you look like you could use some temporary help around here. Lucky for you, I know a very competent office manager looking for work.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Well, about that,” Nick starts as he pulls his desk chair out and sits down, motioning for me to take the seat across from him.
I don’t give him time to say no. “I am overqualified for the position, considering I’ve been doing it for pretty much my entire life,” I say, keeping my tone breezy even as my heart starts to beat faster with excitement and fear.
This could be the answer to my prayers, at least for a little while.
“Besides, I owe you one, don’t I?” I lean forward, giving him the full weight of my detail-oriented attention. “Considering you offered to represent me for a dollar and a mowed lawn?”
His face gets that pinched look that takes it from worried to truly concerned. “So you’re volunteering to work here for free?”
Part of me thinks I should—legal representation adds up to the thousands or even tens of thousands very quickly—but I don’t have that luxury right now. I have a massive property tax bill along with a scary renovation looming over my head. Plus, the sad fact that a person can’t live on wine alone.
“I was thinking more along the lines of we meet in the middle.”
“The middle?” he repeats, brows raised.
“How much do you normally pay Viola for this position?” I brace myself for a number even less than what Karl paid me. Even though I knew I wasn’t paid my full wage, his law firm was a lot bigger than Nick’s, with larger clients than a simple family law firm would have.
“Eighty-four thousand dollars.”
I nearly choke on my own tongue.
“Eighty-four thousand? I can’t work for that!”
I collapse back against the chair, all my airy coolness gone. I couldn’t have heard him right. Karl paid me thirty thousand a year. In Manhattan!
Nick grimaces, toying with one of the royal-blue fountain pens on his desk. “Fine. You drive a hard bargain. I can’t pay you more than Viola; that just wouldn’t be right. But I can pay you the same salary. I can even throw in helping sort through Maggie’s belongings a few hours a week to sweeten the deal.”
My eyes widen. “I wasn’t asking for more money, Nick.” This is going to be embarrassing to admit, but he’ll find out anyway when we start discussing the details of my case. I take a deep breath and woman up, laying it all out there. “Look, Karl never paid me more than fifteen dollars an hour. Granted, I managed the office of his successful law firm with fifteen associates for ten years, so I know I’m a valuable asset, but jumping up to forty dollars an hour just doesn’t seem fair to you. I’m obviously willing to work for less, and we both know it.”
Nick’s jaw clenches as he stares over my shoulder for a minute. Then nods. “You’re right. You’re worth more than Viola; you have more experience. I’m sorry—I just really don’t think I can afford someone as qualified as you.”
Wait, what just happened? “But I explained, I’m willing to work for less.” Shit. I really need this job.
But Nick shakes his head. “I can’t in good conscience pay you less than you deserve, Mallory. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with my firm’s integrity if I did.”
I roll my eyes at him. “If you’re going to insist on paying me what I’m worth, you should help clean every day. Plus at least four hours on the weekends. And lift all the heavy stuff. Oh, and definitely find what died in the kitchen and take it out.” I’m on a roll. “Honestly, that means a lot of shared meals, too, so you should probably provide dinner at least every other night as well.” I raise one brow at him in defiance. “Or you could negotiate like a civilized person and we could—”
Nick interrupts. “Deal.” Then he leans forward and holds out his hand.
I place my hand in his, more out of habit than anything else. Hell, I’m still grappling with what just happened. I mean, I know what happened, I was a part of it, but seriously. What just happened?
As I take in his widening grin, it finally sinks in. I was outsmarted. Did he plan this all along?
“I adore Tessa, who by the way is Gina’s niece and doing us a favor, but I cannot tell you how excited I am to have a real professional