by Hoff, Stacy
Melba and I will probably never become friends, but I have warm feelings for her anyway. When she called both Bill and Jordan to say she’s satisfied with my work, I sent her a thank you note along with a gift of an edible chocolate telephone I got from the upscale chocolate store at the mall. I wrote on the card:
Melba,
I mean it with the utmost sincerity when I say I hope to have the opportunity to work with you again. Should that opportunity arise, enclosed is proof I can now do the right thing when phoning you!
Susan (a/k/a “Sarah”)
Bill is actually warming back up to me, too. He’s encouraged me to stick with litigation and that helps me muddle through. I’m not bad at it, but it’s still a challenge for me to give it my full attention. Somehow I’ve managed to adequately concentrate on all the green color-coded files. But what I want is more Melbas to give me business deals to negotiate.
Today I’m battling my workload with mediocre success. It’s already after 8:00 p.m. Being stuck at work late stinks, doubly so when it’s Friday. But I’ve got to finish researching a brief. Will I have the wherewithal to continue plodding along? Who the heck knows?
My back is stiff from sitting at my desk all day. I have to keep slamming my brain into gear to keep my thoughts from wandering off without me, but it’s no use. Wrenching my body away from the desk, I walk to the break room to clear my head.
Ahhh, coffee. The smell wafts up to my nose and I close my eyes to savor it. Walking back, I keep a slow gait so as not to spill.
I’m almost back safely, but what’s this? I squint my eyes, willing them to focus. Odd. An unfamiliar person is outside my office door. No, I’m wrong. The guy is somewhat familiar. Racking my brain for a name . . .
“Jerry Spalone?” I blurt incredulously.
“Hello, Susan,” Jerry says, coolly. “Grovas & Cleval must not be able to afford a working phone system, despite how much money my family pours into this place. Otherwise, I’m sure you would have returned at least one of my calls.”
“What are you doing here, Jerry? How did you even get into the building at this hour?” I catch myself. Not a good idea to argue with yet another client, no matter how caught off guard I am. Time to soften up but it’s not easy with a back stiff from tension.
“I just had a two hour meeting with your former boss,” Jerry replies. “It was nice of him to stay late for me.”
“How did you know where my office was?” Can such a demanding question ever have a soft tone?
“You ask a lot of good questions. It must be all that deposition practice, now that you handle litigation. Anyway, I asked the receptionist where your office was when I first came in. It’s amazing that your firm can keep a receptionist around until 6:00 p.m. I never found one willing to work for me past five o’clock, especially on a Friday.”
“Well, it’s good to see you, Jerry. Come into my office.” I’ll try to be friendly and entertaining, despite wanting to research a few more cases. But Jerry has outstretched his arm over the threshold. He’s not letting me through.
“We don’t need your office,” he says firmly.
With all the hordes of first and second year associates who work late into the night, it’s a wonder no one is around now. “Jerry, let’s sit down and talk,” I say, willing my voice not to bristle.
“I don’t want to have a chat. I want to have a date. My driver is downstairs, ready to take us wherever you want to go. So, there’s no point in our going into your office. Which, I might add, is a good thing. I can see from here it’s a mess.” He laughs. “Let’s go. You don’t even need to get your purse. Tonight is my treat.”
I’m being pushed into this. Not good. Trying to control my temper. Failing miserably. “Jerry, I can’t simply—” My phone rings. Thank God, I’ve never been so happy to have anyone call me. “Excuse me, Jerry, I’ve got to answer my phone.”
Jerry makes a deep frown but lowers his arm to let me through my doorway.
“Hey, Sue,” says Jordan’s glorious voice. “I got rid of my client so I’m leaving now. Don’t stay too late, and call me when you get home so I know you’re safe.”
“I don’t know about that,” I say as ominously as I can.
“Don’t know about what? Whether you’ll call me?”
“No,” I say with a strained voice. Jerry is now sitting in my guest chair, playing with my staple remover.
“Then what are you talking about?” asks Jordan’s baffled voice.
“Sorry,” I say. “That’s the best explanation I can give you.”
“Yeah,” Jerry says to me, laughing. “You lawyers never seem able to give adequate explanations.”
“I know this sounds crazy,” Jordan says, “but that sounds like Jerry Spalone. Did you know he’s been asking about you?”
“Yes, I did, actually. And you’re less crazy than you think.” I look over at Jerry and give him a smile. Jerry doesn’t see it, though. He has now moved on to fingering my tape dispenser.
“Jerry Spalone is in your office now?” Jordan sputters, his voice up three octaves.
