“That won’t be necessary.”
“Excuse me?”
“We’ve shuffled some things around while you’ve been gone,” Caleb begins. “William will continue with the cases he’s taken on. You’ll be easing back in with your new client, and we’ll reassess in two weeks. I’d rather you not take on more than you can handle. Especially if your foot starts to give you any problems moving.”
My throat tightens. “Caleb, I’ve been with this firm for eight years. Those are my clients.”
“They’re thefirm’sclients, Minji.”
I know that, but they chose me, trusted me, and now they’re being handed off to William. I’m sure he persuaded Caleb to assign him my cases, accelerating his path to partnership. That wasn’t the smartest decision. If anything, the other seniorattorney, Jasmyn Park, would have been the perfect candidate to oversee my cases while I was out.
“Fine.” I mentally roll my eyes. “Is there anything else?” I pray there is nothing else. I don’t think I can take any more devastating news.
“Yes, actually.”Fuck. “You’ll be sharing your office temporarily.”
My grip on the phone tightens, and I can feel my right eye twitch. “I’m sorry, what?”
“We will talk more about it at two. I have someone I would like you to meet, so clear your schedule to come to conference room C.” He pauses. “And it’s great to have you back.” Without another word, he ends the call, leaving me utterly speechless.
I place my phone down, fighting the urge to hurl the damn thing across the room. Share my office? An office I fought tooth and nail for. For fuck’s sake, why am I sharing my fucking office? My anger spikes, giving way to disbelief. I take three deep breaths, counting silently as I inhale and exhale.
One.
Two.
Three.
My fingers drum against my desk. The gentle tap grounds me as my mind races through possibilities. Perhaps it’s a new associate needing mentoring. Or worse, it could be a fucking intern. The thought of some bright-eyed law student asking questions while I’m trying to work makes my jaw clench. Everyone starts somewhere, but I wishtodaywasn’t the day their learning curve collided with my life.
I power on my computer and scan through the emails that have accumulated overnight. Most are manageable updates on prior cases, meeting requests, and the usual administrative deluge. But one catches my eye. A message from William himself, sent just thirty minutes ago: ‘Welcome back, Minji.Looking forward to discussing the case transition when you’re settled. Mrs. Bachman sends her regards.’
Mrs. Bachman sends her regards.As if they’re old friends. The Bachmans, with their complicated family dynamics and their forty-million-dollar estate. Mrs. Bachman, who specifically requested me after her cousin’s messy divorce landed on Page Six.My clients.
Correction, thefirm’sclients.
I delete William’s email without responding and pull up the file on my new client: Evelyn Hui-Wang, heir to the Hui hotel empire, who is divorcing tech mogul, James Wang. On paper, it’s a straightforward case, but the notes indicate family complications on both sides. This is exactly what I need right now. A fresh case to sink my teeth into, to prove I haven’t lost my edge during these weeks of forced inactivity.
I’m no more than two minutes into the file before there is a knock at my door.
“Come in,” I call, not bothering to look up from my screen.
“You’re back early.”
I recognize the voice immediately—Jasmyn. I look up to see her leaning against my doorframe, coffee cup in hand, eyebrows raised in a silent question.Are you supposed to be back early?
“Doctor said I’m good,” I lie again, the words coming easier this time. “Said I healed faster than expected. I guess all that time spent on bed rest finally paid off.” You would think the garden hose I tripped over broke my neck rather than my foot the way everyone is carrying on.
Her skeptical expression tells me she isn’t buying it, but she doesn’t push. Instead, she steps into my office and closes the door behind her, taking a seat across from my desk. “It’s great to have you back. You don’t understand how much I missed seeing your face around the office. William has been more insufferable,” she says, lowering her voice. “Walking around likehe’s already made partner, taking long lunches with Caleb. You should see how he’s redecorated your conference room.”
“My conference room?”
“Conference room A. You know everyone calls it yours, you basically live in that room if you aren’t in your office.” She sips her coffee. “But he added plants, succulents to be exact, and changed the chairs. Something about the cushions being hard as cement blocks.”
I feel a ridiculous surge of territorial rage. I don’t care about the chairs or the plants. It’s just thathechanged it, which pisses me off. William just breathing pisses me off, too. “I also found out he has taken over all my cases.”
“I know it isn’t a great feeling, but you’ve been gone for three months. Thingschanged.”
“Things shouldn’t changethismuch,” I mutter, looking through my calendar to find the 2 PM meeting Caleb mentioned. “And now I’m supposed to share my office with someone. Do you know anything about this?”
