Page 32 of It’s Me, but Different
Sloane
The lamb River prepared practically gets stuck in my throat when Harper drops a folder on the table that none of us expected to see during a family lunch.
“Seriously, Harper?” I protest, slamming my fork against the plate harder than necessary. “Work documents during the meal? Are we going back to Dad's times, or what's happening now?”
“It's just an idea,” my older sister defends herself, shrugging with that expression of someone who has the situation perfectly under control that she usually uses in business meetings. “Esme mentioned some concerns about the partner position at the Denver firm, and I thought maybe she'd be interested in taking a look at this first. Of course, it doesn't have to be right now.”
Esme raises her eyebrows, setting her red wine glass on the table cautiously.
“What kind of concerns?” she asks with surprise.
“The ones you mentioned to me earlier,” Harper indicates, opening the folder. “About the travel the new job would require, the long hours that would take you away from Ana Sofia and Theo, the pressure to bill a minimum number of hours that would practically force you to live in the office.”
From the other end of the table, River gives me a wink while cutting a piece of lamb. Anika smiles next to her, and I can barely contain my rage.
“Why don't you mind your own business and leave us alone for once?” I whisper, taking advantage of Esme being distracted.
“I wouldn't call them concerns,” Esme corrects. “They're realities of that job. If I want a partner position at the firm, I have to make sacrifices.”
“Of course, of course,” Harper nods. “That's normal in law firms. But what if there was another way? Have you ever considered working for a company's legal department instead of a firm?”
“What do you mean?”
Harper spreads several documents on the table, charts and maps I recognize from the last board meeting.
“Our hotel chain is in full expansion,” she explains. “We have confirmed projects in Colorado and Utah. All in mountain areas, and all present unique environmental challenges.”
“And?” Esme asks, though I can see the interest in her gaze.
“And we need specialized legal help,” my older sister continues. “Not just to comply with existing regulations, but to stay ahead of them. To implement sustainable practices that make us industry leaders.”
Esme takes one of the documents and examines it carefully. It's a report full of technical terms that give me a headache every time I hear them in the few meetings I attend, but seem to fascinate her.
“This project is very well planned,” she comments. “But I see at least three areas where it could be improved.”
Harper smiles proudly. Esme has found in five minutes small gaps that our legal team missed.
“That's why I'm thinking of incorporating a full-time environmental lawyer. Someone who can help us do things right from the beginning.”
Esme looks up from the document, and I can see the wheels turning in her head.
“Are you offering me a job?”
“I'm presenting a possibility,” my sister rushes to respond. “The headquarters would be here, in Silver Peaks. Logically, you'd have to travel occasionally to places where new hotels would be located, but most of the work would be done from here. You'd have a budget to hire external consultants and total autonomy to establish the protocols you consider necessary.”
Esme looks at her surprised, not really knowing what to say.
“The salary would be lower than what you'll probably receive in Denver, but life in Silver Peaks is much cheaper, and accommodation and food could be free if you decide to live in the hotel,” Harper adds.
“That project in Utah is very ambitious,” she comments, looking at the document again. “Do you really plan to build a completely sustainable resort? Renewable energy, waste management, zero impact on the local ecosystem…”
“That's the plan,” my sister confirms.
Esme leaves the documents on the table and leans back in her chair, processing what she just heard.
“Can I ask you something?” she finally asks.
“Sure.”