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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.

Audrey decided to take the upfront approach. “What happened with that? Why did he take Colette instead of me?”

“Oh, honey, he intended to invite you. I kept sending him emails reminding him to ask you and get it on your calendar. But then he said that Colette asked him straight out to take her, saying it would be a good opportunity for them to get to know each other, and he couldn’t argue with that.”

“Thanks, Mary. I feel better knowing that.” She did. She should’ve followed Tim’s advice to be aggressive and ask Hunter. But, had Tim told Colette that Hunter hadn’t invited her? She shook her head. I need to be more assertive, especially if I’m being put head-to-head with Colette.

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Malaburn’s office was devoid of any hint of personality, aside from the legal tomes that lined the bookshelves. As Malaburn skimmed her letter to opposing counsel and her brief to dismiss the case, she looked to see if he had any personal pictures or even keepsakes. None.

“You’re too nice in this letter,” Malaburn said.

Audrey stared at him, swallowing, her brain fixated on You’re too nice. She heard Kevin saying that again, as if he was in the room. And Malaburn had known Kevin, obviously, when Kevin had been up for partner. She shook her head. Malaburn couldn’t know that Kevin had said that to her.

She had missed whatever Malaburn had just said. But he was still talking. “You need to add a sentence here, right at the top of the second page: ‘If not, we’ll see you in court.’ That’s the kicker.”

She had to focus on rebutting his assertion. “Isn’t that obvious? I wrote, ‘Here are the reasons you should settle.’”

“You need to be aggressive and say it.” He laughed. But it wasn’t a joyful laugh. “Litigation is not about being nice.”

That’s what Kevin had said. Her mom’s “Be Nice” mantra whispered in her head. But she could be aggressive. She could.

Malaburn looked back down at the brief. “Interesting first point here. Potentially risky. I’ll think about it.”

“That argument will win the motion to dismiss,” Audrey said.

“You’re surer of yourself than when we last worked together.”

“I have three more years of experience.”

“But do you have what it takes to be a partner? I mean, we can’t very well have a partner who has to get pulled off a case because it’s too much work.” His voice was mocking, and he stared at her. His green eyes almost looked yellowish in the light, like a lion’s. “How’s that going to look to the client? Unprofessional. And that’s what it looked like to me.”

He stood and walked around his desk, stopping behind her chair.