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1
JULIETTE
“This is huge, Brett. Like, class-action-suit huge. Major-insurance-company-and-manufacturing-company-named-in-the-suit huge.”
“I know,” my friend Brett says before taking a sip of his wine. “That’s why I brought it to you.”
“We have to do something. We can’t let these people suffer like this, and we both know that neither of these companies will do anything to make this right unless legal action is involved.”
I place the large stack of paperwork I’ve acquired over the last several weeks on the table and plop my hand on top of it. “I’ve spent the better part of six weeks getting detailed stories and statements from the factory workers. There are countless stories of permanent lung damage, jobs lost—hell,liveslost—all because Delmore Manufacturing has no issue with toxic levels of chemicals in the air supply on the factory floor. Have they ever heard of the EPA?”
“I know, Jules, and I agree. The problem is, my firm won’t let me take the case on.”
I let out a sigh of annoyance. “Still? Even after all this evidence, you think they won’t?”
He wipes his mouth after taking a bite of his filet and shakes his head. “Doubtful.”
“Why not? You work for the most powerful firm in the city.”
“I’m tied up with the Steadman fraud case—have been for months. Since they’re one of our biggest clients, there’s no way in hell the partners will let me take on a class-action suit this large, especially since we both know it would have to be on contingency. And even if they did let me, Nathan would kill me. I can’t spend the first year of our marriage at the office, darling.”
“I understand.” I sit back in my chair, feeling defeated. I stare out the window of the restaurant, watching people attempt to dodge raindrops and puddles as they scurry down the sidewalk during a New York spring evening.
Brett and I went to law school at Harvard together and have remained close ever since. I’m actually the one who introduced him to his now-husband, Nathan. Nathan and I met because I hired his interior design firm to help me furnish my new apartment when I moved to New York from Boston a few years ago. They hit it off instantly and have been inseparable ever since.
“What are you thinking?” Brett asks. I turn to look back at him, his eyebrow cocked. “I know that look, Jules.”
“I’m wondering if your firm won’t take the case because they don’t want to spread resources too thin, or if it’s because the insurance company and Delmore are both represented by your firm’s biggest competitor?”
He chuckles. “I’d be lying if I said that isn’t part of it, I’m sure. Granted, I can’t speak for the partners, but going up against Prince, Dune & Bellows probably isn’t on their to-do list. With a reputation like theirs, they know it wouldn’t be a fair fight from the jump.”
“Well, it’s not like they’re above the law; we can both play hardball.”
“Hardball isn’t the issue, and we both know that. If Darth Vader, Satan, and all the bad guys from Gotham were represented by a law firm, it would be them.”
I twirl my finger around the rim of my glass, chewing my bottom lip before I speak. “What if—” I hesitate, not wanting to say something purely out of emotion but knowing it’s what I need to do. “What if I came on board at Steinburg, Goldman & Thompson with the condition that I would be able to bring this case with me on contingency?”
Brett’s eyes grow wide. “Are you serious?” I nod my head. “You know they’d kill to have you at the firm since they’ve tried poaching you for the last two years from Titan Financial, but you also have to know it wouldn’t be as cushy as what you’re used to over there.”
“I’m aware,” I say, taking a large gulp of wine. “And for the record, we both have very cushy jobs.”
“Yes, well, being chief legal counsel for a top financial firm has perks you won’t get with Steinburg. You’ll be back to billable hours, which they’ll expect—actually,demand—you hit before you even think about working on the contingency stuff.”
“You think I can’t handle it? Come on, Brett, I was pregnant and had a daughter in college then raised her through law school, so I think I can manage.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that. It’s just that you’ve built a nice life for yourself and Chloe since moving to New York. You’ve worked your ass off to earn the flexibility to have nights with her and spend your weekends not glued to your computer. I’m just saying they’ll expect you to put in some due diligence.”
“You mean bitch work?” I smile and it makes him laugh.
“Pretty much. That being said, inside of two years, I could see you as a junior partner at the firm. And if you make this class-action suit happen and win it?” He whistles and shakes his head. “They’d be begging you to be named partner in no time.”
* * *
Six Months Later. . .
I yawnand stretch my arms overhead as I glance over at the clock. Quarter to nine. The office is dark, and once again, I’m the only person still here.
“Shit!” I gather my files in my hands and walk them back to my office, shoving them into my file drawer and locking it. I grab my purse and jacket, typing out a quick text to my best friend, Blaire, as I walk toward the elevators.
