The firm

It was an invitation no associate could turn down

but to make a long story short

a face-to-face meeting w

pushed the seven button

Three million, Tarrance. Not a penny less

Any lawyer worth his salt knew the first offer had to be rejected. Always. He had seen Avery's mouth drop open in shock and his head shake wildly in absolute disgust and disbelief with first offers, regardless of how reasonable. There would be counteroffers, and counter-counteroffers, and further negotiations, but always, the first offer was rejected

He gave me the go-ahead."

It's not important whether I believe it

the benefit of the doubt

Maybe next year." It was a lie, and they knew it. But it sounded good. It was promising