Page 45 of Passionate Defense

“First, you’ve got to take it down a notch. If statements go out a few days late, it’s not the end of the world. Second, Penny is a receptionist. It’s not fair to throw her in the deep end and expect her to swim. Third, Angie is a legal secretary, not a billing specialist. You need her focus on expedience and accuracy. What you need is a practice manager and to hire at least one paralegal.”

Her husband’s soothing baritone resonating through the speaker had an instant calming effect. As did breathing in deep and slowly blowing it out as she listened to the rest of his sage advice.

“You’re spreading yourself too thin. Let the manager take care of the business end and your paralegal can do the mundane tasks that are consuming so much of your time. That will free you and Beth up for the work—and billable hours—that only the two of you can do. Pull out your business plan. I think you’ll see you’re on pace financially to expand your staff.”

“When I spoke with the accountant, he said the same thing.”

“Really? He sounds like a wise man. I wonder who recommended him?”

Ethan had, of course, and his tongue-in-cheek response surprised a laugh out of her. The small but efficient accounting firm was only one of Ethan’s many suggestions. The key to managing a successful practice, he’d said more than once, was to surround herself with efficient and knowledgeable people. And he would know. He’d made enough money in ten years of private practice that he could afford the switch to academia and writing, with a more laid-back pace.

“Speaking of accountants, don’t forget we’re meeting the applicant for the independent contractor position for cocktails tonight.”

“I don’t know, Ethan. I’m not sure we can bring on two full-time employees and swing a high-priced forensic accountant at the same time.”

“You’ve heard the adagesometimes you’ve got to spend money to make money? With Beth’s caseload, especially the post-acquisition disputes, chapter elevens, and insolvencies, you can’t afford not to swing it.”

“They charge as much as $500 dollars per hour and an experienced paralegal will be at least $60k per year.” She heaved a long, drawn-out stressed sigh. Their beach weekend had definitely worn off. “Maybe I made a mistake by leaving the firm. There’s something to be said about going to work, drawing a paycheck, and not having to deal with all this crap.”

“You had other worse crap, remember? Besides, this isn’t unexpected. The pace of your success is. You knew there’d be expenses the first year. They’re all built into your budget. You’re just having a problem delegating, but you’re going to have to, sweetheart. As good as you are, you can’t do it all.”

“I’m happy to delegate routine things like shopping for toilet paper, which is what I was doing over lunch.”

“Yet you have a receptionist,” he reminded her. “If you can’t spare her away from the office, there are delivery services, or you can order online, and have it all shipped.”

He had her there. Was she such a control freak that she couldn’t assign someone else to buy TP for the office? Sheesh!

“She was so busy that I said I’d do it.”

“And you’re not busy? Getting office supplies is part of her job. It’s another issue of relinquishing control, my darling girl, but we’ll keep working on it.”

Well aware of his meaning, she smiled. There was something to be said about handing everything over to Ethan and becoming his well-loved, well-spanked, kept woman. He would disagree, however, and see it as giving up.

Her phone alarmed. It was the reminder about dinner that she’d snoozed several times already. Glancing at the screen, she noticed it was well past five. “I wish I’d brought some clothes to change into. I’d love to get out of this suit.”

“Sounds fun. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes to lend a hand.” She could hear the amusement in his voice. “I’ll let myself in.”

“Okay, but it’s probably still open. Beth already left, and she always forgets to reset the alarm.” As soon as those words left her mouth, she wanted to press rewind and take them back.

“You’re telling me you are there by yourself with the doors unlocked? Go take care of that.”

“Okay, as soon as I—”

“No, put the phone down and do it now.” His voice was more than stern; it was unyielding.

She got up saying, “I’m going...”

He’d really gotten into the dominance and control thing. Admittedly, he only played that card in their day-to-day life when it came to her welfare, so she gave him that. Engaging the locks and activating the security system took a few moments. Then she was back to Ethan.

“All sealed up, safe and sound.”

“Good. I don’t want you there alone without the doors locked and the alarm on. I’ll have Steven talk to Beth about it, too.” There was a moment’s pause before he muttered, “I still can’t believe I let you talk me out of the secured building two blocks over.”

“The security deposit and monthly lease were insane. Beth and I would have been working eighty-hour weeks instead of sixty to afford that.”

“You’re exaggerating. Neither of you should be in a ground-floor office with the doors unlocked. Any whack job could walk in. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Ethan,” she said, rolling her eyes at his overprotectiveness.

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