Michael nodded, affable as ever. “Seb’s moving to New York in a month. He’s joining Arthur Deayton Accountants, so I might finally be able to get you two on a date.” He’d been threatening to match me up with Seb for years. I’d met him once and he definitely wasn’t my type – short, fair and already balding. He’d also made it known that he expected any future wife to give up work completely and become a homemaker.
I had no issue with women who chose to do that – each to their own and whatever made them happy, but it wasn’t for me.
“She’s on a date tonight, aren’t you Marie?” Grant chose that moment to chime in.
“I am. Shall we get started with this mediation then?” I shot Grant a look of death. “I know all parties would like to have a conclusion before the end of the day.”
“Absolutely,” Grant sat up a little straighter. “Wouldn’t want work to get in the way of your love life.”
“Now, Grant. I know you’re both young, but you can still be professional. Let me have a coffee - Marie, would you get that for me? – and then we can begin.”
I waited until Grant had left the meeting room and then told Michael where he could get his own coffee from, which he took better than I’d anticipated, thankfully.
When I went back into our base, Polly was back with Colin, looking irritated and sulky.
“Have you made any further decisions?” I looked at Colin first, then glanced briefly at his wife.
It was Polly who responded of course. “We’ll take your advice. Even with your worst-case scenario projection, the profit is healthy and the time needed is minimal.”
I nodded, pleased. “It may be we settle for something that’s more beneficial – plan B and C would be very good outcomes.” I talked them through the stages I’d be going through, one of the junior lawyers joining me at this point, who was mainly there for his experience and to help me with any photocopying or find references if I needed them. I did as much as I could to get him up to speed and then braced myself for the beginning.
The end came some eight hours later, by which time we were on Plan C – still better than the worst-case scenario – and my hair would need some serious taming before my date, mainly due to how much I’d been pulling it throughout the day.
Grant Callaghan was an absolutepoxy langer,diving into each detail, requiring references, pretending he didn’t have akey document which I could evidence had been received by his secretary. He malingered over nuances that weren’t worth delving into, to the extent that even Michael started to get irritated with him.
It was a tell though.
“I don’t think the opposition are as secure as they’ve made out,” I announced to Polly and Colin when we headed into the evening.
“What makes you say that?” Polly looked like she was about to wrestle me to the ground for more information.
“They’re stalling on moot points. I’m going to push for plan C. Are you both happy with that?” I didn’t want to give them more details than that, sensing that if Polly spotted a weakness, she’d push to go to court and that wouldn’t be the best course, cost-wise. I did think that one of the deeds the opposite side had produced wouldn’t stand up to further scrutiny and could in fact backfire. I also had the sense that Grant had just figured this out too.
He was waiting for me outside Michael’s room, holding out a mug of tea which he presented to me.
“You don’t budge, do you?”
I shook my head. “Not when I know I’m about to peak.”
His eyes danced as if I’d said something dirty, a flicker of amusement. I’d had to put him in a metaphorical box all day so as not to be distracted by him. He was attractive, even more so than I’d first thought. He was also quick-witted and had a sense of humour that had surfaced as the morning had gone on. He’d also brought me almost continuous cups of tea, as if he was trying to prove a point.
If I’d been short on resolve, I’d have spent the afternoon simply staring at him.
But resolve wasn’t something I was short on.
“Have you peaked yet or are you saving that for your date?”
I didn’t even shake my head. “How are your clients?”
“Tetchy. They don’t want this to go to court.” He nodded towards the room where his clients remained.
“Their case is falling apart. The deed they’re basing all this on isn’t going to hold up.” I sipped the tea. It was good and strong and unsweetened, just how I liked it. “You know, you could get yourself a side job as a brewer-upper.”
“Don’t go there. I’m seriously considering living off my inheritance and staying at home to teach my kids myself. Jackson’s refused to go to school today because he’s scared with Max not being there, so Claire won’t go either. I phoned home when we were on lunch.” His pep faded away.
“I told you my thoughts. Move them with you to London. Plenty of schools, plenty of hired help. And you can be a parent which they need.” I wondered if my next cup of tea made by him would be spiked with laxatives.
He was quiet. “I’m not sure I know how to parent.”
