Chapter 99 Diana, welcome to join me
Leaving the courtroom, I was buzzing with excitement. Lila and Nolan rushed over to congratulate me. Lila, grinning from ear to ear, hugged me tight and said, "Diana, you were incredible! You nailed this case. I knew you had it in you."
I smiled back and replied, "I couldn't have done it without your support. It gave me the courage I needed."
Nolan chimed in with a smile, "Diana, you totally earned this win. Things are only going to get better from here."
I looked at them gratefully and said, "I'm so lucky to have you guys by my side."
Just as we were celebrating, Edward strode over with his long legs. He still had that indifferent look, but I could see a hint of pride in his eyes.
Seeing Edward approach, Nolan immediately put on a professional smile and stepped forward slightly, clearly intending to shake hands with him.
But Edward ignored him and squeezed right between Nolan and me, as if staking his claim, and pulled me into his arms.
Nolan's hand awkwardly hung in mid-air, his smile freezing and then disappearing, replaced by a fleeting look of disappointment and embarrassment.
Lila, seeing her admired Nolan being snubbed, immediately wore an angry expression on her pretty face. "Some people, I can't tell if he's really blind or just plain rude. When someone greets him kindly, he pretends not to see. It's just too arrogant." The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Standing in front of Edward, I didn't know what to say to ease the awkward situation.
Edward remained calm, showing no reaction to Lila's words. His calm exterior contrasted sharply with the intensity of his gaze, which was fixed solely on me. In that moment, it felt as though the world had faded away, leaving just the two of us in a silent bubble.
His eyes were like a spotlight, locking onto me, making me feel an inexplicable pressure. His intense gaze left me at a loss, and I silently wondered about his thoughts and intentions.
Nolan was momentarily stunned and reluctantly lowered his hand, but he quickly regained his composure. His eyes showed a hint of tolerance, clearly not letting Edward's rudeness affect his mood.
He walked up to me and gently patted my shoulder. "Diana, today is your big day. Be happy. Don't forget that we're celebrating at the restaurant near the firm at 6 PM."
His face resumed its warm smile, as if the earlier unpleasantness had never occurred.
After Nolan and Lila left, Edward said coldly, "You're not going."
My cheerful mood instantly shifted. I shouted at Edward, "It's none of your business!"
Edward's hands gripped my shoulders tightly, his nails almost digging into my flesh. "Do you know whose restaurant that is?" he asked.
I shook my head and said, "It's not yours anyway."
Edward said, "That's David's restaurant!"
I instantly understood why he didn't want me to go. It was all about his rivalry with David!
I burst out laughing. "Edward, are you jealous of David? We're just going to his restaurant to celebrate, it has nothing to do with him. Besides, with so many colleagues around, are you really worried something might happen between us?"
Edward, clearly embarrassed by my comment, looked displeased. I seized the moment to pull away from his grip and stepped back, saying, "I still have to go to the hospital to see Alice, so I won't chat with you now."
I hopped into a taxi and left.
The celebration dinner was cozy and laid-back, with everyone from the firm showing up. Neither Nolan, the former head of Stellar Legal Advisors, nor Lila, the current head, acted like they were in charge. As I walked into the warmly decorated venue, a wave of warmth washed over me.
My colleagues, all smiles, came up to congratulate me.
"Diana, you were amazing. You handled this case like a pro!" one colleague exclaimed, eyes shining with admiration.
"Yeah, those online rumors calling you a bimbo are so off the mark. You've got real talent and skills, and we all see it," another colleague added.
We all sat together, a convivial group, as laughter and lively conversation filled the air. The table was gradually adorned with an array of delectable dishes, wafting their enticing aromas around us.
After a while, I suggested we all raise our glasses to celebrate the reopening of our firm and wish for an even brighter future.
So we all raised our glasses, the crisp clinking sound echoing in the air. At this celebration, there were no distinctions between superiors and subordinates, just shared joy and hopes for the future.
We shared our stories and experiences, the atmosphere light and joyful. Looking at these lovely colleagues, I felt a deep sense of gratitude.
I was whispering with Lila when Nolan came over with a glass of wine. Seeing this, Lila stood up and said to me, "You two chat, I'll go have a drink with the others."
Nolan took Lila's seat and said, "Diana, I heard you gave the firm to Lila and then resigned. What's next for you?"
I took a sip of wine and said, "I'll see how things go. Who knows what the future holds."
Nolan nodded, thought for a moment, and tentatively asked, "Maybe I don't know you well, but I've heard Dr. Reed mention that you're an ambitious woman. You wouldn't be content with just being a housewife, right?"
I didn't feel close enough to Nolan to discuss my plans, so I decided to change the subject.
Noticing me avoiding the question, he took out a business card from his suit pocket and sincerely said, "Diana, you're welcome to join me."
I looked down at the business card, feeling a wave of emotion. Nolan owned several law firms, and joining any of them would offer great opportunities. Willie had mentioned this to me before.
Nolan seemed to remember something and suddenly added, "Don't worry, David only invested in the previous Stellar Legal Advisors. I run all the other firms."
Hearing him mention David, I squinted and tried to recall. It seemed the last time I saw David was at Mia's funeral, where he had a fit of anger at me. Since then, we had drifted apart, like two lines diverging, never crossing paths again.
I said, "Nolan, let me think about it."
It wasn't that I didn't want to join Nolan's firm, but I didn't understand why he was being so kind to me.
Hearing this, Nolan reassured me. "I'm just doing someone a favor. Although you've never talked to me about your family matters, I can guess some of it. I think Edward agreed to let you give the firm to Lila because you had some deal, right? While our profession is one of the few that can stand up to capital, working with me would make things a lot easier for you."
"Did Dr. Reed tell you that?" I asked cautiously.
Nolan smiled, not denying it. "Privately, I do admire your knowledge and abilities. If you could join my firm, it would be a win-win situation for both of us."
Before I could respond, a colleague came over to toast, and Nolan left with them.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was Alice, sending over the final payment of sixty million dollars. Adding that to the previous twenty million dollar deposit, it covered the massive debt my mom owed Edward years ago.
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