ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟞𝟘 #2
"That's something you'd arrange separately."
"Okay."
Harford smiled. "You know, I would've expected you to know the answer to these questions already."
I looked at him. "And why is that?"
"Because you're Dixie West."
I stared at him.
"That doesn't explain anything. I still don't understand why everybody acts like I'm some kind of celebrity."
"You're a famous lawyer."
"That's not better."
He grinned. "It is."
"No, it really isn't."
We continued walking, and I kept imagining how I would make this place mine.
It was a strange amount of power to hand someone who still occasionally forgot where she put her phone while holding it.
We reached the end of the hallway, and Harford stopped.
"There's another entrance over here," He showed me a side entrance that opened into a smaller hallway. "This could be useful for clients who want privacy."
I nodded.
"You could also use this area for staff."
"Okay." I looked through the glass door. There was another empty office across the hall.
"What's that?"
"Another suite." He glanced at me.
"Is it available?"
"Not currently."
"That's fine." I nodded at that.
I wasn't planning to take over the entire building.
Yet.
I laughed quietly at my own thought.
Harford checked his phone, and his expression changed slightly. "Give me one second. I have someone important calling."
He stepped a few feet away and answered.
I couldn't hear much. It was something about a meeting. The usual things people said when they were discussing money that could probably make my eyes water.
Fine. I could entertain myself.
I walked back toward the office, and the more I looked around, the more I liked it.
I stopped in the doorway of my potential office. Not my office, potential office.
I walked inside once more. The windows were enormous.
I could already imagine some plants, a lot of shelves- I would need somewhere to put case files.
And books. So many books.
Maybe a small couch.
No, what would I need that for? That was unnecessary. People would sit on the chairs.
Although, a couch would be nice.
No Dixie. I shook my head. I was starting a law firm, not opening a spa.
I looked at the empty wall. A painting would look good there, something simple. Not one of those horrible inspirational signs people put in offices.
I would rather stare at a blank wall.
I heard footsteps as I looked around. I assumed it was Harford, so I didn't turn around.
"Do you like it?"
I jumped.
That was definitely not Harford's voice. I turned so quickly I nearly hit the edge of the desk.
A woman was standing behind me.
I stared at her, and she just smiled.
"Oh my gosh." I put a hand against my chest.
"Sorry," She laughed softly. "I scared you?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
"You should probably announce yourself before appearing behind people."
She smiled wider. "You're right."
I stared at her for another second.
She looked to be in her late twenties, she was professionally dressed, with dark hair pulled back neatly, tablet tucked under one arm.
She didn't look dangerous. That was reassuring.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine."
"You looked terrified."
"I wasn't terrified. I was surprised- you scared me.."
She laughed.
I gave her a quick look. "Do you normally sneak up on people?"
"No," She smiled. "Although, in my defense, you didn't seem very focused."
She stepped farther into the office. "So? Do you like it?"
I looked around again. "I do."
"I knew you would." She smiled.
I frowned slightly.
"I'm sorry, do we know each other?"
"No." She shook her head innocently.
"Okay.."
She extended her hand. "I'm sorry. I'm being rude."
I shook it.
"I'm Lauren."
"Dixie."
"Oh, I know."
I paused at that. Of course she knew. She laughed when she saw my expression.
"I know who you are."
"Right.." I nodded slowly.
"I'm actually a huge fan of your work."
I smiled politely. "That's nice of you."
"Especially the Justin Deyes case."
That case. I would hear those words for the rest of my natural life.
"You did an incredible job," she continued. "The way you dismantled the prosecution's timeline was..."
She shook her head. "Honestly, I watched the coverage afterward and thought, that's exactly how I would've wanted to handle it."
I knew my work was good. I just didn't know why Ted was being so stingy.
I wasn't going to think about it anymore. I was opening a new chapter of my life, leaving Ted in the old one.
"Thank you." I smiled.
She seemed excited. "I've followed your work for years."
I tilted my head. "That's concerning."
She laughed. "Okay, I'm kidding."
I relaxed a little.
She didn't seem strange, just overly enthusiastic. But then again, I had people stare at me at events now, so apparently this was part of my life.
"I should probably introduce myself properly," she said. "I'm Lauren Mercer, one of Harford's agents."
"Ah," That made sense. "You're the other agent?"
"Yes."
"I didn't know there was another one."
"Usually there is."
"Good to know." I laughed sheepishly.
