Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 211(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
“Last night.”
“Are you going to therapy?”
“Every week.”
“Why are you lying to my face?”
“Yeah, I…I don’t know.”
“I do.” He shook his head. “You need someone to help you, even if it’s temporary.”
“I tend to handle things differently from everyone else here. Maybe the newest associate should learn from someone a bit more—”
“Straight-laced, by the book, and righteous?”
“All of the above.”
“I could do that, or I could do what’s best for the firm.”
Silence.
Only one string of words could make me drop any argument.
Our firm had to live well beyond us, and we needed above-the-board lawyers like him, and not-afraid-to-get-dirty lawyers like me.
So far, the latter category only hosted a party of one.
“Glad we’re on the same page.” He smiled. “I sent Miss Tanner an offer letter last night.”
“You did what?” My eyes widened. “I thought we agreed she wasn’t a good fit.”
“No, that was just you.” He shrugged. “Why would I ever turn away someone who you personally recommended?”
“Because she turned in a fraudulent letter that I never wrote.”
“She’d have to be certifiably insane to do something like that.”
“I agree, and that’s why she doesn’t need to be here,” I said. “Rescind the offer now.”
“Give me a reason.”
I just fucking did.
“I’m waiting, Damien.”
“It’s her eyes,” I said. “There’s something in them.”
“I believe those are called pupils.”
“No. This is something else.”
“Irises?”
“No, it’s—” I stopped. The moment I saw her on that bridge, I practically saw a bright white “caution” sign flashing in her eyes. It flashed again during her interviews, and I knew from the way she looked at me that she was as lonely and lost as I was.
“How about I give you a better reason?” I said, changing the subject. “You’ll refrain from hiring her because I have as much of a say in what happens in this firm as you do.”
“Once you agree to put your name on the website and on the door, so everyone knows that you’re a partner, you can.” He crossed his arms. “Is this your way of finally accepting that?”
“No, but if I say that I’m considering it, that should count.”
“It doesn’t.” He moved from behind the desk and placed a hand on my shoulder. “It’s all or nothing, and don’t take this the wrong way, but I really do care about you, and…you complete me.”
“I’ll be sure to tell your wife.”
He laughed. “Please let Miss Tanner work with you for a little while.”
“Fine. I’ll give her a short test run.”
“Be sure to teach her everything you know.” He held up the nail polish again. “On a scale of one to ten, how sure are you about the pink?”
PROBABLE CAUSE (N.)
SUFFICIENT REASON BASED UPON KNOWN FACTS TO BELIEVE A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED OR THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY IS CONNECTED WITH A CRIME
ELIZABETH
“Maybe Mr. Carter’s rejection call was just a test, Olivia,” I petted her fur as I stared at the firm's offer letter.
I had to sign a series of non-disclosure forms, read a lengthy “The Firm Comes First” manifesto, and read a one-hundred-page document detailing “our history” within five days.
At the very bottom of the message was a number that made me disregard every word before it.
Starting Base Salary
First-Year Associate:
$479,000.00
Five days later
My phone wasn’t charging on my nightstand like it should’ve been, and my alarm was oddly silent.
Confused, I slipped out of bed, wondering if I’d somehow sleepwalked into the kitchen last night and left it.
It wasn’t there either.
The clock read five in the morning, meaning I’d woken up two hours before I needed to start getting ready for my first day.
At least I’m early.
I searched for my laptop, but it was nowhere to be found.
Blaming it on my nerves, I stepped into the shower and shut my eyes.
“Breathe, Elizabeth. Breathe.”
As the streams fell over me, I envisioned Mr. Carter staring at me while I was naked. If the way he’d eye-fucked me during the interview would be similar.
When my skin was wrinkled enough, I turned off the water and reached for the suit I’d laid out the night before; it seemed to have disappeared, along with my phone and laptop.
What the hell is going on?
I entered the living room and saw a yellow Post-it with all the answers.
This is how it feels when someone leaves you hanging for months and won't give you what you need.
I'll return your things when it's convenient for me.
—Frank
P.S. I also set your clocks back by two hours.
You’re welcome.
FAILURE OF CONSIDERATION (N.)
NOT DELIVERING GOODS OR SERVICES WHEN PROMISED IN A CONTRACT
DAMIEN
Ipulled my brand-new Bugatti in front of the firm at six-thirty in the morning.
From what I’d gleaned from the other lawyers, whenever they were partnered with a new associate, they arrived early with a gift and treated them to a welcome breakfast and a tour. Of course, my associate currently owed me money, so I had to adjust that plan.