Promotion
Allie
Michael drew up outside the Hunter Russell Moore office and put the car into park. Turning to his wife, she felt his warm hands capture her face and closed her eyes as he kissed her. “Good luck junior partner,” he said Go nail it. Call me when you’re ready tonight, and I’ll come collect you.”
She let her mouth curve up, ”Tell you all about it later. Love you." Michael released her, watching her walk into the building before setting off to drive around to his own office a couple of blocks away. As Allie entered the elevator, she sighed, thinking about how much work her husband had on due to his own recent promotion to full partner status.
Walking into reception, she stopped to ask the receptionists Sara and Everley if they’d had a nice weekend before dropping her bag at her desk to go in search of coffee and Daniel. It was early, so not many staff were around, but she could see Daniel through the glass panel in his office. He looked up as she came in and grinned, “Hey, I love the way we’re both early for our first day post-promotion.”
Allie laughed as he stood and pulled her in to kiss her cheek. “Won’t last. Before I forget, I’ve got Emmie’s Bunny in my office; she left it at our apartment.”
“Good job it wasn’t Foxy, or I’d have been asking one of you to do an emergency drop-off last night because she’d never have gone to bed without him. Come on, let’s grab coffee while it’s quiet.”
They took the mugs back to Daniel’s office and sat at the meeting table. ”So, spill Allie, Robyn and Jeremy, what’s the story?”
Allie leaned forward, ”Ooo, I know, all moving along nicely I think based on how they were yesterday.”
“I hope the dog approves,” Daniel laughed. “Did you say he’d been married before?”
Allie nodded, “Yeah”.
Daniel tilted his head, “How did you find that out? Jeremy never lets anything slip. If I hadn’t seen the dog I’d have thought he lived at the hospital!”
Allie grinned and shook her head, “We used to chat in all those weeks I spent hanging out at the hospital.” She looked more serious, “He’s a really lovely person, Dan. It sounded like he and his ex didn’t part amicably, and I really think he and Robyn are well suited, you know.”
His face softened, “Agreed Allie. But you’ve got to let me tease her just a tiny bit.”
Allie laughed as Max came in, “Morning beautiful people.”
She got up and nudged her boss’ shoulder, “Morning Max. I’d better go log on now I’m coffee’d up.”
Max stood behind Daniel and leaned on the younger man’s shoulders. “See you in thirty for your first partner meeting, Allie. And can you swing by Carly if she’s in? I wanted your opinion on the Phillips case; there’s a couple of subsidiaries in the UK.”
“No problem.” Allie nodded, leaving. “I’ll take a look and book thirty minutes in your diary when you’re free.”
Daniel
Max took the seat Allie had vacated. “So Robyn and Jeremy!”
“That’s exactly what I just said to Allie.” Daniel laughed, “She knew, of course.”
Max grinned, “That girl has a knack for drawing folk out, and he’s not exactly an open book.”
Daniel shrugged, “Neither’s Robyn, so Allie thinks they’re well suited.”
Max stood up, “Well, he saved Allie’s life and took really good care of her, so as far as I’m concerned the guy walks on water. Catch you at nine-thirty Dan.”
Allie was going through the Phillips file when Daniel called to get her for the partner meeting. “Ready?” he asked, sticking his head in. She nodded and grabbed a pen and notebook, following him through the door to the boardroom. He gave her free hand a secret squeeze before they went in, knowing she felt a little nervous that some of the other partners thought she’d got her promotion on the back of her close relationship with Max rather than her ability. Both Dan and Max had assured her that wasn’t the case, but he knew she’d picked up that a couple of the partners weren’t convinced she’d earned her place. His heart burned with the injustice for her because the reality was that Allie had delivered in cold hard cash. Many of the firm’s clients either did business with UK entities or had UK businesses themselves. Her extensive UK experience meant that, in many cases, the firm could now handle the whole case from L.A. without waiting for the busy London office to pick it up on their side. This made HRM faster, lower cost and more efficient than their competitors, and they’d picked up new clients as a consequence. As an added bonus, since EU and UK law were still broadly aligned, Allie could often break the back of any European angles in a case.
Max was at the head of the large table chairing the meeting, and he winked at Allie as she sat down in the seat next to Daniel. David Williams and Wendy Armstrong were sitting opposite and exchanged a look before politely saying good morning to the newcomers. Spotting the look that passed between them, Daniel squeezed Allie’s hand again under the table for support. The HR partner gave an update on the recruitment of a new paralegal, associate and receptionist, and Max ran through the headline performance numbers for the last quarter. Dan saw Allie bite her lip and look down in response to the look of irritation on David’s face when Max made mention of the reduction in cross-charging to the London office.
Allie
As they left the meeting, Allie swung by the paralegals' area. Carly spotted her, “Hey Allie, did you get what you needed from the Phillips file?”
Allie leaned on the pod, “I think I’ve got enough thanks Carly. I just need to make a few notes for when I go through it with Max, then I’ll bring it back if that’s okay?”
Carly nodded, ” Sure, I need to write up some minutes, but I can wait ’til you’ve done."
“How was your first meeting with the grown-ups Allie?” Liam shouted over.
Allie laughed, “Fine thanks.” She turned, “Hey Robyn, can we catch up this morning on Rankin?”
