“What am I missing? He just extolled my research abilities to the client. I’ve been working here day and night for seven years.” Her voice cracked. Hunter still hadn’t looked up. He couldn’t believe Malaburn.

Hunter met her gaze and said softly, “He thinks you’re too emotional. He does think you’re a great researcher, but he thinks that’s a good senior counsel trait.”

She was emotional, but she was not “too emotional.” She would like to show Malaburn her being emotional. Emotionally angry.

“Is that code for I’m a woman?” Leaning forward, she gripped the seat.

“I don’t think so. He’s supporting Colette. He’s concerned about the time you were pulled off his cases because it was too much.” His voice lifted on the last part of the sentence, almost making it into a question.

Heat flushed her body. “It was too much. And I was pulled off only one case. But adding him to my caseload now is too much. I’m being set up for failure.” She was proud that her voice was firm. She had to counter Malaburn. She had not given up her life to be a senior counsel. No way was she letting Malaburn derail her bid.

“He says you can’t handle a lot of work—that you’ll crack under pressure and that you won’t pull your weight as a partner.” Hunter grimaced. “I told him you had more than pulled your weight as an associate. But I can’t see a way out. He’ll oppose your bid otherwise. You need to show him you can handle it. Because you can, Audrey.” He said it as if he was stating a closing argument.

She nodded. She had to show confidence. But she hadn’t been able to handle him earlier. She had to believe she could do it. It was just one case. But it wasn’t the case, it was Malaburn.

“But to free you up, I’ll also staff Colette on this Rothman case,” Hunter said.

“What? Why? But you just said I could handle all three cases. Do you doubt my ability?” she asked, her voice rising in frustration.

“Not at all, but I want to help,” Hunter said. “This is a good solution. You and I have worked together for years, and I already know you would make a good partner. I’m one of the few partners who hasn’t worked with Colette. She asked me the other day for an assignment. I need to work with her so I can make an informed recommendation on her as a partner. Unfortunately, I don’t have any other cases that are really suitable for her.” Hunter explained that she would retain overall case strategy under his direction and offensive discovery, and Colette would manage defensive discovery. “This gives you more time to work on your trial case with Anderson and your case with Malaburn.”