Page 3 of Lies You Told
Franchesca: Maybe you and he should finally bang it out.
Franchesca: I’m joking. Kind of.
Franchesca: Fine, ignore me. I’ll be in touch. Don’t work too hard.
2
JAX
The Subway car pulls into the station, and it’s a free for all for everyone involved. People all pushed against each other to get into the subway car. Of course, the people getting on at my station are all dressed in designer suits, ready to tackle the workday. I didn’t have this in L.A. On the plus side, though, I get to work in a fraction of the time. People move about the station like a well-choreographed dance routine as some get on–like me–and some get off. I do not miss spending hours in my car daily commuting to work.
I’ve been living here for a week now and still have to get used to the subway system. I needed a change after a bad break-up–she turned into a stalker–and my friend Bryan’s firm was looking for someone in their New York office. He’s still in Miami, but the law firm has offices in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York. I brought a couple of clients from my list with me. This is how I find myself with this big corner office in the heart of the Financial District. I’m still with the same firm, but some of my clients have businesses on both coasts and want to stick with me.
I’m getting named Partner at the end of the week–part of my agreement to come to work here. I wasn’t prepared to stay at the position I was in, not when I was close to making Partner, anyway. I could have set up on my own. That was the plan in law school, but Oakes & Parker–newly named Oakes, Parker & Partners–have name recognition, and that attracts better clients. Bryan is an old friend. Hell, he’s more than that. He’s my mentor, even if he’s only five years older than me.
Iwalk through the open glass doors of the building and head to the turnstile, pressing my ID against the reader before the gate opens for me.
I have two important meetings today, one I really want to blow off, as I’m doing it as a favor for one of the other partners.
Of course, the one I want to blow off is right in the middle of my day. According to the other guys in the office, she’s a real ice queen. She tried to arrange the meeting at her office, but we told her firm a million reasons–and a couple of white lies–why we couldn’t meet in her office.
After getting off the elevator, I walked through the bullpen, and the junior associates were trying to look like they weren’t all sitting around gossiping. The cubicles fill the space in the middle of the room, with offices occupying the outer walls and a medium-sized conference room on the far side. Two other Partners and I have corner offices on either side of the floor.
I walk to my office and see my assistant sitting behind my desk. Her blouse is missing way too many buttons that are appropriate for the office. Twelve months ago, this wouldn’t have bothered me, but I’ve learned my lesson–not to sleep with someone who works in the same department–hell, even the same company or building, if I'm being honest.
I leave the door open as she looks at me, biting her bottom lip. I lean against the still-open door and wait for her to explain why she’s behind my desk. But she doesn’t seem to be getting the hint.
“Why don’t you close the door, and I’ll run through your agenda for the day?” She says, licking her lips.
I pull myself away from the door and make a big deal of looking outside my office to read the name on the door. “Just checking this is still my office.” I can hear the anger in my voice, and it seems she does too. She seems a little surprised; I’m usually the friendly guy in the office.
She sits up a little straighter but still doesn't move. I’m starting to get even more annoyed now!
“Get out of my seat,” I say, way louder than I’d planned.
“But Mr. Hill…” She smiles again with the lip biting.
It’s getting really fucking annoying.
“Did you not hear me the first time?” I ask, and I can hear the anger in my voice rising a few notches. She must hear it as well. She jumps up from my chair and walks to the other side of the desk, quickly fastening the buttons as she moves.
I walk the rest of the way into my office and sit in the chair she just vacated. I need to set some boundaries. On my first day here, it was clear that everyone knew the gossip from Los Angeles.
The assistant assigned to me came with the office, but I already knewthiswould not work. “Tell me what’s in the diary!” I demand, busying myself at my desk.
“We had to move some things around…”
“The lawyer representing Huntington Media Corp is on her way up,” one of the associates pops his head through the door.
“I thought…”
“We had to reschedule. Your morning meeting was canceled, and since…”
“Fine! Meet them at reception. I’ll take the meeting in my office.” I say to my assistant.
The associate gives me a nod before moving away from my office and back to his cubical on the outside of the bullpen. His cubical is opposite my assistant's desk. He seems to be my associate, though.
I didn’t even want to take this case. It’s a loser of a case. Probably why they gave it to the new guy. I'm so distracted trying to look at my inbox that I don’t hear them enter my office.