“Yes. Amazing result, isn’t it?” Does Jerry think I’m talking about a case? I hope to God he does.
“Can you handle getting rid of him on your own, or do you need me to come upstairs?”
“A hand would help, yes,” I say, smiling blithely at Jerry.
His phone slams down, leaving me with a dead receiver in my hand. But the second I hang up Jerry will pressure me to leave with him. If I don’t hang up, however, the phone’s dial tone will kick in. What to do? Hanging up is the only way to go. I say “Bye” into the dead receiver for the sake of authenticity.
“Great, you’re off the phone. Let’s leave. Where are we off to?”
“Geez, Jerry, I don’t know,” I stall.
“We’ll figure it out along the way. Let’s get going.”
“I really need more notice with these things. I have a large research project to get done. And, to be honest, I’m not sure I’m allowed to go out on a date with one of the firm’s clients.”
“Susan,” Jerry says, eyes narrowed and voice clipped, “think of this as doing your firm a favor—you’re developing a client relationship with a very important client.”
“She’s right, Jerry,” Jordan says, suddenly appearing at my doorway. “An associate’s work is dedicated to research and writing. Not client development.”
“So it was you who called her,” Jerry hisses, eyes slit.
It’s like I’m watching a movie. But I’m not the star—I’m the audience.
“I know what’s going on,” Jerry suddenly shouts at Jordan. “You two are going together! No wonder Susan moved to another part of the firm.” He looks smug. “I wonder what the firm thinks about this. If they even know. Yet.” His thin smile stretches out into a malevolent grin.
“Jerry,” Jordan responds. “Whatever you want to think is fine with me. Whatever the firm wants to think is fine with me.”
“Why don’t you admit it? It’s so obvious you’re more than merely her former boss.”
“Jerry, you are my client, but right now you are acting like an ass. Please leave. Without Susan. Good night.”
Jerry silently gets up, walks past Jordan, and leaves.
“You okay?” Jordan asks, concern etched in his voice.
“You were my knight in shining armor.” I leap up, trying to kiss him.
He takes a step back. “We’ll have to be more careful than ever,” he says, darkly. “I’ll walk you down to the garage to make sure you leave here safe. Then call me here when you get home.”
I pick up my things and shut down my computer. “I’m ready.” I walk out of my office, Jordan silently behind me.
I brace myself for the fall out at the firm but none
comes. Jordan’s been as uncomfortable as I am, waiting for somebody to say something about what happened. In a way, not hearing anything is worse. I’m stuck wondering when the issue will arise again, a zombie awakened. Client problems never stay buried for long. I’ve already found that out the hard way.
CHAPTER 28
I hope things get better soon because January has been terrible. My relationship with Jordan is unfortunately back to how it was before Florida. He doesn’t have Marty full-time anymore, but his work schedule which was slated to improve, hasn’t. In fact, it’s gotten worse. He picked up a large development deal in the town of Rocky Hill, and he’s going all out to handle it.
His new associate doesn’t seem to be much help. He constantly complains about her when he calls at night, unless he remembers I don’t want to hear about my replacement. His success rate is about fifty percent. Sometimes I change the topic, other times not. I understand he’s stressed. It’s hard for me to think our being together actually makes me see him less. Since he doesn’t have me to do his work, he has less time to see me.
Worse, he’s balancing his Rocky Hill deal with a new zoning matter for a national client. Since the zoning hearing is in Massachusetts, he’s been there for most of January. That means I haven’t seen him outside the office at all.
I tell him I understand, and I really do. The work pressure at the firm is hard to bear. But all I want from him is a few hours. Even a few minutes would go a long way. Long enough for our lips to touch, so I can feel how much he cares.
Unfortunately, he keeps telling me we’ll have to accept the situation a little while longer. And although I understand his pressure, I admit I’m starting to get pissed.
February brings his aggravation with his new hire to a whole new level.
“She’s not getting it,” he huffs. “It’s been a month now. She has a solid background in real estate deals, but she is still not doing what I need her to do. The Rocky Hill hearing is in a week.”
“I can pinch hit for you. Just ask me.”
“If she’s paid to do it, why should you do it?”
“Because she’s not doing it, and you need it done.”
“She’s trying to. I think. I can’t understand how the girl doesn’t catch on.”
“It might be because you’re barking directions without giving explanations.”
“I don’t do that.”
“I wish you were here so you could see my eyes roll.”
“That’s not all I wish I could see you do,” he answers slyly.
