“Great.” Her father headed for the door, brushing by her so hard it knocked the legal pad out of her hand.
“What an ass,” her client said, bending over to pick up her notepad. He held it out to her. “You okay?”
“Yes.” He was trying to intimidate her with his presence. Logically she knew that, but it was still jolting. She started to go for her bag, to get out her bottle of antacids, but she stopped herself and took a breath instead. “Don’t worry. Tactics like that don’t work on me.”
“I know. It’s why I wanted to go with you. I’ve heard you’re just as much a shark as he is.” He jerked his thumb toward the room.
She blinked, hiding her surprise. She wasn’t anything like Julian Holland. She didn’t want to be like him.
That comment sat with her the rest of the day as she navigated the mediation. She hadn’t thought that it was going to amount to anything, but by lunchtime it was looking like they were going to have a deal. After she made sure her client wanted it, she set herself to getting the best terms.
It took another hour, but she managed to get all that was promised to her client as well as half his attorney’s fees.
Her client was effusive in his thanks to her, obviously relieved that this was over. She shook his hand and told him to go ahead while she packed up her things. Mostly she wanted to get a grip before she went back to her office.
She didn’t expect Julian Holland to be waiting for her in the hallway.
She slowed down, suspicious.
He smiled at her. “When I saw you I thought you had a lot of your mom in you, but maybe I was wrong.”
“How is that?” she asked in her neutral legal voice.
“You were impressive in mediation today. Aggressive.” He smiled at her, a look of dark satisfaction in his gaze. “You really are a chip off the block, aren’t you? Maybe I was wrong about you all this time.”
She took a step back. How had she ever thought she wanted his acknowledgment? “I don’t think so.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” Laughing, he started to leave. “Good job today, counselor.”
She watched him leave. Not long ago, she’d have been delighted to have Julian Holland praise her like that. It’d have been vindication.
Now it wasn’t what she wanted at all.
It was miserable out, so she took a cab back to her office. She breezed in, going straight to her floor.
Moira looked up from her desk, and Jules gave her a thumbs-up. “Success,” she said.
Her assistant grinned. “Good job.” Then Moira’s smile faded. “You don’t look as happy as I thought you would.”
She nodded. “Me either,” she agreed, going into her office and closing the door. As she sat down, she checked her phone. She had a missed call from Jamie.
She checked her disappointment that Danny hadn’t called her and called Jamie back.
Jamie answered immediately. “How did the mediation go?”
“It went well.” She sat back in her seat, frowning. “Very well.”
“You don’t sound happy about that,” he observed.
“I am. It’s what happened after that I wasn’t happy about.” She frowned, remembering the paternal pride that she saw in Julian’s eyes. “Julian talked to me.”
She could feel Jamie going on alert over the line. “He was disrespectful?”
“You have strong protective instincts,” she noted, a warm feeling in her chest expanding.
“I’m an only child, but I have cousins whom I’m very close to, and if anyone insulted any of them, yes, I’d take care of it.” He paused. “Are you going to tell me that’s a Neanderthal perspective and that you can take care of yourself?”
“No. I think it’s nice.” She smiled drily. “I would have loved to know you when I was sixteen.”