“He was telling us his entire strategy. I wondered if it was because we were women and he thought we were completely clueless.” Winnie stretched out the word “clueless.”

“We should have told him we didn’t appreciate his ‘man-terrupting,’” Audrey said.

Winnie laughed. “I would’ve loved to see the expression on his face.”

“But I’m surprised she doesn’t see how much he told us.”

“She’s just pissed because Hunter decided to go with your recommended strategy. What are you going to write back?” Winnie asked, leaning across Audrey’s desk. “You should reply with some of his better admissions from the deposition.” Winnie stood and puffed out her chest, sticking her nose in the air, and imitated the counsel’s patronizing deep voice when he’d said: “Are you asking about his sophistication? You don’t need that. I’m not pursuing a federal securities claim.”

“And we worried that he might. I still don’t understand why he wouldn’t. That was shocking.” Audrey leaned back in her chair.

“You should also tell her that this is part of the strategy. You didn’t give up your game. He mistakenly thinks you’re a pussycat. Wait until he meets a tiger in court.”

“Her approach is we scare them off before we get to court.”

“I’m surprised she’s not more sympathetic to the feminine wiles approach,” Winnie said.

“There’s no way we’re going to scare them off. He has a good case with James. That plaintiff was a sweetheart grandfather who’s lost some of his life savings by entrusting them to James. And who’s in the jury pool? Other retirees.” Audrey stared at the blue painting. “I don’t think I should respond.”

“What?”

“Why should I waste my time defending my actions and explaining how it’s good for us?” She wanted to get home to Jake. She hadn’t seen him at all this week. She’d been working so late. He hadn’t said anything, but he didn’t need to.

“Because otherwise she is going to walk around and tell Hunter and others that you were a total wimp in the deposition,” Winnie said.

“The record speaks for itself. I’m not, and those ‘others’ should know that based on my past successes.”

“You need to control what she says about you. I don’t think you can rely on the past. You need to be talking yourself up.”

“I don’t have time.” Audrey sighed. “I need to have good reasons for what I am doing and make sure I win this case too. I don’t want to get distracted by her. And this deposition transcript also speaks for itself. If I tell her why I think it’s good for us, maybe she’ll twist that.”