The stapler on my desk suddenly feels heavy, like it wants to fly across the room. I grip my pen tighter instead, leavingindentations in my palm. Eight weeks of leave, and Caleb hands my cases to the one associate who needed flashcards to pass the bar exam.
“That’s interesting.” I sigh. “I was under the impression from Caleb that you were handling everything perfectly fine in my absence. So what is there we need to discuss?”
“Well, there’s been a development. Mrs. Thornton is claiming that her husband hid assets in the Cayman Islands. I’ve been trying to trace them, but?—”
“But you’re in over your head,” I finish for him, not bothering to soften the blow. Was that petty? Unprofessional? Of course, but I can’t help it. He honestly deserves more. “What happened to ‘Minji’s cases are in good hands’?”
“It’s more complicated than we initially thought.”
I cock my head to the side. “We? There is no ‘we’ in this scenario, William. This failure is yours alone.” I lean back, drumming my manicured nails against the armrest while fixing him with a stare that’s made opposing counsel cry. “Hand it over.”
He slides the folder across my desk, his shoulders visibly relaxing.
Each page I turn feels like another nail in my blood pressure coffin. “Financial disclosures from offshore accounts should have been your first move.” I’m trying to keep the annoyance out of my tone. “The prenup has an entire section on hidden assets. Did you even read it?”
“I was planning to get to that part.”
“Planning to? While you’ve been ‘planning,’ our client’s soon-to-be ex has had months to move everything beyond our reach.”
His expression crumples. For a heartbeat, I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. But William made his bed, and I’m certainly not going to lie in it with him.
“I’ll handle it from here.” I close the folder. “You can go.”
“Minji, show a little respect. I get you’re upset, but I oversee this case. If you want to have any input, you’ll work underneath me, and I don’t think that would be a problem.” He finishes with a smirk that makes my blood boil. “You’ve always been eager to be under me if my memory serves me correctly.”
I stand up slowly, placing both hands flat on my desk. “?? ??? (You got me fucked up).”
“What did you say?”
“No, what did you just say to me?”
“I’m just saying that your… emotional state since returning might be clouding your judgment. Taking a supporting role might be better for everyone.”
The audacity of this man. My fingers curl against the surface of my desk as I fight to maintain control. This idiot comes into my office seeking my help, and now he is trying to flip the script. I feel like I’m being punk’d… I have to be getting punk’d. Did they install cameras in my office? This has to be some sick joke.
“Let me be crystal clear, William,” I say, trying to keep the anger out of my tone. “You walked into my office like a wounded snake needing my help. And the fact that you’ve fumbled this so spectacularly only proves what I already knew… You were never qualified to handle my clients.” Having to go on leave after securing the Thornton case was the worst timing ever.
He opens his mouth to protest, but I cut him off.
“And if you ever suggest I work ‘underneath’ you again, I’ll take this conversation straight to HR and then to Caleb. I will scream from the mountaintops about how unprofessional you are. It will tarnish not only your name but also your reputation. You of all people should know how I get when I’m pushed into a corner. I didn’t tolerate your disrespect when we were dating, and I won’t tolerate it now.”
His face flushes an ugly shade of red. “Minji, I was trying to offer you an olive branch.”
“No, you were trying to assert dominance over me because you’re terrified. I’m back. Then everyone will see how incompetent you truly are.” I sit back down and turn to my computer. “??? ??(pathetic bastard).Close the door on your way out.”
He stands there a moment longer, then reaches over, snatching the file off my desk. “You still haven’t changed,” he hisses, clutching the folder to his chest like it’s his only lifeline.
The door slams behind him with enough force to rattle my certificates on the wall. I feel a headache forming at my temples. This is exactly what I didn’t need today, William’s pathetic power play on top of the Aaron situation. I can’t deal with this shit. If he wants my help, I need to be the lead attorney on the case.
I grab my phone. I cannotlet William screw this up.
Me
We need to talk about the Thornton case. William’s mishandling it.
His response comes quickly.
Caleb
