to know where things stood. How important was she to her? What were they to her? Then maybe she could figure out how she felt. She wasn’t sure she knew the answers to those questions for herself. Damn that woman.
She made the sign of the cross.
***
Monday started with meetings for Juanita and they just kept coming. Shit had hit the fan then spread across the room and smeared the walls. There were briefings and brainstorming sessions. The partners had circled the wagons and were now sending out the troops. She had come out of one meeting and went to the next. As one of the more experienced lawyers she was expected to know things, as one of the non-partners, there were things she didn’t need to know. That was the environment she was working in.
She stood and stretched.
“Great ideas Juanita. Can’t wait to see the info you bring to the next meeting. You’ll have that ready to report on this afternoon?”
“Sure Frank. I’ll just put it in a power presentation so you can understand it.”
He looked at her.
“I already started before I came in. I was serious. You’ll see it by this afternoon.”
Frank shook his head and walked out of the conference room. Juanita blew out a breath of air. One day her mouth was going to get the best of her. She pulled out her phone.
Maria. This was at least the fifth time she had pulled out her phone to call her. Even with all the shit that had been happening around the office she wanted to call her. Or maybe because of all the shit that had been happening. She was sure she’d have some crazy story related to some meeting or how something like it had happened at her shop.
She started a text. If you can’t call, text; right?
… Love you Juanita. Wait. What? Where did that come from? Love. It was way too early for that type of talk. Wasn’t it?
“Hey Juanita. We’re headed over to Sammy’s for lunch and to think of some different angles to attack this possible lawsuit. You in?”
“Yeah I’ll be right there,” said Juanita.
She looked at her phone and put it in her pantsuit pocket. Maybe it was too early for a love you sign off. She’d think about it later. She had a report presentation to finish and lunch to do now. The text never got sent.
***
The next day Juanita called Maria.
“Hey, you busy?”
“Yeah. I got client’s backed up and running around trying to get everybody taken care of. How’s the case?”
“No case. Just prep. And it’s a shit show but it’s not a flaming shit show yet. -”
“Listen. Hold on for a sec,” said Maria.
Juanita could hear her yelling in the background. She smiled. I bet she’s pretty hot when she’s angry.
“Sorry. I’m back. What were you saying?”
“About how there wasn’t a case yet. We’re actually hoping not to go to court. If we can -”
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