“Really? Does that mean you think it could work?”
“It’s brilliant. This is your time to shine, baby.”
My palms felt sweaty.
“I’ll be there if you need me, but this is somebadasslawyering. You took the things you knew and found a way to figure out what you didn’t. Whether these guys are still too pigheaded to settle, who knows—but even if they don’t, Sterling actually has a solid claim now.”
I pressed my palms against my cheeks. The conference room felt too small for both of us. “Okay. Wow. So I’ll draft the fraud claims into the complaint for you to look over?”
“Sam, excellent work. Bravo.”
His phone dinged. “Shit, I need to dial into a call.”
I gathered my things and headed toward the door.
“I have an eight p.m. reservation at Campagnola tonight on the Upper East Side. Join me?”
Between the flattery and the dinner invite, I realized how much I wanted to be back in his good graces. “Sure, that would be great,” I quickly responded.
He winked. “See you tonight, then.”
Charlie was blasting Bob Dylan when I got back.
“How’d it go?” he asked, turning down the volume.
“We’re scheduling a settlement meeting,” I said, trying to play it cool.
“So was he blown away by your math abilities?”
“He was very complimentary.Appropriatelycomplimentary,” I quickly added. I didn’t mention dinner. “Can I be honest? I never thought I was great at thinking outside the box. I always felt smart in a bookish way. But I feel like I’m actually learning to be strategic.”
“You’re a real superstar, office buddy. Pretty soon these clients will be rolling in. Next stop, Hollywood.”
That reminded me.
“I actually need advice. Big time.”
He started laughing the second he picked up on where the story was going.
“No fucking way. You’re consulting forGeorge Brenner?”
“If I can get Eddie and the firm to say yes. That’s where I need advice.”
“Unbelievable. I’m serious, Sam. You’re kind of unstoppable.”
“This was all Andie. I never could’ve seen this coming when she made a book deal. Not in a million years.”
“It’s great PR for the firm.”
“Maybe that’s what I’ll tell them.” I needed to print copies of the talking points for the meeting later that afternoon with the US Attorney’s Office. “If you were me, would you email Eddie about it? Or ask him in person?”
“When are you supposed to see him?”
“At four p.m. We’re meeting the prosecutors. I’m supposed to share a car with him downtown.”
“Do it then. Captive audience.”
I wasn’t supposed to meet Eddie for three more hours. I couldn’t focus. Charlie threatened to throw every one of my pens into the industrial shredder if I didn’t stop nervously clicking.
