everybody else is incompetent, greedy or both," he said bluntly. " Dunelm & Pike is dying. There is too much conflict within the firm. It's losing focus and the business just isn't coming in, out here away from the city.
We need to be in the midst of it all where the real corporate giants are. I want to start again in the city with new premises, a new attitude, and fresh blood on the team. I need sharp minds and lawyers with energy and drive. Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Towler, and after considering many other talented lawyers, Mr. Turner and I have decided that we'd like you to be our third partner. Pike, Turner & Towler . What do you think?"
Daniel was left speechless. The opportunity was gigantic and something that he had been working towards his entire life. Matthew Pike was a legend. Stephen was one of the best there was among his generation of lawyers, and both were asking him to get on board with a partnership that could catapult them to success.
With Pike's experience and pull, Stephen's eye for finance and Daniel's skill at bringing in new clients, they would make an unstoppable team and Daniel had always known that his future was in the city.
Except, now, his future was also in a tiny unborn child that he'd promised to raise. He gave it a moment for the shock of the proposal to sink in, cleared his throat and began to ask questions.
"What's the timeline on this proposal?" he asked, looking at Pike.
"We begin founding the partnership today,” Stephen replied. "We move premises in three months. We bring in clients from month four. We win our first dynamite case month six. Bam. We're in business."
"Wow. This sounds like an incredible opportunity." Daniel stammered out.
"You seem unsure, Mr. Towler." Pike commented. "Is there something holding you back?"
"I have a child on the way," he confessed. "The partnership is my dream, but the timing is a little... off."
"When's the child due?" Stephen asked him.
"Two months."
Stephen and Matthew exchanged glances and Matthew sat back in thought. His jaw moved up and down as he considered the options as though he were literally chewing on ideas and at last, he spoke.
"We want you,” he said at last. "This is how it is: We're going to be in the city in three months. We want you there. I say that you take your time to think about it until your kid is born. In the meantime, we'll track down premises and begin to set up the firm. By the end of June, we'll be ready to open doors. Stephen and I are going to talk to our second choice lawyer and tell him you are on the fence.
On the first of July, we open doors for business. If you're there, your name goes up on the wall. If not, it will be someone else. Does that sound fair?"
"More than fair." Daniel said eagerly. "Thank you, sir."
The trio discussed a few more details and then left after another round of handshakes. Daniel was left shaken by the encounter. Going to the city as a partner of his own firm was beyond his wildest dreams. Most lawyers couldn't hope to achieve that kind of seniority until well into their fifties.
Of course, it would be a new firm, starting from the ground up, but that was the kind of challenge that got Daniel's heart pumping and made him feel alive. He would get to work alongside the best and brightest and work with some of the most prestigious clients in the market. It was all he'd ever wanted.
Then there was Carla. Daniel had grown more than fond of her during the pregnancy. She had a calming effect on him and made him laugh when nobody else could. He couldn't imagine life without her now, but, then again, his career had always been the very essence of who he was.
He decided that the only thing to do was to sit Carla down and have a frank discussion about their options. Perhaps things would work out if he only spoke to her and broke from his usual habit of keeping everything from the women in his life. He hailed a cab and headed to her apartment.
When she opened the door to him,
We need to be in the midst of it all where the real corporate giants are. I want to start again in the city with new premises, a new attitude, and fresh blood on the team. I need sharp minds and lawyers with energy and drive. Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Towler, and after considering many other talented lawyers, Mr. Turner and I have decided that we'd like you to be our third partner. Pike, Turner & Towler . What do you think?"
Daniel was left speechless. The opportunity was gigantic and something that he had been working towards his entire life. Matthew Pike was a legend. Stephen was one of the best there was among his generation of lawyers, and both were asking him to get on board with a partnership that could catapult them to success.
With Pike's experience and pull, Stephen's eye for finance and Daniel's skill at bringing in new clients, they would make an unstoppable team and Daniel had always known that his future was in the city.
Except, now, his future was also in a tiny unborn child that he'd promised to raise. He gave it a moment for the shock of the proposal to sink in, cleared his throat and began to ask questions.
"What's the timeline on this proposal?" he asked, looking at Pike.
"We begin founding the partnership today,” Stephen replied. "We move premises in three months. We bring in clients from month four. We win our first dynamite case month six. Bam. We're in business."
"Wow. This sounds like an incredible opportunity." Daniel stammered out.
"You seem unsure, Mr. Towler." Pike commented. "Is there something holding you back?"
"I have a child on the way," he confessed. "The partnership is my dream, but the timing is a little... off."
"When's the child due?" Stephen asked him.
"Two months."
Stephen and Matthew exchanged glances and Matthew sat back in thought. His jaw moved up and down as he considered the options as though he were literally chewing on ideas and at last, he spoke.
"We want you,” he said at last. "This is how it is: We're going to be in the city in three months. We want you there. I say that you take your time to think about it until your kid is born. In the meantime, we'll track down premises and begin to set up the firm. By the end of June, we'll be ready to open doors. Stephen and I are going to talk to our second choice lawyer and tell him you are on the fence.
On the first of July, we open doors for business. If you're there, your name goes up on the wall. If not, it will be someone else. Does that sound fair?"
"More than fair." Daniel said eagerly. "Thank you, sir."
The trio discussed a few more details and then left after another round of handshakes. Daniel was left shaken by the encounter. Going to the city as a partner of his own firm was beyond his wildest dreams. Most lawyers couldn't hope to achieve that kind of seniority until well into their fifties.
Of course, it would be a new firm, starting from the ground up, but that was the kind of challenge that got Daniel's heart pumping and made him feel alive. He would get to work alongside the best and brightest and work with some of the most prestigious clients in the market. It was all he'd ever wanted.
Then there was Carla. Daniel had grown more than fond of her during the pregnancy. She had a calming effect on him and made him laugh when nobody else could. He couldn't imagine life without her now, but, then again, his career had always been the very essence of who he was.
He decided that the only thing to do was to sit Carla down and have a frank discussion about their options. Perhaps things would work out if he only spoke to her and broke from his usual habit of keeping everything from the women in his life. He hailed a cab and headed to her apartment.
When she opened the door to him,
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