“Sure,” Robyn said, “I just need to finish some stuff for Gordon, so about eleven?”
Allie sensed Daniel had appeared behind her, and he jumped in, “In that case, Allie, got time for coffee?”
“You know me too well,” she said, nodding. “Any of you guys need one?” They all shook their heads, so she followed Daniel over to the kitchen area.
As he poured, Daniel said in a low voice, “Don’t worry about David and Wendy, yeah.”
Allie didn’t reply until she’d followed him into his office and closed the door. “I’m just glad I don’t really have to work with them.”
Daniel threw an arm out to give her a side hug. “They’re only jealous that we get all the cool cases. Their employment stuff is like Groundhog Day, boring as hell.”
Allie laughed, “I’d better go. I need to finish looking at Max’s stuff so Carly can have the file back.” She grabbed her coffee and turned before she opened the door. “Hey, thanks for this morning, Dan.”
“Didn’t do anything Allie.” he shrugged,
She looked him in the eye, “You know exactly what I mean.”
Forty minutes later she’d finished making notes ready for her meeting with Max on the Phillips case and had booked thirty minutes in their diaries. She took the file to drop back with Carly and her empty cup to drop in the kitchen. When she arrived, Robyn stood up. “I finished a bit quicker than I expected, so we can catch up now if you like Allie?”
“Perfect,” Allie said, nodding. “Let’s do that.”
They reached the office, and Allie grabbed the Rankin file. “So, you and Jeremy are out and proud?”
Robyn blushed, “Couldn’t really keep it under wraps any longer.”
“And you don’t need to; everyone is happy you guys are happy. Michael’s just relieved he doesn’t have to keep it a secret anymore. He was convinced he was going to blurt something out.”
Robyn laughed, “I just wanted to be really sure you know?” Allie watched her take a deep breath, “He’s asked me to move in Allie, so I’m taking my stuff over at the weekend. I wondered if you and Michael would give us a hand?”
Allie dropped the file and squealed, moving ’round the desk to hug her friend. “That’s amazing news. I’m so happy for you both, and of course we’ll be there. Please God, tell Daniel though. He’ll know I’m keeping something secret because I won’t be able to stop grinning.”
Robyn groaned, “Okay, okay. If you guys can do lunch, I’ll tell him then."
When Robyn had left, Allie checked Daniel’s calendar and messaged him to say he looked free for lunch. They headed to the grill at twelve thirty, and as soon as they were clear of the elevator and any other people, Daniel grinned, “So Robyn, are you going to fill me in on just how long you’ve been romantically involved with a certain doctor?”
She groaned loudly as they entered the restaurant and were directed to a table in the window. “Just after Allie and Michael got engaged, happy now?”
Daniel choked as the server came to take their orders, and Allie couldn’t help but smirk. He stared across the table. “What? That’s more than six frickin′ months Robyn!” Allie patted his arm as he turned to face her, “And you! Did you know the entire time and didn’t tell me?”
Allie shrugged, smiling indulgently, “Wasn’t my secret to tell. Poor Michael’s almost combusted trying not to let it slip.”
Daniel looked outraged, “Are Max and I literally the only ones who didn’t know?”
Robyn shook her head, clearly exasperated, “Get over yourself Dan. Allie guessed, and eventually I let her tell Michael. But you can get your own back now because you’re the first one to know we’re moving in together at the weekend.”
Daniel looked momentarily stunned. He glanced at Allie before getting up and moving around the table. “Get up, Robyn.” She stood up reluctantly, but Allie noticed her smile as he wrapped her in his arms. “That’s amazing news. He’s a great guy, but he’s lucky to have you.” He kissed her cheek and sat back down, catching Allie’s hand as he did.
“Right,” A flustered Robyn said, “can we just change the subject now and eat?”
When Allie left the office, Michael was waiting in the car, and she jumped in. “Hey, good day?” he said, leaning over to kiss her.
Allie ran her hand over the back of his dark hair before pulling back to nod, “Yeah, lots to tell you.”
Michael pulled out into the traffic, ”Hmm, sounds interesting. Fancy telling me over dinner at Bruno's?”
Allie nodded, “That would be so lovely. How was your day?”
He glanced over, “Not nearly as exciting as yours by the sound of it. Been busy and I had Nathan to deal with. I don’t get why that guy has to be such an asshole.”
Allie laughed, ” Well, he always makes it obvious he can’t stand me, so no comment!”
“Like I said, total asshole!”
Once they were settled in the restaurant with food and a glass of wine, Allie shared Robin’s news and Dan’s reaction. Michael grinned broadly and chuckled. “Anyway,” she continued, “Jeremy’s taking a holiday this weekend to help her move in, John’s off Friday, and Margie has offered to have Emmie on Saturday, so I was thinking, how about we have a night out?”
Michael reached over to stroke her face. “Now you’re talking. Feels like we haven’t all partied since the wedding. Who do you want me to organise?”
Allie squeaked with excitement, “I’ll sort the girls, and you organise the boys. I’m thinking food at The Smokehouse, then on to a couple of bars. What do you think?”
Michael took a mouthful of his food, ” I’m thinking this is going to be a great night, but if we’re going to help Robyn move her stuff, we’d better leave that until Sunday.”
