“Max –”
His eyes moved over my shoulder and he clipped, “Later.”
“Max,” Bitsy said, wheeling up to us with George at her side, she was beaming. “Curt finally did it. Healed the breach.” She was apparently unaware of the catastrophe that had been perpetrated in this room. “It sucks, he did it after dyin’, but at least he did it.”
“Yeah,” Max grunted and Bitsy turned her smile to me.
“It’s a long story but at least it ends well,” she told me.
“Mm hmm,” I mumbled, my hand travelling down Max’s arm to grasp his and his fingers curled around mine in a death grip.
“You must be Nina,” George said and I nodded while trying not to wince. “Bitsy tells me you’re her new attorney,” he went on and my eyes swung to Bitsy who was still grinning ear to ear and then back to George as he kept talking. “And, seein’ as I don’t exactly want to lose her as a client, thought we could talk while these two read their letters from Curtis.”
“Nina’s movin’ to town, George,” Max announced and George’s eyes, still on me, grew shrewd. “Yeah, I’ve seen her in action, you definitely wanna clear an office for her.”
“You’re moving here?” Bitsy asked, even more delighted at this news.
“Well –” I started.
“Yeah,” Max stated.
“That’s great!” Bitsy declared.
“Um…” I mumbled.
“Letters are on the desk, they’re addressed on the envelopes, don’t know what’s in ‘em. It’s weird, the timin’, but Curt just gave ‘em to me to give to you a coupla weeks ago,” George told them and moved to me, taking my elbow and Max dropped my hand as George finished. “We’ll give you a minute.”
He led me out as I looked over my shoulder at Max who jerked his head at George then he followed Bitsy who was wheeling toward the desk. I lost sight of them when George closed the door. Then he led me a couple of feet away and stopped.
“You really movin’ here?” he asked.
“Um…” I answered.
“Need help, seriously, divorces, adoptions, wills, a bunch of snot-nosed, rich kids doin’ shit, petty crime, their parents always wantin’ their kids to have their day in court rather than takin’ their community service or payin’ their fine like they should, teachin’ the kids a lesson. I’m f**kin’ buried.”
I stared at him then said, “Well –”
“Don’t want to lose Elizabeth Dodd as a client, either. If she keeps Curtis’s business alive, she’s a freakin’ cash cow.” My eyes narrowed and George said swiftly, “In a good way, of course.”
“Yes, there are a number of good ways someone could use the term ‘cash cow’ when referring to a human being,” I retorted.
“Still, you see what I’m sayin’,” he told me.
“I do indeed,” I replied.
“Send me your resume, I’ll have a look,” he invited.
“Why don’t you send me yours and I’ll see if I want an office here or if I want to put up my own shingle,” I returned.
His brows shot up and he asked, “Competition?”
“I know it’ll be a new thing for you as Max told me you’re the only business in town but I decide to go that way, I’m sure you’ll get into the spirit of things.”
His hands came up in a placating gesture. “I see no reason to shake things up, Nina. You got experience, we can work together.”
“We may be able to work together if I never hear you refer to Bitsy or anyone else as a cash cow. They’re clients with issues we need to help them sort. Not dollar signs. Or at least that’s the way I work. Am I understood?”
He grinned. “So you’re one of those?”