“If you were able to stop working for more than five minutes, you would be able to see what else I can do.”
“If Kathy would do her job, I’d have more than five minutes.”
“Then show her how to do it right. It will take less time than doing everything yourself.”
“If you think I’m such a terrible teacher, then you show the girl. Come to the wing tomorrow. I’ll tell Bill I need to borrow you back for an hour or two.”
“Do you know you keep referring to her as a girl?”
“She’s young, and obviously inexperienced. What’s the big deal?”
“I’m guessing I’m not much older than her. Do you think of me as a girl?”
“Trust me, you’re all woman. So, are you going to come by tomorrow or not?”
“Yes. She and I will have a giggly girl fest. First I’ll teach her commercial real estate and then we’ll give each other pedicures.”
“As much as I don’t like her, I think I’d like to see that. See you tomorrow.”
The wing seems an entirely different office now. It’s bustling. Amber and Bev are busy typing away. I walk into Jordan’s office and leave the door open.
“You came. Thanks for helping me out.” His voice reveals affection and relief. Lowering to a whisper he says, “This isn’t a chance passing in a hallway. But it is the first time people will see us together since you transferred to Bill. You okay?”
“Fine, whatever. Let’s get this over with.”
“I’m not entertaining any inappropriate pictures of you in my head. You know that, right?”
“Look, I’m as fine as I’ll ever be. Let’s go. Show me who, and where, Kathy is.”
He nods and takes me to the conference room I used to use.
So here’s Kathy. Long brown hair. Large blue eyes. Very tight shirt. Thin and pretty. Great. Exactly what I need to see.
“Kathy, this is Sue, who will show you how to do some of our projects. Sue, thanks again for helping us out.” Jordan walks back to his office and closes his door.
“Okay, Kathy, let’s see what you’re working on. Hopefully, I can make your life easier.” She shows me her projects and I walk her through the right way to do them.
Two hours later, I’ve given her all my tips. She learned fast enough so I’m not sure what Jordan’s problem is with her. I get up to leave.
“Let me take you to lunch as a thank you,” Kathy urges.
“Oh, sorry. Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got to get back to Bill’s work.”
“Please go with me? We’ll eat fast.”
“Can we eat in less than half an hour?”
“No problem, the cafeteria awaits.”
She buys our lunches and we get a table by the huge glass window overlooking the river. It’s early to eat, which explains our fortunate seating. “Just like Jordan’s office,” she sighs.
“Yeah, his office is pretty good. You don’t know whether to stare at the river or the gold décor.”
“Him.”
“Excuse me?” I choke.
“I’d rather look at him. That’s the problem. By the time I realize I’ve zoned out, I’ve missed half of what he said. How did you handle working with him?”
“I’m not the best person to ask. Working with him had its . . . challenges.”
“Is that why you moved to Comm Lit?”
“No, I transferred because I wanted to broaden my skills. Hey, would you look at that, it’s later than I thought. I’ve got to go back to my office. Thanks for lunch.”
“At least you have an office. It’s terrible working in a conference room.”
“Yes, I know.”
Carefully carrying my soda and plate full of salad, I hustle back to the safety of my office.
“How did it go with Kathy?” Jordan asks me.
“The good news is she’s not stupid,” I answer.
“That is good news. I’m glad there’s hope.”
“The bad news is she’s distracted because she has a crush on you.”
“You’re kidding. A crush, huh?” He lets out a howl of laughter. I’m less amused.
“You poor thing,” I grind out. “It must be so tiring, having this issue come up every time you get a young associate.”
“Hey, when a guy’s as fine lookin’ as I am, these things are bound to happen.”
I hope he busts a lung from all that laughter.
“Maybe I should stop going to the gym,” he muses, “though I haven’t gone in about two months. I’ve been relegated to lifting free weights at home.”
“I’m hosting the world’s smallest pity party in your honor.”
“Wait—people want to have sex with me and throw me a party? Man, I’m on fire!”
Not wanting to go deaf from his raucous laughter, I hold the phone away from my ear until he’s done. “You’re on fire, huh? Glad you’re hot stuff. Too bad your tremendous ego is leaving me cold.”
“I’m just sayin’, they must all be looking at somethin’.”
His ego is out of Alien. “True, you are a lot to gaze at. It must be tough to put up with all this adoration. Women wanting you all the time. And yet, you deny them.”
“I want to
do more than deny them,” he says, his serious tone returned. “I want them to snap out of it. I’m asking you, do you have any ideas what I can do to discourage them? What turns women off?”
