No, not of the type you’re looking for. But if the theme becomes general law firm horror stories, let me know.

To: Winnie Chu

From: Audrey Willems

Date: Tuesday, August 24

Re: horror stories, yes

I’m about to star in my own horror story. Malaburn won the pitch. I can’t believe I have to work with him in this final run-up to partner. Now I wish Stacy hadn’t found me crying in my office and gotten me pulled off his case three years ago.

She slumped in her chair. She had known then that Malaburn would not forgive her for leaving his case. The senior associate Stacy had said not to worry about it—that they had easily found another associate to replace her, that the partners recognized that she had had an unfair workload, that Malaburn would forget—when Audrey had worried out loud that Malaburn would hold this against her when she was up for partner. Which she had felt silly saying as a fourth-year associate. But even then, she had been aiming to make partner.

To: Audrey Willems

From: Winnie Chu

Date: Tuesday, August 24

Re: Horror Story Take Two

Stacy was right to insist that you get pulled off his case. You had been working for him for eight months straight AND the last two months with no days off. Of course, Stacy found you crying in the office.

And it was THREE YEARS ago.

What is with him that he’s bringing that up? He’s mean. He has no life outside the office, so he doesn’t want anyone else to have a life either.

He might be better now. He knows he can’t pull that again—now that partners are supposed to watch associates’ time sheets and make sure they get a smidgen of time off. They don’t want an associate dying in the office.

It was time to talk to Hunter about Malaburn. After seven years of working together, she had to believe that Hunter’s insider knowledge of her work ethic and ability would withstand any aspersions cast by Malaburn. She knocked on Hunter’s door that afternoon. He gestured that she should come in. Hunter looked a bit like Clark Kent, but she would never tell him that. His office was decorated in a soothing, warm, mid-century modern style. They’d find a solution. She quickly explained her predicament and asked again if he advised working for Malaburn.

“Yes, I talked to Malaburn.” He looked down and straightened the pile of papers in front of him. “Malaburn thinks you don’t have what it takes.”

She clenched her jaw. She hated Malaburn. A white-hot anger filled her like a tea kettle about to boil. But she couldn’t let it show.