There is a third option.
I make the call. Give Bill exactly what he wants. Ivy keeps her job, gets her partnership.
And hates me for it.
But that's the thing about option three—she hates me instead of hating herself. She's furious at me for breaking my promise instead of being broken by watching five years of work disappear. Instead of questioning her worth, her choices, her judgment.
I lose her.
But she keeps herself.
And if that's the trade, there's no question which one I’ll make.
My hand closes around my phone before I can talk myself out of it.
She said no. She was clear. She made me promise not to call Bill.
But watching her lose everything while I do nothing is not something I can survive.
Bill Fischer's home number takes one call to a contact in New York. Thirty seconds, maybe less.
I dial before I can change my mind.
He picks up on the third ring, voice loose, unsuspecting. "Fischer."
"Bill." I let his name sit there. "It's Thorne Blackstone."
A beat. When he speaks again, the ease is gone. "Mr. Blackstone. This is... unexpected."
"I imagine it is." I pour two fingers but don't drink it. "Ivy doesn't know I'm calling." I pace to the windows. "And she didn't ask me to. In fact, she specifically asked me not to get involved."
"I see." He sounds amused. "But here you are anyway."
"I understand you gave Ivy an ultimatum today. Get Blackstone to hire Huntsman & Fellows as full-time environmental counsel, or she's fired."
"I presented her with an opportunity—"
"You're using her as leverage to land a client." I cut him off. "Let's not pretend this is anything else."
A pause. "Mr. Blackstone, this is simply business. Ivy has a unique relationship that could benefit the firm. I'm giving her a chance to capitalize on that."
"By threatening her job."
“I’ve done no such thing, Mr. Blackstone. I’ve done the opposite and offered her partnership."
“If she delivers Blackstone Distillery.”
"Surely you understand that bringing in clients is how partnerships work."
“And you’ll fire her if she doesn’t.”
“No, of course not. That would be illegal.” The smarmy fucker is covering his ass. “However, being in a relationship with a client while working for the client’s business could become problematic… It’s not a good look for the firm.”
“Dancing is not a relationship.”
“Go online. Take a look at the images. No one will believe you two aren’t doing more than dancing.”
"We both know you wouldn't fire a male attorney for the same thing."
