Page 190 of The Grump Next Door
Best decision I’ve ever made.
Completely crazy.
Absolutely perfect.
Just like us.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The Offer
Dean
“We need to talk.”
Four words that have never meant anything good in the history of practicing law.
Tom Feldstein doesn’t do office visits. He summons. You go. You genuflect. You leave with either a promotion or a pink slip.
I follow him to the conference room—the one with a view that costs more per square foot than most people’s salaries. He’s got that look—the one that made him legendary in hostile takeovers.
“Sit.”
I sit.
“You’ve been here eight years.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve made us a lot of money.”
“That’s the goal.”
He stares at me over his reading glasses, a look that probably makes grown attorneys cry. “The partners have been discussing your future.”
Here it comes. The thing I’ve been working toward since I graduated law school. The brass ring. The validation that all those hundred-hour work weeks meant something.
“We want to make you partner.”
The words land like a verdict I’m not sure I wanted.
“Oh.”
His eyebrow twitches. “‘Oh?’ That’s your response to partnership?”
“I mean—thank you. It’s an honor. I’m just—”
“Surprised?”
Conflicted. Panicked. Thinking about a woman who’s currently planning to move in with me.
“Processing,” I say instead.
“Take your time.” He leans back and studies me. “Though I should mention, we need an answer within the month. The announcement—”
“Actually.” The word escapes before I can stop it. “I need to take some time off.”
Both eyebrows now. “Time off.”
