He’s remembering dentist forms.
He’s driving the kids around.
He’s got that crazy whiteboard of his. It’s cute. He’s cute.
And I feel light and, dare I say,balanced.
At work, I find myself hyper-efficient, perhaps even overperforming, channeling years of being in fifth gear into new briefs, conducting extra research, and volunteering for tasks before anyone asks.
So, when Daniel unexpectedly calls me into his office on Monday morning, my stomach drops. Old insecurities rise.
What did I miss?
Where did I slip?
“Close the door, Jayne.” He’s smiling, so that makes me feel a little better.
When I take a seat across from his desk, he slides a folder toward me.
“Before you open that, I have a few things to say.”
I look warily at the folder, then at him.
“I think you’re amazing. I think you’re the reason this firm is doing so well. I know it’s the lawyers, too, don’t get me wrong, but you…you’re something else.”
My ears warm, and I let the compliment settle, even as I silently scold myself for always expecting the worst. “Thanks, Daniel.”
“So, as you know, Gary Harcourt is retiring.”
Harcourt & Associates is a prestigious law firm in Baltimore. They have been a competitor of sorts, but really, there’s enough business for both of us.
“I’ve heard about it.”
“Well, they’re going to merge with us.”
My eyes widen. “What? That’s amazing, Daniel.” I know this is what he wants, to expand the business, to make it more. “We’ll be able to take on M&A now.” We don’t have that expertise. “And tax law.”
He grins. “Yeah, we will. The merger…or rather the acquisition means that we will grow from being fifty people to more than double that. We need?—”
“Upgraded IT systems,” I finish for him, my mind is sprinting ahead. “We’ll need to migrate case files, digitize anything Harcourt wasn’t already managing electronically. Their intake software, based on what one of their paralegals told me, is outdated, and we can’t squeeze two firms into that dinosaur.”
Daniel nods, pleased. “Exactly.”
“And HR,” I continue, my pulse picking up with the familiar thrill of solving a massive puzzle. “We need revised policies, new onboarding processes, and an integrated benefits package. Their staff will need training on our workflow. And—oh—conflict checks. We’ll need a whole team just to reconcile those before we can merge client databases.”
“Keep going.” He leans back, hands clasped behind his head, grinning.
“And office space.” I shift into full tactical mode. “We’ll need to scout locations big enough for a hundred-plus staff. Probably two floors. Conference rooms. Soundproofing if Harcourt’s litigation teamjoins us, because they’re loud as hell. And we’ll need?—”
“Leadership,” Daniel interrupts gently. “Which is why I’m talking to you.”
“Oh.”
He chuckles. “Just ‘oh’? The Jayne I know would already have a spreadsheet, a timeline, and three contingency plans.”
I straighten, heat flushing my cheeks. “I can put one together by the end of the day.”
“Look, Jayne, I love the law, I hate administration. With us growing, I’m adding a new role at the firm.”
