Chapter 5 - THE PARTNER MEETING

Victor Hale did not ask whether I had an affair.

He placed expense reports on the conference table.

“Did these trips involve legitimate client development?”

I looked at the hotel names.

“No.”

“Did you submit them for reimbursement?”

“Yes.”

“Did Emily Carr assist?”

“Yes.”

Victor removed his glasses.

He had mentored me for twelve years.

He attended my wedding.

He knew Clara.

He had sent flowers after every pregnancy loss before this pregnancy survived.

“How much?”

“Approximately forty-two thousand dollars.”

The firm’s general counsel sat beside him.

She opened another file.

“The total is eighty-seven thousand.”

My mouth went dry.

“There are restaurant charges, transportation, event tickets, and luxury gifts.”

“Some were charged to a client matter.”

“I did not bill gifts to a client.”

The counsel turned the page.

“Your authorization appears here.”

The signature looked like mine.

I did not remember approving it.

Emily controlled several expense submissions because I told her to manage the paperwork.

I had created the access.

Whether she added charges without my knowledge would not erase the false claims I knowingly submitted.

Victor asked:

“Did your wife know about any of this?”

“No.”

“Does she have ownership in any account used?”

“Yes.”

He closed the folder.

“You are suspended immediately.”

“Victor.”

“Do not use my first name as though this is a disagreement between friends.”

“The ethics committee will investigate.”

“Clients will be notified if their funds were affected.”

“You will surrender system access before leaving.”

I looked toward the city beyond the windows.

For years, the office had been proof that choosing ambition had worked.

Corner conference rooms.

Private elevators.

Tailored suits.

The ability to tell Clara that every absence mattered.

Now the same building saw me as a liability.

Emily entered with her attorney.

She did not look at me.

Her red dress had been replaced by a navy suit.

The firm’s counsel asked her to describe the reimbursements.

Emily said I directed everything.

Some of that was true.

Some was not.

She claimed I promised to make her partner after leaving Clara.

I had never made that promise directly.

I had implied a future.

I told Emily she belonged beside me.

I told her Victor was old-fashioned.

I told her we would become the firm’s new power couple.

Implication had been enough to keep her close.

Victor asked whether Emily knew Clara was pregnant.

“Yes.”

“Did you know Daniel remained married?”

“Yes.”

Emily’s attorney touched her arm.

She continued.

“He told me Clara knew the marriage was over.”

Victor looked at me.

“Did she?”

“No.”

The general counsel collected both building passes.

As I stood, Victor spoke again.

“Clara supported you through law school.”

The sentence sounded almost personal.

“She worked two jobs during my first year,” I said.

“I know.”

“She delivered pastries to this office before anyone knew your name.”

I looked at him.

Victor’s disappointment hurt because it reflected something larger than employment.

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I had not only betrayed a wife.

I had rewritten the history that made my success possible.