She smiled. "So Harford has been showing you around?"
"Yes." I looked around. "I really like the space. I like the windows especially."
"Everyone likes the windows." She smiled. "You'd be very comfortable here."
I narrowed my eyes at that. "Did Harford tell you that?"
"No, but I've worked with him long enough."
I shook my head.
We walked back toward the main hallway.
Lauren pointed toward another section. "This part of the suite could be changed depending on how you want the firm structured."
I followed her. "How much can I actually change?"
"Almost everything inside the suite. Structural walls are different, obviously. You could change lighting, flooring, paint, built-ins, doors, furniture."
I stopped near the window. Outside, people moved along the sidewalk below, cars passed.
The city continued doing what cities did.
Nobody down there knew that I was standing inside an empty office trying to decide whether I was brave enough to change my entire career.
Lauren came to stand beside me. "You seem to really like it."
I nodded. "Yes, I do."
She smiled.
Then I heard Harford approaching. "Mrs. West."
I turned. He was putting his phone back into his pocket.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah." I said.
He looked between Lauren and me. "You two met."
"She scared me."
Lauren laughed. "I apologize about that."
"She does sneak up on people sometimes." Harford looked at me.
Lauren rolled her eyes.
"I walked into an open office and happened to find Mrs. West inside of it."
Harford looked around. "So?"
I knew exactly what he was asking.
I took a breath. "I really like it, Harford, I really do."
Harford smiled. "Good."
"I mean it. This might actually be the one."
"That's what I was hoping you'd say." His smile widened.
Lauren nodded. "I had a feeling."
I laughed at that. Everyone seemed pretty confident about me.
Harford looked at me. "Any name ideas yet, Mrs. West?"
I thought for a minute, then smiled at him.
"I was thinking about West Law."
~
Cameron pulled into the parking lot of the therapy building.
It felt like we'd been coming here forever. Which was ridiculous, because we'd only had two or three sessions.
I wasn't even sure anymore.
Therapy had its own weird little calendar where three appointments felt like a twelve-month commitment.
Cameron parked near the entrance and shifted the car into park. I looked through the windshield at the building.
Same beige brick, with the same glass doors.
Same parking lot where I had already spent far too much time sitting in a car trying to convince myself I didn't need to go inside.
I groaned and slumped farther into my seat. "How many more sessions of this do we have left?"
"Only a couple." Cameron turned the engine off and took the keys.
"How many is a couple?"
He looked at me. "I don't know, I haven't counted."
"That's not reassuring at all. Every time you say 'only a couple,' I feel like you're hiding something."
"I'm not hiding anything."
I closed my eyes.
I was tired.
My feet were killing me.
I'd spent most of the afternoon walking around that building with Harford, climbing stairs, walking through hallways, opening doors, measuring spaces with my eyes, imagining furniture that I hadn't bought yet, in offices I hadn't even signed a lease for.
All while wearing heels.
Which had seemed like a good idea this morning. It had stopped being a good idea about forty minutes later.
"My feet hurt."
"I told you to wear more comfortable shoes, Dix." Cameron glanced down toward my shoes.
I opened my eyes. "Yeah, I know."
"You said you were fine."
"I was. I was fine this morning."
He gave me a look.
I sighed. "Ughhhh..."
He smiled. "You know I'm right."
"I don't like when you're right. You enjoy being right too much."
He laughed.
I looked down at my shoes. They were really nice. Elegant. They had also been designed by a man who hated women's comfort.
"I just wanted to look professional."
"You always look professional." He smiled at me.
"Thank you."
"You also looked uncomfortable."
I frowned. "How can you tell?"
"You were walking funny."
"What? No I wasn't." I stared at him.
He smiled and I looked away.
Fine, he was right. Again. "I still like the shoes."
"You can like them from your closet."
I laughed at that.
He opened his door, but I stayed where I was. He looked across the center console.
"Dixie West."
I looked over. "What?"
"We have to go in. Now you're refusing to get out of the car."
"I'm considering my options."
"You have two. Go inside or sit here until Hastings calls us."
I thought about it. "That's terrifying."
He laughed.
I finally opened my door. The second my heels touched the pavement, I regretted every decision that had led me to those shoes.
Cameron noticed. "See?"
I shut the car door, glaring at him.
"Come on." He waited for me. Then, without saying anything, he reached over and took my hand.
I looked down at our hands.