office, closing the door behind me so that I wouldn’t be disturbed. I had a lot to think about, and it seemed that the state of my career had been bumped up to the top of the list.

“Shit.”

Making an enemy out of a senior partner wasn’t the brightest move, even if I had to protect my client from a mediocre attorney. But now that I had, I knew Nelson would make life difficult moving forward.

I pulled out my phone and sent an inquiring email to a few headhunters, just to see what my options were. Then I worked to calm down a very pissed off, possible gangster. Antoni was mostly bark when it came to the small stuff like switching attorneys, because he knew he had all the power. “Just consider it.”

“I did when the firm first offered him up. But then that jackass brought up a plea deal. I don’t employ wimps. I need soldiers, and I already got one in you.”

“Right. Thanks. I’ll call your assistant about meeting on the business matters.”

“Good. Later.”

The call disconnected and I felt…drained. I didn’t want to deal with it anymore but this was my job, and until I decided what happened next, I would do it the best way I knew how. I’d missed a call from Brady while dealing with Antoni but I’d call him once I was home.

By the time five o’clock rolled around, I had put a good dent in some of the research I needed for another upcoming trial. But I still felt betrayed from the meeting earlier and I had every intention of drowning my sorrows in some Ben & Jerry’s Karamel Sutra. And maybe a good curry. That was my plan, not poring over briefs, not getting ready for a date. At home, relaxing. Dreaming up the life I would have with my baby.

Just the two of us.

* * *