Page 45 of When Javi Dumped Mari

Mari

Seven Months and Three Weeks Before the Wedding

I’m drafting an email to my father proposing that we explore the possibility of expanding to New York when I hear a knock at my office door. I look up to see Alex Cordero, the firm’s resident thirst trap, standing at the threshold.

“Well, if it isn’t the rainmaker,” I say with a smile.

He inches forward, heat staining his cheeks. “It was nothing.”

“Don’t tell my father that. He’s been floating through the hallways since Atlas Music signed the retainer. Congratulations, by the way. You’re bringing in the kind of clients that are going to grow our business.”

“Well, all these new lawyers we’re hiring need work on their plates. With Atlas on our roster, the associates shouldn’t have any trouble meeting their billable-hour targets.”

“That’s certainly true.”

He stares at me in silence. It’s about to get awkward, so I ask, “What’s up? Is there something you need?”

“Actually, there is. I was—”

My father glides into the office, unconcerned that he’s interrupting a conversation, and slaps Alex on the back. “There he is: the man who’s going to retire me before I turn sixty-five.”

Alex has the good grace to look embarrassed by my father’s praise. “I don’t think I’ll be doing that single-handedly, sir.”

“No, no, of course not. But people need leaders, and you’re certainly on your way to being one of them. This deal with Atlas Music has put everyone on notice: Keep up with Alex Cordero or get left behind.”

“Yes, that certainly sounds like something our millennial employees would say to themselves,” I joke.

Alex grins at me, and my mouth twitches. It’s a moment of camaraderie that tells me he’s not completely under my dad’s thumb. Thank goodness.

“Well, I don’t pretend to know what you people think anymore,” my father says, “but I understand the language of success, and you, Alex, are helping us thrive.”

“Speaking of thriving,” I say, “I was just drafting an email to you about the New York office. The paralegals are putting together a list of real estate agents we can contact about leasing opportunities.”

My father thrusts his hands in his pants pockets and ducks his head.

“Let’s hold off on that research, Marisol.

Atlas Music wants us to revamp its licensing agreements, and we’re going to need plenty of manpower to get it all done within their time frame.

We’ll need your help. And the help of the paralegals too.

Let’s focus on the business we have before we start considering business we’re not sure we’ll ever get. ”

“But—”

“We can talk about it another time, Marisol. I need to get on a call.”

“Sure,” I say glumly.

My father fist-bumps Alex on the way out.

Well, shit. I move the email I was typing to my drafts folder.

“For what it’s worth, I think opening a New York office is a great idea.”

“Your opinion’s worth a lot, apparently,” I grumble.

“He’s just riding the high of the Atlas deal. It won’t last forever, so don’t give up on New York.”

I nod. “Never planned to. That’s kind of my thing: not giving up.”

He gives me a lopsided grin. “That’s kind of what I like about you.” He spins on his heel and walks to the door.

“Oh, Alex, wait!”

He turns back. “Yeah?”

“Didn’t you come in here to ask me something? What’s up?”

“Right! I’m operating on my C game,” he says, shaking his head. “I, uh, I stopped by to see if you’d be interested in grabbing coffee or getting dinner sometime soon. Whenever you want.”

I immediately think about Javi. About what the terrible, no-good date with Sam and subsequent hookup with Javi revealed.

About being stuck. About always wondering what I mean to him.

And although the way my father thinks the sun rises and sets in Alex’s eyes is a yellow flag, I’m intrigued by the fact that he hasn’t let his success or my father’s man crush get to him.

I said I wanted to move forward, so this is me doing just that.

I smile at Alex and resist the urge to twirl one of my curls. “Dinner would be nice.”