The space I found is downtown, right next to the coffeehouse. It will be a perfect location. Later today, I’ll be meeting with the realtor. All that’s left is to have the conversation with Logan and Dane. Psyching myself up as I hit the stairs to the office. I open the door, and there’s silence, or that’s what it sounds like. I'm a little nervous to talk with them, but deep down, this is the right decision.
My feet lead me straight to Logan’s office. He’s sitting behind his desk, working on his computer. I knock on the doorjamb. “Can I talk with you about something important?”
He glances up with furrowed brows. “Come on in, have a seat,” he says, watching me walk over to his desk and lower myself into the chair.
I take a deep breath. “First, thank you for taking me under your wing and showing me the ropes of being a defense attorney. You’re passionate about it, and I respect that.”
Still staring at me, he nods his head for me to continue. I say, “Watching you and Dane thrive in this work is inspiring. In fact, it inspired me to examine what I really want to do…”
“We love having you here. You’ve thrived as a defense attorney. You have the instincts and gut reactions that will keep you on top. But I see that you are struggling right now to come out and say what you want to say. Spit it out. We’re colleagues, and we’ve become good friends. What’s up?”
Shaking my head and staring down at my hands, I need to say it. “I’ve decided to open my own firm…real estate, maybe some estate planning too. Later today, my agent is showing me the office for lease next to the coffeehouse in downtown Saxville.”
With his mouth slightly open, he clears his throat. “You’ve been thinking about this for a while?”
I interrupt him, running my hands through my hair. “Not really. I wanted to do something else eventually, but it wasn’t until I had sometime to think that I realized it’s time to move on. My contract isn’t up until the end of the year. I’ll stay to fulfill my contract.”
“The hell you will.” Logan blurts out with a smile crossing his face. It’s contradictory to his tone.
“Umm…okay. How do you want to proceed?”
“I mean, I have to talk it over with Dane, but he’ll be on board. We can help you set things up, and once you are up and running, we’ll cancel your contract.” He moves off his chair to come around his desk and holds out his hand. I stand up, slap my hand into his, and we bro-hug.
“Thanks, man, that means a lot to me.” I pat him on the back as I shake my head. This was not how I imagined it going down. It didn’t even cross my mind not to finish out my contract.
“You think we’d kick your ass to the curb and never speak to you again.” He releases me and shakes his head.
“Nah, but I did in fact expect to have my balls busted,” I say, laughing.
“You were nervous enough. We’re friends. A real estate and estate planning firm, it’s brilliant. There are very few that are actually good, so you’ll be busy in no time. Feel free to start advertising for business now.”
Dane comes through the door. “What’s all this hugging about?”
Logan tells Dane the news as I stand there like a bystander. I can’t read his face. Until he chuckles and says, “That’s why we’re hugging.” He puts his hand out and says, “Your firm will be an instant success.”
I shake his hand. “Thank you, and I really appreciate everything you both have done for me and with this start-up, too.”
“Do you need any silent partners for you to open?”
“Nope, I have what I need; I've been stockpiling the bonuses from the last couple of years. Whatever I didn’t use for the house went straight into savings and investments.”
Dane slaps me on the back. “Good man, good man. Now, get back to work.”
“Alright, back to the grind.” I turn on my heels and walk to the conference room, where our most recent case is spread out across the long conference table, with boxes on the floor.
This is one thing I won’t miss: the chaos of files, digging through to find that one piece of evidence that may or may not be there, or strategizing how to win the case. I’m here to be the best defense attorney, so for now, I dive back into the evidence and files until I can be fully free from all of this and start a new adventure.
I told Logan and Dane that I’d grind, and that’s exactly what I did until 5:30 p.m. rolled around.
“I’m heading out to view the potential office space,” I say to Logan as I gather up my stuff and walk out the conference door.
“Keep us posted on the space. I’m sure it will be exactly what you’re looking for.”
“That’s what I’m hoping.”
Sunlight beats down on me the entire way. Tunes in the background are playing while my fingers drum on the steering wheel, impatiently. I glance around, realizing I’ve driven this far and wasn’t paying attention, my mind on what I want in my life—Ava and this new office space.Why does this drive feel like it’s never going to end?
I park my car at the curb right in front of the space. The coffeehouse is closed. Not much activity this time of the evening on Main Street, especially on a Monday. The office space is all lit up, and the agent is already here. I see him walking around the space on the phone.
