Chapter Twenty-Nine
David wasn't the only equity partner upset about Stern's return and more of them showed up one by one in Diane's office during the day, waiting for a reassurance that nothing's going to change. This lead to Diane and Will calling together a partner's meeting for the afternoon to convince them everything is all right at the top, although it's not the case. And of course a few minutes into the meeting it's already obvious to everyone else.
Stern cuts the greeting short and rushes to suggest a vote about promoting one of his people to equity partner, that takes both Diane and Will by surprise. He hasn't been there more than a few hours, but he is already feeling comfortable in his old chair. Diane and Will share a look, while the partners already start arguing about whether or not they need another person at the already crowded table.
It was the same when Diane proposed to sign the agreement with Eli, it's always the same, whenever there's a vote, there's something to argue about. She doesn't even listen or cares about who the lawyer is. It would mean another vote in Stern's pocket and that's enough reason not to support them.
When it comes to voting, his motion fortunately falls short, but it gets more support than Diane would have thought and she considers it as a warning sign. While Stern was gone, 'his people' ended up in either her or Will's camp, but they will surely find back to their roots, if they don't do something to keep them.
Of course Stern and probably everyone else take note of her and Will voting against his motion. It might have been different had he discussed it with them beforehand, but all he did during his first day, was making sure they know he doesn't intend to retire anytime soon. She knows he has called all his clients and friends for support, that's how he ended up calling Lynn's father too.
She wasn't sure why she didn't like when Lynn told her her father is friends with Jonas, she just had an odd feeling about it, now it's clear it was justified. Of course she is sure of Lynn's support, but their relationship might still be affected by this new war if they let it.
"Shame on you both," Jonas steps out of the conference room last, leaving Diane and Will alone with his final words.
"Soon he will leave us no other choice, than to vote him out," she hears Will's voice from beside her.
"We can't do that."
"Of course we can," Will insists, but Diane just shakes her head.
Jonas has been her mentor, her friend, her partner for long years. It's one thing to come to an agreement of buying him out and it's another to get rid of him against his will. No one deserves such a treatment and she most certainly can't support Will in this matter. She sighs as she stands up, realizing only now that the consequences of their wish to have the firm all to themselves are going to be more serious than she ever imagined.
o-o-o
Diane lets herself in Lynn's house, hoping to find her home already. She probably would have told her about Stern tonight anyway, so she doesn't mind that she made her that promise. It's one of those rare days when she needs to talk to someone outside the office and maybe Lynn will be able to make her feel better.
"Hey," Lynn welcomes her with a smile and a loving kiss that lifts Diane's spirit at once and she even considers getting lost in her arms before anything, but she also wants to keep her word, so she stops that chain of thought and pulls away when she does.
She needs to learn to share things with her partner, because that's what a relationship should be about. It might even make it easier for her to get used to the idea of meeting Lynn's parents someday, even if the thought scares the hell out of her now and she's actually glad Lynn didn't have the chance to mention her to her father today.
"We have food and we have wine," Lynn points at the table that is already set for them.
"Just what I need," Diane places a quick thank you kiss on the red lips before they both approach the table and take their seats.
"So how was your day?"
"Awful," Diane confesses after a deep sigh, "Stern is back and wants to rule again and it's entirely our fault."
"Dad said you wanted to buy him out."
Diane regrets that she hadn't told Lynn about this and she had to hear it from someone else first, even though she knows she can trust her judgment and appreciates that she wants to know what happened from her point of view as well.
"Yes, we never thought he'd react like this. He hasn't been in the office for more than some quick visits lately, he didn't seem to care as long as he got his paycheck. And now he's already schmoozing our clients as if he was never gone."
"Is he even well enough to get back in the game?"
"Probably not. He's obviously acting out of spite, while we only wanted a solution we can all profit from."
"Yet he thought you stabbed him in the back."
Diane isn't surprised at her choice of words, she can imagine Jonas telling that around.
"Is that what your father said?"
"Yes," Lynn admits and Diane can see how she feels slightly embarrassed.
"That's why you didn't mention us," she concludes in a soft tone of voice.
"He also said you have a cold and cut-throat reputation."
"Maybe I should take that as a compliment," Diane chuckles lightly, breaking the seriousness of the conversation. She is aware of her reputation after all, and those are the qualities most lawyers have to possess if they want to get ahead.
"Maybe," Lynn replies with a shy grin, but Diane can see how she is still affected by her father's opinion of her.
"I'm sorry that he thinks we are the bad guys here. But we will try to get on the same page with Jonas, because that's in the firm's best interest. It might take some time though."
It's a little awkward that a business decision interferes with her private life like that, not that she'd made a different one, had she thought of the possibility.
"I understand and believe me, my father will too. He doesn't know you yet. He will be surprised how different you can be outside of work."
She wants to believe her, otherwise she might never agree to this meeting. She is in her fifties, she's too old for caring about what her girlfriend's parents think of her.
"You know how nervous it makes me, the idea of meeting your parents someday. I haven't been introduced to parents since college."
"And I haven't introduced anyone to them in a long time," Lynn reassures her it's just as big a step for her, as for Diane, but they both feel it's the right thing to do. Keeping their relationship a secret from the rest of the world already requires enough effort, they shouldn't hide it from the people closest to them.
"So how much longer can we postpone the introductions?" she tries to focus on the bright side of the events, that she's gained time to get used to the thought. And it's obvious that Lynn's taken her father's words more to her heart than she has, but she will make sure that she doesn't dwell on them for too long.
"I think I'll wait until the next family dinner to tell them about you, even though I'm meeting my mom this Friday, so maybe if the time is right I can tell her. If you still allow me to."
"Of course," Diane reassures her with a smile, "Maybe it's even better if they actually get to know me instead of basing their opinion on things they hear from Jonas. It's sad that a long friendship and partnership has come to this," she adds with a sigh, admitting that she actually feels hurt.
"I'm sorry. You know I'm here for you," Lynn's comforting voice and the touch of her hand on hers manages to bring the smile back on her face at once.
Having someone to come home to, to share her feelings with, she's learning to appreciate the thing this relationship offers to her day after day.
"Thank you. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you this sooner, I…"
"Ssssh, you don't have to explain anything. If anyone needs to apologize, it's me, for not keeping my end of the deal. I should have told my father nevertheless. But for what it's worth, I stood up for you and defended you."
"I appreciate it and I understand that you didn't feel like it was the right time. I just want you to know that I don't blame your father for taking Jonas' side, but I'm looking forward to proving him wrong."
"You and me both," Lynn's smile finally seems genuine and Diane returns it happily.
"What do you say we forget about all of this for the rest of the night?" she suggests, satisfied with how they resolved the issue.
"Already forgotten," Lynn replies and leans in for a kiss to prove she means it.
