Part 5 (1/2)

The secretary smiled over at Brian. ”Mr. Brown and Mr. Samuels would like to see you now, Mr. Lawson.”

Brian returned her smile as he stood to his feet. He figured the two men had asked to meet with him because of his successful handling of the charity drive for children with leukemia. Every year one of the attorneys working for the firm would chair the event. This had been his year and he had helped raise over five hundred thousand dollars on the firm's behalf.

”Come on in, Brian,” Talbert Brown called out to him the moment he opened the door. ”Please come join me and Minor in a toast.” It was then that he saw the bottle of champagne on ice and the gla.s.ses already filled with the bubbly drink.

Brian nodded and then accepted the gla.s.s of champagne that Mr. Brown handed to him. He figured the partners were going all out just for a good showing in the charity drive.

”Do you know why we invited you here today, Brian?”

He met Talbert Brown's deep blue eyes. ”I a.s.sume it's to celebrate the money we raised for the Leukemia Foundation drive.”

Minor Samuels chuckled. ”There is a reason to celebrate that, too, but that's not why you're here.”

Brian lifted a brow. ”It's not?”

Talbert leaned against his desk. ”Your father worked hard for this firm and it saddened us to remove his name as partner when he pa.s.sed away.”

Brian remembered his father working for the firm. According to his mother he'd become employed with them right after college. He'd been partner for five years when he died.

”Minor and I worked right alongside of him and the three of us made partners the same time under my father's leaders.h.i.+p.” A sad smile touched his lips before he added, ”We went out to celebrate the following weekend and it was one of the last times we had a chance to really party together on the town. After that we spent every waking moment working our b.u.t.ts off.”

Brian wondered why they were telling him all of this now. Evidently that question was reflected in his gaze, because Talbert then said, ”You've been doing a fine job for us, Brian, one that we are proud of, one that your father would be proud of. So it seems right that you should take his place in this firm.”

Brian wasn't sure he was hearing correctly. Were they saying what he thought they were saying?

”Yes, that's what we're saying,” Talbert said, as if he was reading his mind again. ”And it's not that we think we owe you anything because of your father, son. It's because you've earned a place here. Effective Monday, this firm will become Brown, Samuels and Lawson.”

The words sent instant shudders through Brian and he stared at the two men in disbelief. He hadn't expected to be considered for partner for a couple more years down the road. There were others who'd been working at the firm longer than he had.

”That's not all, Brian.”

He blinked. ”It's not?”

”No. We have more good news to share,” Talbert said, beaming.

Brian wasn't sure he could handle any more good news. ”You do?”

”Yes. Your father became partner on your tenth birthday. I can remember it clearly because we couldn't celebrate that day because he had to leave to cohost your party. One of the perks of becoming partner is the firm's trust fund that can be set up for family members. Well, your father established one in your name with a twenty-year maturity date.”

Minor then picked up the conversation. ”Patrick was a smart man because it matured the year you decided to get married. Extra money will definitely come in handy now, don't you think?”

Brian nodded in agreement. ”Yes, sir, it definitely will.” He wasn't sure how much money they were talking about, but just the thought that his father had had the foresight to do something like that touched him deeply.

Over the years he'd enjoyed the finer things in life but had always looked out for his future, cultivating a really nice nest egg. He'd made several good investment choices and his money had been kept safe and secure even during the Wall Street fiasco. Many would be surprised to know just how solid his financial portfolio looked.

Minor reached behind him to retrieve an envelope off his desk. ”Here you are.”

Brian accepted the sealed envelope and nervously tore it open. He stared at it and then blinked, not believing what he saw. It took a minute to catch his breath and another minute to stop the erratic beating of his heart. He slowly glanced up at the two men in shock. ”This is mine?” he asked in an incredulous tone.

”Yes, it's yours from your father and the continued success of this firm, which you've helped make possible. Every year that the company made a profit, a percentage of it was matched against the amount that was held in trust. ”

Brian was speechless. Still standing-but barely-he stared down at the check. He glanced up and asked, ”Did my mother know about this?”

”Yes, she knew, and as your guardian she could have taken the funds out at any time. However, she chose to let it remain in trust until maturity.”

Brian drew in a deep breath and glanced back down at the check. Thanks to Mr. Brown and Mr. Samuels he had become a partner in the firm. And thanks to his father and his mother, he'd become a millionaire.

She quickly clicked over to the other line. ”Brian?”

”Yes, baby?”

”You're calling early tonight. What's up?” she asked, sitting up in bed.

”Can you come out this weekend if I were to send for you?”

She pushed her hair behind her head. They hadn't seen each other since the engagement party two weeks ago. And then they had been surrounded by so much family they hadn't had a chance to spend a lot of time together alone.

She smiled as she eased back down in bed. ”Are you missing me?”

”I'm always missing you, baby. I can't wait until you're here with me permanently.”

She couldn't wait until she was there with him, too.

”But there's also another reason I want you here.”

She lifted a brow. ”And what reason is that?” It was then that she noticed something in his voice. It was still deep, husky and s.e.xy, but she also detected something else. Excitement maybe?

”I made partner today.”

Erica jerked upward, nearly dropping the phone out of her hand. ”What? But you figured it would be another couple of years before you'd be considered for that. And that there were so many other attorneys ahead of you.”

”Well, today Mr. Brown and Mr. Samuels informed me that I was their choice, and more than anything I want you here this weekend to celebrate with me.”

Erica drew in a deep breath and fought back tears. She was so proud of him. From the time she'd met Brian she'd been aware of what a fantastic attorney he was. He worked hard and was deserving of whatever achievements came his way.

”I can't imagine being anywhere else this weekend other than there helping you celebrate. And you don't have to send for me. I can pay for my own ticket.”

”I know, but I want to. I'll call you tomorrow with all the flight details.”

”Okay.”