Prologue
“Don’t forgetyou have that meeting with Mr. Pierson in twenty minutes.”
I chuckled at my secretary’s formality. Well, she was actually my dad’s secretary, but when I started at the law firm four months ago, he appointed her to keep me organized. Apparently, he didn’t think I could mark things down in my calendar myself.
“Brenda, for the hundredth time, you don’t have to call Gabe ‘Mr. Pierson’ in front of me. It makes him sound like my superior.”
“Technically speaking, heisyour superior,” she said with an amused grin.
She had me there. Gabe’s name was on the building, after all.
Butso was mine.
Pierson & Callahan was started by our dads nearly two decades ago. While Gabe took his dad’s place as partner at the law firm when he retired two years ago, my dad was still very much in the game with no plans to pass on the reins anytime soon. I was okay with that, though. I was only twenty-five and not quite ready for that responsibility just yet. And I think my dad knew that. I think he was giving me time to finally enjoy life after college and law school, but the joke was on him. I’d always beenexcellentat making sure I was enjoying myself.
I liked going out and hanging out with my friends. I enjoyed the company of women. And I’d never had a problem balancing any of those things while getting done what I needed to. Now that I had more time to revel in those things without worrying about much else, I appreciated him letting me do just that.
“I’ll be sure not to be late for my meeting withMr. Pierson. Scouts honor,” I quipped.
Brenda shook her head with a smile before going back to her desk.
I turned and headed down the hall to my office, shutting the door behind me once I made it inside. It was smaller than I’d like, but it worked. One day, I’d be set up in what was currently my dad’s office, one with enough space for a seating area, an idyllic view of the beach, and the fancy“Partner” plaque outside the door. For now, I was making the most of the one I had, and it was about to get a makeover.
That’s what my meeting with Gabe was for. Not to meet a new client or lend my expertise on a case, but to discuss flooring options and paint colors.
Gabe got it in his head that the whole office needed a facelift. To be fair, it was pretty outdated; our dads didn’t put much into the aesthetic, and it still looked the same as it did the day theyfirst opened their doors, right down to the furniture. The wood flooring covering the space looked like shit, the white paint on the walls was faded, chipped, and cracked, and the buzzing fluorescent ceiling lights did nothing to help the overall appearance.
Honestly, I was surprised Gabe didn’t try for the office makeover sooner. I think he was letting my dad adjust to him being his equal now as partner—Robert Callahan wasn’t a fan of change, and too much at once probably would have given the man a damn aneurysm. After two years, Gabe couldn’t take it anymore, though. He finally went to my dad, made the pitch with a budget, and got the go-ahead, but my dad didn’t care enough to be bothered with the process.
So, what did Gabe do? Roped me in.You’ll be taking over someday, so you should be involved and have a say.It got me out of digging through files that my dad didn’t feel like looking through himself or getting him coffee, so why the fuck not?
I caught up on a few emails and made a note to make a few calls when I returned to my office before leaving to meet Gabe.
“Hey, Callahan.” I looked over my shoulder to see one of the associates, Derrick, walking down the hall, and I nodded in acknowledgment as he fell into step beside me. “What are you up to?”
“I’ve got a meeting with Gabe and the interior designer for the office redesign.”
“Sounds fun…not.” He snorted.
“It gets me out of doing bullshit for an hour or so, so I can’t complain too much. Plus…” I smirked. “It helps that the designer is easy on the eyes.” I’d seen the blonde woman he’d met with to sign the contract for the job, and she was a smoke show.
“Well, how about we grab lunch when you’re done?”
“You buying?”
“Sure.” He chuckled. “I’ll get you this time. You get me next.”
“Asking me on a second date already?” I jested.
“If that’s what you wanna call it, pretty boy.”
“Andyou’re calling me pretty?” I smirked. “Flattery will get you everywhere, my friend.”
“Hate to break it to ya, but you’re not my type.”
I scoffed. “I’m everyone’s type.”
Derrick chuckled as we rounded the corner leading to the front lobby where I was meeting Gabe. We both slowed to a stop at the sight we were met with.
