Legally Addicted - By Lena Dowling Page 0,26

and celebrity markets, and progressively divest ourselves of our lower value clients.’

Georgia, who had been leaning back in her chair, sat upright, gripping the tabletop until her knuckles gleamed white.

‘Since when has the quality of legal advice provided by our firm been governed by the depth of the client’s pockets? I’m not going to turn people away just because they can’t produce a postcode for the Eastern Suburbs.’

John Dayton’s grey moustache twitched.

‘No-one’s suggesting anything unethical like turning people away on the basis of ability to pay, Georgia, but if our client list is already full with more complex matters, then it will be legitimate for us to take a pass on the low value work. You, of all people, should see the benefit in that.’

Brad winced. Dayton’s reminder to Georgia of her unequal standing as a non-equity partner within the firm wasn’t a great idea, coming so soon after her self-induced humiliation at the dinner table.

‘Low value work or lower value human beings?’ Georgia’s retort came swift and fierce, as Brad had expected.

‘Before we get too far on with this, gentlemen,’ Brad said, wading in, hoping to calm the waters before Georgia got any more upset, ‘Can I say that to a certain extent I agree with Georgia, although for different reasons. Low value can equal high volume work, which leads to technical skill and experience.’ Georgia took a sharp breath and opened her mouth to speak, but he gave her no leeway to interject, anticipating what, in her already piqued state, her likely objection would be. ‘Not that I’m suggesting that Georgia doesn’t have either experience or knowledge, but variety refreshes our skills and keeps the work interesting. Take it from one who often gets bogged down in a handful of complex cases at a time.’

Dayton shrugged.

‘Let’s leave things as they are then, for the time being.’

Llewellyn looked at his watch.

‘Since we’re not going to progress these discussions any further tonight, I think I might turn in. I suggest we also postpone the last item regarding increasing our office space until we see how the additional revenue from the family section stacks up against the expense of taking on more square footage.’

Brad swore a silent oath. Llewellyn was taking one last stab at Georgia, making her regaining an office conditional on her increasing the revenue from her client list, and ensuring that he got the last word in the process.

‘Why don’t I have a look at the Spencer portfolio and see what’s available? I’m sure Spencer Corp could offer the firm a lease on very favourable terms.’

‘Mates rates?’ Llewellyn asked, smelling a deal.

‘Yes, if you like.’

Brad risked a look at Georgia out of the corner of his eye, worried he was going too far, using his Spencer Corp ‘silver spoon’ resources as leverage to turn the situation around, but her expression was unreadable.

John Dayton stood up.

‘Well that sounds promising, and on that positive note, I’m happy to call it a night as well.’

‘Goodnight all.’

Georgia went to lift herself out of her chair, pressing down on the wooden armrests, but Brad lightly gripped her arm, indicating she should stay. The satin feel of her warm downy skin was a reminder of what she had felt like beside him that night at the penthouse. She shot him a quizzical look that resounded through his abdomen.

Damn.

He had underestimated how difficult it was going to be to sit in this ‘look but don’t touch’ hellhole he had excavated himself into.

‘Thanks for backing me up with those two,’ Georgia said, once both the older partners were well inside and out of earshot.

‘Yes, I thought the old farts would never run out of steam and take themselves off to bed.’

‘You shouldn’t call them that.’ Georgia’s words were censorious, but her tone was anything but. She laughed, the outdoor lighting reflecting in her eyes so that when they danced they looked like white capped waves.

‘Why not? That’s what they are. I bet you had as much fun talking to old Gladys and Doris in there earlier as I had making small talk about cricket and comparing the value of the Australian dollar against the greenback with their husbands.’

She laughed again, much harder this time, dislodging a blonde lock from behind her ear.

‘I am sorry that my coming into the firm has shaken everything up for you, and just when you’ve made partner too.’

He reached over to wind her hair back into place. Sliding his hand down the side of her face, he stroked her cheek with