9. Jane
9
JANE
“ I was wondering when I’d hear from you.” Arun’s smooth voice echoes over the line as I tuck my phone tightly to my ear. I angle my office chair toward the window, trying to gain some semblance of privacy in the open format of the office.
“Sorry it took me a bit. Needed to get some things settled back here after I got home.”
It’s been a couple of weeks since my trip to LA. Like always, I’ve been taking a lot of time thinking over Nikolai’s offer to connect me with Arun. Weighing the pros and cons, stewing in bed at night about it until it drove me crazy with indecision.
But what sent me over the edge and solidified my decision to call Arun was seeing Liam stroll into work this morning with his hand firmly planted on our receptionist's ass.
Turns out they're dating.
Or maybe just fucking.
I don’t actually know, and I don’t care to find out.
“No apologies necessary,” Arun says. “Nikolai extended my offer to you, yes?”
“He did. First, I’d like to say thank you for the opportunity.”
“This better not be the beginning of a rejection,” he jibes.
I chuckle and scan the hordes of people hustling and bustling on their lunch breaks in the streets below. “No, it isn’t. I’m thinking about taking you up on it.”
“Are you prepared to relocate? I don’t have clients out east.”
“I am,” I say on an exhale. “I don’t know about permanently, but I need a change.”
“I understand. Have you talked to your current employer?”
“Not yet.”
“I don’t have any issues with you staying with your existing clientele as there shouldn’t be any conflict of interest. And I also cannot promise to have enough clients off the bat to give you full time yet.”
“Of course.”
“When can I expect you here?”
I glance over my shoulder, ensuring no one is paying attention, and say, “I could be ready to start Monday?” It’s currently Wednesday, so that would give me enough time to pack a few bags, talk to my landlord about a sublease, and fly out.
“Perfect,” Arun says. “I’ll have my assistant reach out by the end of this week with more information. Let me know if you have any issues on your end and if there’s any way I can help.”
“Thank you. I look forward to it.”
We hang up, and I heave out a relieved sigh.
First step to doing something for myself: check.
“You good?” Hallie asks, poking her head over her monitor.
I spin my chair and roll back to my desk. “Yes. He said he’ll have me.”
“Of course he will. He’d be stupid not to.”
I filled Hallie in on my idea over a few bottles of wine. While I hate the idea of being across the country from my best friend, we both know it’s what I need right now.
“Now to talk to Chester.” My head falls back against my chair and I stare at the white, bland ceiling tiles.
Something hits my chest, and I whip my head up, seeing a crumpled sticky note sitting in my lap. I glare at Hallie.
“Go get it over with,” she says, raising her brow. “The longer you sit there, the more you’re going to overthink it. Just rip the bandage off.”
She’s right. I stand, straightening my blouse and smoothing my skirt. “Wish me luck.”
She waves me off. “You don’t need it.”
I shoot her a grateful smile before walking to the other side of the building, where my boss’s over-the-top office sits.
The door is open, and I peek inside.
Chester sits in his leather chair with his feet kicked up, his back turned to me. He’s chatting animatedly with…
“Did you need something?” Liam spots me over Chester’s shoulder.
I resist the urge to curse under my breath and come back later once he’s left. But he looks awfully comfortable, arms thrown over the back of the rich colored couch, one ankle crossed over his knee.
Chester whirls around and smiles in greeting. He may be a shit boss, but he’s at least always been friendly toward me. “Miss Walker, what can I do for you?”
I enter the office but hover near the door. “I was hoping to talk to you about something,” I say, darting my eyes over to Liam, hoping he’ll get the hint. If he does, he ignores it. “I can come back?—”
“No, no, sit.” Chester waves me in and points to one of the plush armchairs in front of his desk. “Do we need to clear the room?”
I glance over at Liam, who seems completely content and unmoving as he pulls out his phone and look at my boss. “It’s fine. Nothing confidential.”
“What can I do for you?”
I cut right to chase, not wanting to lose my nerve. “I would like to know if it would be possible for me to relocate to Los Angeles for a bit.”
Chester’s brow raises, but he stays quiet.
“We are going to be opening a location there soon and, as you know, my brother lives in the city.”
“How is he doing?”
“Good, thank you for asking.” Chester’s been trying to get me to bring Walker and the guys over to work the firm for years, but their loyalty is to Arun and his people. “I’ve been in contact with his manager, actually, and he offered to connect me with some of his newer clients if I’d be willing to move out there for a bit.”
Chester leans in his chair, steepling his fingers under his chin. I’ve seen his gaze wither people to shreds in mediations and the courtroom. He likes to watch them squirm, so I straighten my spine and put on my most collected face.
“It would be a great opportunity to already have someone from the firm there, building connections, and potentially having contacts for new clients before the office is even open. I’m not asking for moving expenses or any?—”
“I like it,” Chester says, narrowing his eyes in thought. “We already have Matthew getting the building sorted there, but I like the forward thinking about bringing clients onboard as we’re in the early stages of establishing ourselves out there. Impressive forethought, Jane.”
“Thank you, sir.”
I can feel Liam’s glare on the side of my face but I pay him no mind. He may just get to waltz in here, get awarded with high clientele and status simply for his name, but some of us have to work for it. Earn it.
We finish discussing a few preliminary details before I rise, shaking his hand.
“We’ll see you back here for the anniversary party in a few months?” Chester asks.
Our annual company party to celebrate the day Chester and his partners opened their doors. Every year it’s an absolute blow out racking up bills that would even make Nikolai blink.
“Of course,” I say. “Thank you for this opportunity.”
Chester smiles at me with dollar signs in his eyes but wishes me luck nonetheless. Without sparing Liam another glance, I stride out of Chester’s office feeling ten pounds lighter. Yes, trepidation churns in my gut, but I’ve been needing a change. And that loser strolling in here and taking away my sense of comfort at my job was the kick I needed.
I could just quit. Say fuck you to Chester, to Liam, to all the other men who work here putting half the effort Hallie and I do but are lauded more than us. But job security is too important to me. If something goes wrong in LA, I don’t want to be in the position where I’m starting from scratch.
My backup plans have backup plans, so if I can stay on the team here while building connections with Arun until I reach the point where I can completely jump ship, I’m going to do it.
And the steps are finally falling into place.