ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟞𝟘
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Harford Drews had shown me three different places in less than two hours.
The first one had been too small.
Not technically too small, but I would have to squeeze two offices, a conference room, and a reception area into a space that looked like it had been designed specifically to someone who hates their job.
The second one was bigger. It also had the personality of a dentist's office. White walls. White floors. White furniture.
Everything was white!
I had stood in the middle of it for thirty seconds before deciding I couldn't spend twelve hours a day looking at that much white without developing a personality disorder.
So now we were heading to the third location.
I sat across from Harford in the back of his limousine, one hand resting against the armrest while I stared out the window.
Limousine.
I wasn't sure I'd ever get used to people driving me around in vehicles that had more room than some apartments- though I had been in one with my parents a hundred times before.
Harford was sitting opposite me with his jacket open, tie slightly loosened, looking completely comfortable.
He had been talking almost nonstop since we'd left the second building.
Not in an annoying way. He just had a lot to say, and apparently, a lot of opinions.
"I'll be honest with you, you're going to like this one." He said. I glanced over.
"That's what you said about the last place."
"Did you like the last place? No."
I smiled despite myself.
Harford looked back out the window. "So what made you decide to do this?"
I frowned. "Do what?"
"You know, your own firm."
"I didn't really decide." I looked down at my hands.
Harford turned his attention back to me. "So then why are we looking at office space?"
"Because my husband has decided I need to have my own law firm." I laughed quietly.
Harford smiled.
"He's pushy- you've met him before, you would know." I say.
"I like that man." Harford laughed again.
"Cameorn tends to have that effect." I smile, looking down. "He likes getting his way."
It was true- Cameron made everyone around him love him.
Harford nodded slowly. "That's smart."
I looked out the window again. "But... you know, maybe he's right."
That was about as much as I was willing to give him. I wasn't ready to sit there and explain every thought I'd had over the past few weeks.
How tired I'd become, how much I'd started to resent the firm. Cameron had somehow seen it before I had.
It was terrifying to consider starting something that belonged completely to me. I didn't even know if I was ready.
But I knew I wanted to see the third building. That had to count for something.
Harford glanced at his watch.
"We're almost there."
The limousine slowed a few minutes later before turning into a large parking area. I straightened in my seat.
The building came into view, and I immediately understood why Harford had saved this one for last.
It was beautiful. Modern, but warm.
There was enough parking that I wouldn't have to circle the block for twenty minutes every morning looking for a space.
That alone made me interested. At Ted's firm, it would take me almost an hour to find a parking space that just so happened to be in between two large trucks.
Harford opened the door once the limousine stopped.
I stepped out. "Okay, this looks nice."
He smiled. "Trust me, I have good taste, Mrs. West."
We walked inside. The lobby was even better.
There was a good amount of natural light, dark wood, and comfortable seating. The reception area didn't look like it belonged in a hospital.
I looked around slowly. "This is much better than the previous two."
Harford smiled. "I thought so."
We continued farther inside. He showed me the available suite, and that was when I really stopped talking.
It was huge.
There was yet another reception area, several offices, two conference rooms, a private office at the back, a small kitchen, storage space, and an entire wall of windows overlooking the city.
I walked toward the windows, and my reflection stared back at me.
I imagined my name on the door. Dixie West, Attorney at Law.
Not Georgia's assistant, or somebody's associate. Not the lawyer who had to prove herself to Ted every time she walked into the building.
Mine.
I could have my own conference table, my own office, my own cases.
My own decisions. I could hire people I actually trusted. I could put bookshelves wherever I wanted, I could have a decent coffee machine.
I would even have a nice printer without it jamming every Thursdays.
That last thought was probably the most realistic business plan I'd had all day.
I walked into the private office.
There was enough room for a large desk, two chairs, bookshelves, and still enough space to walk around without bumping into something.
I could see myself working here.
And actually enjoying it.
I could picture arriving early with coffee in one hand and a stack of files in the other. I could picture clients sitting across from me, with my name outside the door.
I really liked it.
"Mrs. West?"
I turned. Harford was standing in the doorway. "What do you think?"
