We took another break. I went to the bathroom, splashed water on my face, and tried to remember when I’d become someone who enjoyed negotiation. When I came back, the Pattersons were talking—actually talking to each other. They weren’t yelling or glaring. They were sitting at the conference table talking quietly, Mrs. Patterson occasionally sipping from the bottle of water bearing the firm’s logo.
By noon, we had an agreement.
Mr. Patterson kept the Austin property. Mrs. Patterson got $200,000 from his retirement account plus an additional $50,000 from the joint savings. They agreed to split the rest of the marital assets fifty-fifty.
And then—this had never happened in the year I’d been doing this—Mrs. Patterson stood up and hugged Mr. Patterson.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “For being reasonable.”
“You, too,” he replied.
He held the door for her as they left together. I knew they weren’t friends again, but they weren’tenemies anymore, either. I took that as a win.
Catherine waited until they were gone before turning to me. “That was excellent work, Chase.”
“Really excellent,” Bob agreed.
“Thank you.”
“Keep this up and we’ll be talking about making you a junior partner sooner than we planned.”
I blinked. “I—thank you. That’s—”
“Don’t let it go to your head. There’s a long road between here and there.” Catherine smiled. “But good work today. Really.”
They left for their own offices, and I headed back to my converted sunroom, still stunned.
Junior partner. I hadn’t misheard them. They’d actually said “junior partner” aloud.
I sank into my chair, pulled out my phone, and found a text string from Finn waiting.
Finn: So I kissed you in front of like 180 people last night.
Finn: That was probably not the smartest business decision.
Finn: But I’m not sorry.
Finn: Also good morning.
Finn: How’s your Monday?
Finn: Miss me yet?
Finn: This is too many texts, isn’t it?
Finn: Shit, Priya just caught me and is threatening to bash my phone with a rolling pin.
Finn: I’m going to stop now.
I smiled and started typing.
Me: Good morning. For the record, I kissed you in front of like 180 people, too.
Me: Monday’s going well. Just finished a mediation that went better than expected.
Me: And for the record, I liked the kiss. Like, really liked it. Make me stop saying “like.”
Finn: Yeah? You really liked it?
