CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Cole
Two weeks later…
I sit on a private jet waiting for take-off on my way to New York, my MacBook fired up with the headlines: Cole Brooks wins again with his client exonerated of the murder of his wife. Hotshot Brooks cornered the victim’s business partner on the stand, caught him in a lie, and hammered him into a dramatic confession.
That’s the way to leave Houston with a bang, I think, flipping to a new screen and pulling up the digital contract that officially merges my firm with a New York firm run by a close friend, and the best damn attorney I know, next to me, of course. I shut the lid to my MacBook and my cell phone rings. I glance down and find my new partner, and oldest friend’s number on the caller ID. “Reese Summer,” I say. “Or is it partner now?”
“Partner it is,” he says. “You got the executive contracts, I assume?”
“I did and I’m on the plane now waiting for take-off.”
“Is your apartment ready? I know your remodel got dicey.”
“The movers left days ago and my assistant, or rather ex-assistant considering, she is on a plane to Paris right now, assures me that the key is waiting for me and I’m ready to move in tonight.”
“It’s Wednesday. We’ll see you Friday night at the office for the client meet-and-greet?”
“You’ll see me tomorrow. I have work to do. I need to get my staff in order by Monday. I’ll check in when I land.” We disconnect and the plane’s engines roar to life.
The restraints my father placed on our growth are gone, and a chapter of my life ends and a new one begins. New York is where I belong now. Funny thing is I wasn’t sure I believed that until it welcomed me in an extra special way.
I pull the note Lori left me from my pocket and read it again: Hello and everything that followed was perfect. I didn’t want to ruin perfect with a bad goodbye. My lips curve. The thing about coming off a win for me is it’s like a conquest that makes me really want another. And her name is Lori. At least, that’s what she told me.
***
Lori
After hours of trying to track down leads for her book, with her deadline approaching, and another new book on the horizon, Cat and I are on her living room floor, both in jeans and socked feet with a box of chocolate between us. It’s an empty box of chocolate since she’s worried about her book and I’m worried about why I haven’t heard any news on the outcome of my interview. “How’s your mom?” Cat asks.
“Dating,” I say. “I think. I don’t know. She said she met someone.” I roll to my side to face her. “Why haven’t I heard anything?”
She rolls to face me as well and doesn’t ask what I’m talking about. She knows. “You’ll hear soon.”
“Just knowing I’m not out of the running would be nice,” I say. “When I left I felt good. There were six of them in the interview.”
“You said you do well in groups. You’re a trial attorney. Of course you do.”
“I’m not a trial attorney yet,” I remind her.
“You connected with Judge Griffin, the lead decision maker,” she reminds me. “That is huge and—I think you might be getting some news soon.”
I sit up. “What do you know?”
She sits up too. “I can’t tell.”
“Cat!”
She laughs, and the front door opens. “That’s Reese.” She pushes to her feet and I join her.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
She glances over at me. “You’ll see.”
Reese appears in front of us, in his tailored suit, and glances down at the chocolate. “I take it you two don’t want to order pizza?”
“Pizza sounds good,” Cat says. “Or champagne. Show her.”
“Show me what?!” I demand.
He hands me an envelope. I quickly open it and blink at what I see. “This says I am awarded the full scholarship available by the program, with monthly installments.” I look between them. “This just means I make it to the next round, right? This is what I would get if I am actually awarded. Monthly installments instead of a lump sum, which is fine, of course. It’s an amazing opportunity.”
“You were awarded,” Reese says. “With the merger of my firm with the Texas firm, we joined the consortium. It was in the works even before I brought this up to you, but it’s why I brought it up to you. We’re in line for first pick for the next candidate, and I told them I want you.”
I don’t let myself get excited. “I—thank you, but—I have so many questions. It takes six months, right? So, you requested me, but I have to finish the process?”
“We fast-tracked you. The entire panel believed you are a talent that needs to see her rising star now, not later.”
Excitement starts to build. “I’m awarded? I’m accepted?”
“Yes,” Reese confirms. “You are indeed accepted and awarded.”
I look at Cat. “What about your books?”
“Lori,” she says. “These books and my column are my career. It’s time for you to have your career.”
Now I look at Reese. “This can’t be a favor. This has to be because—”
“Every firm they have on board wanted you,” he says. “The judge had them fighting for you. We’d just made a donation to the consortium as part of our membership, which gave us first pick. I could have passed. I didn’t.”
I start to tear up. “When do I start?”
“I was going to say next week,” Reese says. “But my new co-managing partner starts tomorrow. He’s going to put together his team and I want you to have a shot to be on that team. Human Resources will coordinate your school, income, and scholarship funding tomorrow morning. Welcome to the newly minted Summer & Brooks partnership.”