I've talked to mentors. I've processed this thing from every professional angle I know. And you just in two sentences. You were ready to hear it, he said. That's not me.
That's you being ready. She looked up. Her eyes were bright in a way that was not quite tears, but was close to the territory. You do that, she said. Do what?
Give away the credit. He almost smiled. Someone told me not do that. Someone was right. They looked at each other across the table and the kitchen held the kind of quiet that comes after the real things have been said and the room has had a moment to adjust to them.
Then Clare said, "I need to tell you something else and this one is harder. " He waited. She took a breath. David Hart called me last month. The reason I'm telling you now is it's relevant to something that's happening and I should have told you sooner. She set down her mug.
He's trying to rebuild the firm. He wants me back. He made an offer. The kitchen went very still. What kind of offer?
Marcus said, "Partnership reinstatement. Full equity. Significantly higher compensation than I'd arranged with my current clients. " She kept her voice steady. It's a lot of money. Marcus, it's the kind of number that doesn't leave the room when you try to think around it.
And he said. She looked at him directly. And I didn't say yes. Did you say no? A pause.
One beat too long. I said I'd think about it, she said. He sat with that. He was careful with what he said next. Not because he was managing himself, but because the thing he was feeling deserved to be understood before it was spoken.
When did he call? Marcus said 3 weeks ago. He did the math. 3 weeks ago was the week before the beach. Before the accidental meeting, before the Tuesday mornings and the beach walks and the charity event and the kitchen table at 11:00 at night with tea going cold between them.