“Isn’t it the quality of work over the hours spent?” She wasn’t sure she even believed that.

“That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

Audrey stilled.

“This reply brief is not persuasive. The research is sloppy. It’s the writing product of a first year, not a potential partner. You need to rewrite it, unless you want to leave me with this unfortunate impression of your work.”

Audrey frowned. She had spent last week writing the brief. It was good. Whitaker had reviewed the section on their argument and had had only a few revisions, but other than that, he’d said he liked it.

“Did you find a case contradicting my research?”

“No,” Malaburn said. “I’ll expect a re-draft in the morning.” He handed her the brief, marked with red slashes. He turned and walked away.

Audrey stared after him, her arms slack, her hand tightly holding the papers. She unlocked her office door. It was a good brief. Her experience taught her that. She slammed them down on her desk. She hated him so much. She was tempted to just ignore him and give the same brief back to him. That’s probably what he wanted her to do so he could give a reason for not supporting her for partner.

She sank into her chair. Deep breaths. She’d have to cancel dinner with Jake.

Any writing could be improved.

She’d read his comments and see if there was a way to improve it, but give herself a time limit. If she got home by 10 p.m., she’d still have some time to talk to Jake.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

To: Audrey Willems

From: Colette Caron

Date: October

Subject: Deposition of Plaintiff in James case

Audrey,

I just read your deposition transcript of the plaintiff from the James case. You let plaintiff’s counsel walk all over you. Counsel talked more than the plaintiff. How will that help us in your strategy? We were supposed to impress them, not be a doormat.

Yours truly,

Colette

"L ovely,” Audrey said. At least Colette was sharing her thoughts and hadn’t cc’ed the team.

Winnie entered her office, her mug of coffee in hand. “What’s lovely?” she asked.

“I’ll let you read Colette’s latest friendly missive yourself.”

Winnie crossed the office to stand behind Audrey’s computer screen.

Winnie finished reading the email and shook her head. “Did she read what the plaintiff’s lawyer said? We totally made the right decision to let him talk. What he was saying was helpful for us. He came off as a total idiot,” Winnie said, walking back around the desk and sitting in one of the office chairs.

“I’m surprised she doesn’t see that,” Audrey said. “I mean, we did discuss it at the break: that he kept cutting me off and whether I should stop that.”