"Sophie, there's someone here to see you."

Paula's words were the last words I heard before I was thrown into a decision bigger than I could ever have imagined. Lorraine Blackstaff was someone that every single person in the law industry knew; she was a stern-faced, successful, and inspirational woman who had started her own firm from nothing and developed it into a worldwide success. She was the last person I expected to know my name.

"Ms. Blackstaff, what a pleasure. Please take a seat." God, I sound nervous.
"Please, call me Lorraine. I don't have long, so I'll cut straight to the point. I'm sure you're aware that we have funded several firms at the international level."
"Yes, I most certainly am." Shut up, Sophie.
"Ever looked at any of them and thought, how did she even know they existed?" She chuckled.
"Potentially - once or twice." I hope she wanted an agreement.
"I don't believe in client numbers, profit, longevity, or even awards. They're great, don't get me wrong. What I look for is someone with a passion for justice. Not a passion for their clients, but a passion for the right thing. You defended Colin Coyle, yes?"
"I did." I sighed.
"And you wholeheartedly believed he was innocent until he was found guilty at a later date?"
"Yes, I would never have defended him otherwise. Guilty clients are fine with me, provided they simply want a fair trial. I don't believe in trying to help guilty clients get away with their crimes."
"Mhmm, yes. And you thought no one except you and your accomplice knew that you later set him up?"

My mouth went dry, my eyes widened, and the room began to spin.

"Sophie - it's okay. I represented the man you got the police deal for. I'm the only other person who knows." She continued.
"I - I - I - sorry." I stammered.
"I always had my eye on you after that. The selflessness you showed during that time, the risk you took for justice—it was admirable and brave. When I heard you had opened this place, I wanted to give you time to build your confidence before I approached you. I flew over last year, but you were no longer part of the company." She raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Family trouble, my girlfriend - fiancé - she looked after it while I was sorting things out."
"Mhmm. And now?"
"Now?" I questioned.
"I'm offering you an investment, Sophie. Full costs covered for launching in four other countries, fully trained staff selected from our pool, and full rights for you and your business partner, Amanda, isn't it?"
"Wow. That's - thank you. Yes, Amanda. Sorry, can I just ask, what do you get in return?"
"15% for the first two years, 10% for the next three, and then 5% thereafter. Obviously, with you having a partner, we would split those percentages in half between you both. 7.5% each, and so on."
"Thank you. What does it entail?"
"4 days a week in the US, followed by four back in the UK for the first six months. After that, you will be at a point, hopefully, where you will only need to travel for crisis events or important meetings."
"I see." Hmm.
"It's a lot to take in; I appreciate that. I'll email you some details and give a copy to Amanda. You have 14 days to accept or reject before we would need to vet someone else." She smiled.

When Lorraine walked out that day, my head was torn between two emotions: on the one hand, this was potentially the biggest achievement in my career; on the other, it could be the biggest problem in my relationship. Discussing this with Leah would be hard.

— — — —

The second I told Leah about the offer, she showed nothing but excitement. She was proud of me, just as I was when she attended tournaments around the world. Despite the four-day away, four-day home arrangement, Leah seemed confident that we could see this out, talking only of the positive parts of the offer that had been made to me. I wanted to show the same enthusiasm, but all I could think about was the idea that I would be missing out on time with her. As we both attempted to fall asleep that night, Leah's chest pressed up against my back, and her arms wrapped tightly around my body. I still felt uneasy. I felt like I would never sleep again.

"Soph, talk to me." She whispered, her mouth right at my ear.
"I moved here to be with you."
"I know, babe, why do you say that?"
"Well, it was kind of pointless if I just took myself off every four days."
"You'll still live here though, Soph. Your stuff will still be here; your clothes will still be taking up my space in the wardrobe; you'll still leave your cereal bowl on the counter before you go to the airport; and I'll still be able to smell your perfume on the pillow until I can smell it on you when you're back."
"Maybe." I sighed, my voice breaking.
"Soph. I hate seeing you like this. Turn around, please."
"I can't."
"Why not? It's only me."
"I can't."
"Okay."

Leah sat up, moving herself from her own side of the bed to mine, her way of saying, if you won't turn around, I'll come to you. I allowed myself to sob into her, relishing in the feeling of her lips on my forehead as I inhaled her scent.

"What has made you so upset, Soph?" She asked softly, stroking my hair back from my face.
"I - I - I just feel like I'm letting you down if I go, and letting your mum down if I don't."
"Hey, you could never let any of us down. You were only offered this opportunity because you are so amazing at what you do, Soph. Take it or don't take it; you do whatever makes you happy, and we'll all back you. We will always support you. That's what families do."
"It feels good hearing you say that." I whispered.
"You are my family." Leah smiled, pressing a final kiss against my forehead.

I woke the following day with my eyes stinging from the tears the night before. Pulling my head up from the pillow, my eyes widened as I saw the time, 9.05am. Leah was no longer beside me, I presumed she was at training giving that I had overslept.

"Fuck." I sighed.

I rushed to the shower, barely even removing my pyjamas before I clambered into it. Once dried and dressed, I thundered downstairs to get my stuff together to leave the house. I was practically running into the living room when I was stopped in my tracks by bumping into Leah, almost knocking her off her feet before catching her in my arms.

"Soph? Where are you going?" She looked confused.
"Work. I'm so late."
"You didn't say you were working today?"
"I work every day. Wait, what day is it?"
"Saturday, Soph." She chuckled.
"Why weren't you in bed then? You never get up without me on the weekends?" I playfully stuck my bottom lip out.
"I have a surprise for you. Later though."
"What is it?"
"A surprise, Sophie." She rolled her eyes.
"Sophie." I hissed.
"Soph."
"Better."