Free The Family Man by Elinor Lipman Page B

with that," says the publicist.
    "Acting talent aside, not everyone can think on her feet," adds Attorney Schneider.
    Henry says, "I have to be honest: I'm not greatly in favor of this arrangement. I don't see how it advances my client's career."
    "This is a gig," says the publicist. "This is not a career. The job description is, 'Be pretty, be arm candy for Leif, and don't sound stupid. Act like you're in love and he'll do his best to reciprocate in a way that repackages him as a desirable and attractive actor.' I think you fully understand that there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of women in Manhattan alone who would gladly fill the role."
    Henry doesn't speak but directs his gaze to the unappetizing groom, who has folded himself into a club chair, barefoot.
    "For the sake of argument, what would make the mission more attractive to your client?" asks the lawyer.
    Thalia is helping herself to grapes, eyebrows signaling, I can't wait to hear this. Henry declares, "We want—in the notoriety sense—a piece of the action. It's reasonable to expect that your team has contacts with studios and that Thalia will come away with a very good role in a major feature film."
    The lawyer says, "I don't even have to caucus on this one. The answer is no. We are not casting directors. I'm an attorney. She's a publicist. We can't possibly commit to that."
    Henry says calmly, "Our goal is to raise Thalia's profile. She's a lame duck from the outset. We are asking that your firm represent Thalia when Leif breaks the engagement."
    The publicist says, "I can't authorize anything like that. I have to talk to Dorian."
    "Who is...?"
    "Our CEO."
    "Estime is not a charitable institution," says the lawyer. "They don't do pro-bono work."
    Henry says, "I'm sure Estime will want Thalia Archer on its client list after this plays out triumphantly in the tabloids." He nods to Thalia, Follow me, then tells Leif's people they can have their privacy. He and his client will talk outside.
    From a safe distance at the end of the carpeted hallway, Thalia says, "Nice work in there. Very creative. Very ... lawyerly. But I'd rather the deal didn't fall apart."
    "It won't. Leif is in there saying to Wendy, 'Look, I've got you on retainer. I'm paying you a fortune. You'll make some phone calls for her when it's over, and put out a few press releases.' They want you and he wants you and you should relax."
    Thalia says, "Okay. If you're sure."
    "Quite sure. I saw him staring at you. And worst-case scenario: We take what's on the table."
    Thalia finally smiles. "Love the bold, spontaneous Henry. Truly—it's like improv, and someone's yelled out 'ball-buster lawyer!'"
    They walk back to the suite and knock. Leif himself answers, looking a little worried. Henry suspects he's been instructed to give nothing away. Henry and Thalia take their seats and stare at the opposing team.
    The lawyer says, "We were able to reach Dorian." She frowns, waits.
    "And?" says Henry.
    "As you can imagine, she wasn't happy. She said, 'Let's open up the search. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for the right person.'"
    Henry casts another appraising look at Leif, who is hunched against a wall and gnawing on an energy bar.
    "I'm sure Dorian is right and you'd have a line out the door as if this were an actual casting call," Henry says.
    "Leif?" says Thalia. "Do you want to jump in?"
    Leif chews, swallows, and checks with the lawyer, who signals, Permission granted.
    "I didn't speak to Dorian myself. They didn't put her on speakerphone in case you could hear out in the hall."
    "But?"
    "I told them that it didn't seem like such a big deal—"
    "No need to rehash the entire conversation," interrupts the lawyer. "And of course there's the matter of client confidentiality."
    Henry says, "Which I don't believe applies when it's the client himself speaking."
    The lawyer nods to the publicist. "Eventually, after several phone calls back and forth, Dorian agreed that we'd be willing to help keep