I relished in the victory of the moment, keenly aware of the frayed edges, the reality of facing the next steps in the process. The partners had already told us that we would have a meeting either today or tomorrow depending on how long the jury took to deliberate. It was late afternoon now which led me to surmise the meeting would be the next day.

The other partners would be there also, some of whom we had only met in passing. I knew that one of them would be retiring soon which is what would open the spot for either myself or Aiden, depending on what they decided. Now that the case was over, I had no choice but to face the music.

After the emotions of the trial began to dissipate I couldn’t help but feel the ever present sadness creeping back into my psyche. Aiden had always been a friend, even when we had lost touch, he was kind of always there, through conversations with my mother and updates in passing. I had always felt that if we had ever reconnected that we had the type of friendship that would simply pick up where we had left off, and for a while that is what I thought had happened.

I stood in the court room and watched Aiden interact with the Shaw family as they each took turns to thank him. The crush of reality began to settle upon me, and I knew I had to get out of there before I embarrassed myself or anyone around me.

I wanted to burst into tears if anything just to get the release of emotion out of the way.

The cloak of loneliness wrapped around me despite the press of people and voices. I turned and focused on gathering my belongings to leave the court room. I had begun to feel that my entire life were falling apart. The case was over so I had nothing to distract me. If the choice of the partners settled on Aiden then I knew I would have nothing left. I felt as if my entire life were falling apart.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mr. Mahoney approach with Aiden in tow.

"I wanted to congratulate you both on a job well done," he said once he had both us in proximity. "The other partners and I couldn’t have expected a better team than the two of you proved to be. It has been a real pleasure to watch the two of you work."

"Thank you, sir,” I said.

I glanced towards Aiden but he avoided my eyes, keeping his face turned firmly towards Mr. Mahoney.

The eternal suck up, I thought to myself.

There were still elements of the past few days that didn’t make sense to me, and I wondered if the partners had any idea the dynamic that existed between the two of us all while working on the case. Ms. Klein had hinted that they had, but I remained uncertain.

Perhaps she had kept it to herself.

I hoped.

I turned back to focus on Mr. Mahoney's words.

"No doubt you both need a break. We would like for the two of you to come to the office after a thirty minute recess,” he said. "The other members of the board will also be present."

This late in the day?

My heart began to thump harder.

This was it.

"We'll be there," Aiden said with a confident smile.

I also tried to smile, but it felt false stretched across my face.

This was it!

My mind could think of nothing else but the moment that loomed before me. I didn’t know how I could survive another half an hour of not knowing.

As soon as Mr. Mahoney left, Aiden turned away from me without a word.

I couldn’t stand it.

I would have felt better if he had even said something snarky or hateful, but the infernal silence felt like a dagger in my heart. I left the courtroom, debating on whether or not to grab some lunch before heading over.

In the end I drove around the block, killing time and feeling as if my mind would burst. With ten minutes to spare I stepped onto the elevator that led up to the pale waiting room into which I had stepped so many weeks ago.

Aiden had already arrived and had his back to the elevator doors when I stepped out. He stood with his hands in his pockets, looking out the window to the far right of the room, his reflection in the full length window glanced towards me but then quickly went back to examining the sky line.

Across from me sat Willa, silent and watchful behind the huge desk. I smiled and nodded to her and made my way to the furthest couch as far away from Aiden as I could be without leaving the room altogether.

I picked up a magazine and stared at the pages, flipping through without seeing any of it. The seconds ticked by, with Aiden and I continuing to ignore one another. I didn’t know if the partners were in the office or if they would arrive via the elevator.

Aiden walked over and sat across from me picking up a magazine. He mirrored my movements across the great glass table between us and looked at me until I looked up at him.

My wordless glare told him everything he needed to know before I shifted and became engrossed in my magazine once more, plainly ignoring him.

The recipe for easy breakfast muffins had never seemed so interesting. The only sound in the room was that of Willa's fingers tapping away at her keyboard. Emails, perhaps. Data entry. No doubt something vitally important to the running of the firm.

At exactly three minutes to the hour Mr. Mahoney entered the waiting room from the back office. Aiden turned towards him and stood to greet him, smoothing out the fabric of his jacket. I stood and put the magazine down on the table.

Both Aiden and I took an expectant step towards him, expecting him to lead us back to the office. To our surprise he raised his hands and offered an obsequious smile.

I was unsure what to do next.

"We appreciate your patience. If the two of you will bear with us just a few moments longer," he said. "The board would like to meet with each of you one at a time. Aiden, we will be seeing you in just a few moments. Ms. Michaels, if you care to follow me."

He gestured for me to join him down the hallway.

I did my best to keep my posture and face in a professional manner as I followed him. The plush softness of the carpet threatened to swallow me whole with each step I took. I had never notice the length of the building of before.

My stomach had turned into knots and I felt as if I might throw up at any moment.

I was glad that I hadn’t eaten after all.

The look on his face had revealed nothing when he had come to gather me from the waiting room. We arrived at the office door and he opened it, inviting me to step in. The other members of the board sat around the conference table on the other side of the office. I stepped inside and they all stood for introductions. Ms. Klein introduced me as Mr. Mahoney took his place at the head of the table.

"Everyone this is Blair Michaels," Ms. Klein said. She gestured to each member in turn, two that I had only seen in passing. "This is Jack Warren, our newest partner."

"How do you do," I said, shaking the hand of the silver haired gentlemen with his hand extended.

Ms. Klein continued, "And this is Frederick Klein, one of the founding members of the firm and my brother. He will be retiring at the end of this month."

"And not a moment too soon!" he bellowed as he shook my hand.

"It's an honor to meet you sir," I said, hoping that my voice sounded more confident than I felt.

"If you would have a seat Ms. Michaels."

Mr. Mahoney gestured to the empty chair across from the partners. I did so, but couldn’t help but to feel like someone on the receiving end of an interrogation.

They all faced me with calm resting faces that I couldn’t read in the slightest bit. I stilled my hands from shaking by folding my fingers together and placing them on my lap under the table. I concentrated on keeping my features subdued but attentive.