I walked into Bright pages publishing, with my new blazer giving me the illusion of professional invincibility. This was my life now: fact, structure and forward movement.
I was escorted by Ms. Eleanor Wells to the owner of the publishing company's office.
Eleanor : "Mr. Vance needs immediate support. He is finalizing a major, important acquisition. This is sink or swim. You are his shadow. He despises chaos. Just go straight to analysis ".
She led me to the huge corner office. Theodore Vance was standing by his desk, looking impossibly severe.
Theodore : "You are Simone. Good, we start with the legal structure. I need ruthlessness not sentiment. Can you focus entirely on the facts of this contract?"
"Yes, Mr Vance," I replied, my voice steady.
Theodore :"Take a seat then. We need to go over the liability clause. I need to know why this document, drafted by a presumed barrister, feels so flimsy. Tell me where the structural weakness is."
For the next fifteen minutes, Theodore fired questions. I filtered the emotional language from the cold, hard facts of the contract, meeting his intensity with my own new found analytical focus. He gave a nod of approval. Then, his phone buzzed. He picked it up, sighed heavily and pressed the speaker button.
Theodore : (on a call) "Julian what is it? I'm working. Make it fast".
My breathing stopped. Julian. The music, the dance floor, the immediate connection, the feeling of the hug on the balcony. The words he said 'Go home Simone'.
Julian's voice : "Ted, you have to help me with this acquisition contract. Dad wants me to take over the firm, and I am drowning in the details! I'm supposed to be a barrister, but I am spending my time fixing this mess."
Theodore: ( A short, harsh laugh) "you are the mess, Julian and if you want to be a barrister, stop relying on charm and start focusing on the law. I'm not reviewing your contract. I have actual work that matters to me".
Theodore slammed his fingers down on the speaker button, cutting the call. He looked back at me, entirely oblivious.
I felt a dizzying mix of disbelief and a strange sense of fate, when I figured that Theodore was Julian's elder brother. This was the world playing a bizarre trick on me.
Theodore : "Simone? The liability clause, is the weakness concealed, or is visible?"
"It's on page four, Mr. Vance. It's deliberately ambiguous. It lacks visible support ". Theodore nodded, satisfied. I just sat there, realizing my story had just taken a shocking, exciting detour.