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Chapters (68)
  1. Partner Pursuit
  2. Copyright
  3. Dedication
  4. Contents
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Re: Whitaker retirement party
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. Chapter Eleven
  16. Chapter Twelve
  17. Chapter Thirteen
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Chapter Fifteen
  20. Chapter Sixteen
  21. Chapter Seventeen
  22. Chapter Eighteen
  23. Chapter Nineteen
  24. Chapter Twenty
  25. Friday, New York City
  26. Chapter Twenty-Two
  27. Chapter Twenty-Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-Four
  29. Chapter Twenty-Five
  30. Chapter Twenty-Six
  31. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  32. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  33. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  34. Chapter Thirty
  35. Chapter Thirty-One
  36. Chapter Thirty-Two
  37. Chapter Thirty-Three
  38. Chapter Thirty-Four
  39. Chapter Thirty-Five
  40. Chapter Thirty-Six
  41. Subject: Deposition of Plaintiff in James case
  42. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  43. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  44. Subject: Mentors Found
  45. Chapter Forty-One
  46. Chapter Forty-Two
  47. Chapter Forty-Three
  48. Chapter Forty-Four
  49. Jake: While you’re stuck at work, think about this: I thought you might want to do a yoga session while I’m surfing in Santa Teresa. Should I book?
  50. Chapter Forty-Six
  51. Chapter Forty-Seven
  52. Chapter Forty-Eight
  53. Chapter Forty-Nine
  54. Chapter Fifty
  55. Chapter Fifty-One
  56. Chapter Fifty-Two
  57. Chapter Fifty-Three
  58. Chapter Fifty-Four
  59. Chapter Fifty-Five
  60. Chapter Fifty-Six
  61. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  62. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  63. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  64. Chapter Sixty
  65. Chapter Sixty-One
  66. About the Author
  67. Acknowledgements
  68. On any top-ten list of best Sunday plans, today’s brunch with my former crush and his new girlfriend would rank number eleven … hundred. Times five. But I couldn’t say no. We’re still friends.

She couldn’t decide if she should send it. Maybe it looked like she wasn’t taking her sudden departure seriously enough—for a son disappointed by a workaholic father. But a sense of humor about it was good. And if any relationship was to emerge of this, they would need to be able to laugh about it. And what could she promise? She was a workaholic, but she definitely would try to do better.

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Audrey smoothed down her skirt, took a sip of water, and then rolled her neck to ease the tension building there. As she picked up her notes, she chided herself for being nervous. It was just a meeting with Hunter—and Colette. She and Hunter had worked together comfortably for many years, starting from her first year at the firm. Usually, she considered this Monday morning meeting a pleasant start to her week—Hunter and she discussed the status of the case, what work she was giving to which associates, what they expected to get done during the week, any issues—and caught up on each other’s lives and any firm gossip.

She smiled perfunctorily at some assistants she passed. She had to think positively. It was helpful to have Colette on the team. She shifted her binders and notepad to her other arm. Her goal for this meeting was to explain the case and her proposed strategy to Colette. And show Colette that she was firmly in control and not to be messed with.

Hunter’s assistant was not at her desk, so she walked to the doorway. Colette was already there—in a cream-colored silk suit that radiated sophistication. Audrey had dressed up for the meeting, but she wasn’t feeling the power of her pearls and black suit. Both heads turned as she knocked gently on the open door, and Hunter waved her in. She took her usual seat. They exchanged preliminaries about the weekend, with Colette saying she’d worked, volunteering nothing personal. Today, Colette was wearing glasses, as if she was channeling Lois Lane.

Hunter told a funny story about his kids playing on the beach. Normally, Audrey would have joked about her last bad date, giving a brief funny synopsis, but she didn’t feel comfortable after her last meeting with Hunter, so she just said, “Oh you know, hung out with friends and worked.” Hunter looked quizzical.

“Well, Audrey, do you want to bring Colette up to speed on the case? I’ve sent her the complaints and some preliminary documents,” Hunter said. His assistant entered and set down some glasses of water.

“Of course. Colette, first of all, I’m glad you’ve joined our team, and I look forward to working with you,” she said. There, she was starting this on a positive note. She handed Colette the binder she’d put together for her.

Colette gave her a tight, polite smile in response.