Chapter 1 #2
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 wish today wasn’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, the firm’s clients.
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 like he’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 that he changed 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. Things changed.”
“Things shouldn’t change this much,” 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?”
Her hesitation tells me everything I need to know.
“You do know,” I accuse. “Who is it? Another first-year they hired while I was gone. I don’t have the patience to deal with a first year.”
“Not exactly.” She takes another sip of her coffee. “I don’t know much, but what I’ve heard through the grapevine is that whoever it is isn’t in the law field and—” Her phone pings and she looks down at it. “Shit, I have a deposition I need to prep for.”
As she stands to leave, I lean back in my chair, feeling a headache starting to form.
I pull open my desk drawer, searching for the emergency ibuprofen I keep stashed behind my stapler.
The drawer is organized—too organized. Someone has reorganized it.
The sticky notes I had color-coded one specific way are now color-coded another, and the pens are arranged by type rather than thrown in haphazardly, as I previously preferred.
Even the postcards I received from a client are all stacked in alphabetical order.
Another territorial violation. What the fuck?
There’s a hesitant knock at my door, and I glance up to see Cindy Jordan, one of our paralegals, hovering in the doorway with an armful of folders and a bright smile.
“Ms. Lee! You’re back!” Her enthusiasm borders on unprofessional, for me, but there’s something refreshing about her lack of subterfuge. “Everyone’s been saying you wouldn’t be back for weeks, but I told them you’re too dedicated to stay away that long. Obviously, I was right!”
“Thank you, Cindy.” I gesture for her to come in. “What do you have there?”
“Oh!” She looks down at the folders as if just remembering them. “These are the files you requested last week. The Hui-Wang background materials? I added some notes on the family business structures that might be relevant. Along with the assets not included in the prenup.”
I’m pleasantly surprised. I’d emailed the request from home, not expecting much.
Most paralegals would have done the bare minimum, especially for someone on leave.
Hell, most paralegals would have ignored my email altogether.
Even Eliza, my own assistant, ignored my request, sending an email saying I was on leave and needed to learn what it means.
“That’s… thorough of you.” I accept the stack. “Thank you.”
Cindy beams, fidgeting with a pen she’s pulled from behind her ear.
“Also, I heard you might need some help getting reacquainted with the office changes, so I made you this.” She hands me a neatly typed sheet of paper.
“It’s a rundown of all the new hires, case reassignments, and office politics you missed. ”
I scan the document, impressed. It’s comprehensive and color-coded. Which means this busy bee is the culprit who reorganized my desk drawer.
“Well, I’ll let you two talk.” Jasmyn moves to the door. “Lunch date?” she asks.
“Sure. I’ll see you around noon,” I respond, turning my attention back to Cindy.
“This is incredibly detailed.” I scan through her notes. “You even have William’s coffee order.”
“Oat milk latte with two pumps of vanilla and cinnamon on top,” Cindy recites from memory. “He makes the interns run out for it twice daily now.”
I raise an eyebrow. “And you included this because…?”
“Knowledge is power, Ms. Lee.” She gives me a smile. “Plus, I figured you’d want to know everything that’s changed. I do have to assist William in a few minutes, but I wanted to stop by and welcome you back.”
“Of course, and thank you so much for this, Cindy.” I smile, and she tells me ‘anytime’ as she walks out.
I glance at my watch, surprised to see it’s already 9:30 AM. Time to thoroughly review the Hui-Wang file before our meeting at noon. The last thing I want to do is come unprepared to a meeting I scheduled. I would be William Jr. if I did that.