This story is a sequal to the story "How High a Price" by the Troubador, a story where a husband discovers that his wife has cheated on him, and confronts her. If you haven't read that story yet, please read it before this one, and hopefully, you will get more enjoyment out of this story. A number of different endings have been written to this story, of varying types and scenarios. I'd like to think this is somewhat realistic, and hopefully you, the reader will agree. I would like to thank the Troubador's wife, Pam, for assistance in editing an early draft of this story.
As I sat there, unable to move, and watched my devastated husband walk out the back door of our house, I tried to understand, how I had gotten us to this point, to the real possibility that our marriage may have been irrevocably harmed, and finished.
I thought back to the beginning of this week, a week that started as many others had in the past, but weeks that had never jepordized our love. We had a strong marriage, based on our deep love for, and trust in each other. I don't think either of us had ever felt threatened, or given the other reason to be concerned about that love. In fact, I don't think I could have had a better husband, and I know he felts the same way about me.
As I headed to work that Monday morning, I was almost relieved that my husband, Early was away on business for the week, not that I was glad to be rid of him, but this week was a crucial week for me, career wise. I'm an attorney trying to work my way up to a partnership in the most prestigious firm in the area. It isn't easy for a woman, despite the changing times. Yet I'd been fairly successful to date, and was pleased when I was selected to head up the legal work in an extremely complicated business deal, worth millions to the respective parties and a very hefty fee to our firm. It was hinted that if I could pull the deal off to the satisfaction of our extremely finicky client, the partnership I desired would be mine. It had been my goal for a long time as I felt a partnership would tell the world that I'd arrived as well as providing a better lifestyle for us.
Early has always accepted the fact that my career often involves working extra hours to meet deadlines, but this week would be far more hectic than any other I could remember. I knew that I would have to put in extra hours, and that things would be quite tense, as our clients had called on Sunday to tell us that the timelines had changed, and that if the deal wasn't finished this week, it would collapse. With Early away, I would have no problem devoting my entire week to this project. Even though Early was away, I was comforted by the fact that we would talk every night, just as we always did if one of us was out of town. He had given me his meeting schedule, and I'd filled him in on my expected plans.
I was quite concerned, as negotiations hadn't gone as smoothly as I would've liked. Our clients indicated they felt that things weren't progressing to their satisfaction. I was afraid that I'd be removed from the file as some senior partners expressed doubt in my ability to pull it off.
That's when John stepped up. John Stickner was a senior partner and one of the sharpest minds in the office. He told the others that he'd be pleased to work with me on the file. He said he was confident I could pull things together for the benefit of the client and the firm. Once he said this, you could see the others back down.
The workload was extreme. Meetings with the respective parties went on constantly in an attempt to finalize details. The work in putting the formal agreement in place would be intense. The pace was extremely hectic for all of us.
John is about 15 years older than I am, and an accomplished lawyer. He is quite intense when he works, but very charming in relaxed, social circumstances. He has always been very friendly to me, flirting a bit, and making comments with a sexual innuendo, to which I responded in kind. Maybe the fact I knew he had been divorced for years, let me accept and respond to the sexual nature of his teasing.
I have a great secretary, Jennifer, who has worked for me for a number of years. She is always there to work any necessary hours to meet deadlines and never complains about the intense workload. I know I can always count on her to help me pull things off.
As the week went on, things were nuts. John was always there to offer advice and discuss ideas while letting me run things. When he spoke up during the countless meetings, he always left the impression that he was communicating on my behalf. I understood from others that he was giving me a lot of credit when talking to the partners. But I felt that without his experience and expertise, I wouldn't have gained the necessary confidence of our clients.
Every night, I made sure to phone Early at his hotel. While we discussed our day, Because I knew that his work was quite important to, and the fact I didn't want him worrying about me, I didn't let him know how worried I was about pulling this deal off.
On Wednesday matters reached an impasse. Lengthy meetings didn't resolve the major issues. When we took a supper break, I took the opportunity to make my call to Early. I indicated to him that I was quite busy and would be in the office the next day working on the file.
Then, just after supper a major breakthrough occurred. All the parties got together and worked on hammering out the details and signing the contract before anybody changed their mind. Following the meeting with the client, we got busy in putting together the necessary paperwork. John made countless helpful comments, pointing out little things that would enhance the agreement, while Jennifer slaved away tirelessly in producing the documents. Just before midnight we were getting too tired to think straight and agreed to go home and come in early the next morning to wrap things up.
After a few more hectic hours at the office, we produced a strong, enforceable agreement that met with our clients approval, and passed muster when reviewed by the attorneys for the other side. Just before noon, everybody met at our offices to sign the document. I had pulled it off!!. Albeit with lots of help, especially from John. I realized that without his help, I may not have pulled it off, but because of it, I may get my partnership!
I looked at Jennifer, and realized the tremendous pressure she'd been under to get the document done with the strain from the extra hours she'd put in. I told her to take the rest of the week off, she'd earned it.
As we were talking, John stepped in to say that he was going to take me for a celebration lunch and I likely wouldn't be in the rest of today. Despite my initial protests, he wouldn't take no for an answer from me, telling me that he'd let the receptionist and the senior partners know we'd be gone. Of course, after what John had done to help me, there was no way in the world I would have denied him my company for lunch. I felt it was the least I could do, after all, I was in the mood to celebrate. I knew that without his help, there was no way that I could have pulled off the deal, the one that should deliver my partnership.