"This is pretty great." I looked around one more time.
He smiled. "Better than the first two?"
"By a lot."
"Would you take it?"
I hesitated, looked at the windows again, then at the empty office. "Oh gosh..I don't know."
Harford nodded. "That's okay."
"I want to." The words came out before I could stop them. I looked at him. "I think I want to."
"Then you should." He smiled.
I reached for my phone. "Sorry, can I take one second?"
He nodded, and I stepped away from the window and called Cameron.
He answered quickly. "Hey."
His voice alone made me smile.
"Hey. How are you?" I asked.
There was a short pause.
"How are you, Dixie?"
I smiled wider. "I'm good."
"You sound pretty happy."
"I found it."
"Found what?"
"The firm! I found the firm, Cameron."
I heard him laugh softly. "Oh , did you now? You like it?"
"I love it." The excitement in my own voice surprised me.
I started walking around the office again as I talked.
"It's really big. There's a reception area, conference rooms, offices, a kitchen, and my office has this huge window."
"Well, damn."
I laughed. "You sound surprised."
"I'm surprised and happy."
"You are?"
"Of course I am."
" I could actually do this," I said quietly.
"You can. You'll be fine."
I laughed, he laughed. I could picture him wherever he was, probably smiling at his phone.
"I'll see you later."
"Okay. I love you."
My fingers tightened slightly around the phone. "I love you too."
We hung up shortly after. I stared at the screen for another second before putting the phone away.
I looked around the office again.
I couldn't imagine what my life was going to look like a few weeks ago.
Actually, if someone had told me I would be standing in an empty office considering opening my own law firm, I probably would've asked them if they had the wrong person, because I had never really pictured myself doing this.
I'd always worked for somebody. When I say always, I mean always.
First school, then internships, then a couple of firms, then Ted.
Always somebody else's name on the door. Somebody else's idea of what I was capable of.
Now, I was standing in a place where there was nothing on the door yet. Which meant I could put whatever I wanted there.
I looked toward the windows. "Jordyn would've liked this."
Harford looked at me. "Who?"
"My daughter."
"Yeah?" His expression softened like he understood.
I nodded. "She would've thought the windows were really cool."
I smiled to myself, then I looked around one last time.
My firm, maybe. My future, definitely.
Harford motioned toward the hallway. "Come on. There's more."
I followed him. The suite was even larger than I'd realized.
Harford pointed out the reception area first. "This would be the reception. You could have a couple people here if you eventually get busy enough."
"It flatters me that you think this place would be crowded with people because of me?"
He looked at me. "Mrs. West, you won the Justin Deyes case."
I shrugged. "That doesn't mean people are going to magically start lining up outside my door."
"They might."
"I'd prefer they call first."
He smiled, before showing me the conference rooms. "This one is larger. You could use it for depositions, meetings, whatever you need."
I walked inside. There was a long table already in the room.
"Is this included?"
"Yes. Everything is included unless you decide you want to change something."
I smiled at that. I would do a lot of changing.
I continued walking. The second conference room was smaller. I liked that one better- it felt more practical.
"You could use this for private meetings," Harford said. "Or interviews."
"That's neat."
We moved into another section. Harford showed me a small kitchen.
I opened one of the cabinets. "How big is the refrigerator?"
He stared at me. "You've asked about the refrigerator in every property, now."
"Well people forget lawyers have to eat."
"You could always order food." He shrugged.
"I could also store food. I'm very practical about these things Mr. Drews."
I opened the refrigerator. It was a little small, but I wasn't going to feast here.
We kept going.
There were several offices along one side of the suite. Harford explained which ones could be used for associates, paralegals, administrative staff, or visiting attorneys.
I stopped at one. "I like this one."
He walked inside with me as I looked around. It was smaller than the private office but still spacious.
"This could be an associate's office." He said.
I walked back into the hallway. He showed me the storage area next, then another smaller room.
Then a space that could be used as a records room.
I stopped. "How secure is this?"
"Very, secure, Mrs. West."
"Can the door be reinforced?"
"Yes."
"What about the camera?" I asked.